By Chisomo Phiri
In an effort to address the pressing issues of unemployment and lack of vocational skills among young women in Machinjiri area 6 in Blantyre, a group of five youths is running a project called “Tailor Her Future”.
The project was launched on July 1, 2024.
In an interview with our journalist Chisomo Phiri, the project’s manager Daniel Wiseman Kaira said the project aims to provide training in tailoring and design to empower young women to become self-sufficient and economically independent.
He said the project targets young women aged 15-30 who struggle to find meaningful employment due to a lack of opportunities and skills.
Said Kaira:”By providing them with vocational training in tailoring, the project seeks to enhance their employability and economic opportunities.”
He said ten beneficiaries have already been selected based on criteria such as age, education, family background, gender, and economic status.
“The training sessions have been structured into several modules, covering different garment types and skills.
“Participants have successfully produced aprons, pillowcases, petticoats, skirts, dresses, and simple traditional blouses,” he said.
He however, indicated that the project has faced several challenges, including price fluctuations, limited resources, and schedule flexibility.
Said Kaira:”Despite these challenges, the project has made significant progress and plans to achieve the following tasks before its conclusion on September 4, 2024:Training participants to make school uniforms, sessions on creating trousers and shirts, designing and sewing gym dresses,registering the project as a Community-Based Organization (CBO), and awarding certificates to participants upon project completion.”
He explained that the “Tailor Her Future” project aligns with national development frameworks such as Vision 2063, the National Gender Policy, and the National Youth Policy, as well as global development frameworks like the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
The project is being funded by the Aspire Leaders program.
