The 36 male and 24 females underwent training in carpentry, bricklaying, auto mobile mechanics, electrical installation, tailoring as well as welding and fabrication through the Mangochi Basic Service Programme financially supported by Embassy of Iceland.
Speaking at the graduation ceremony held in Mangochi a representative of Mangochi District Council, Vinace Malema Juma, urged the newly graduated youths to make use of the acquired vocational skills to improve their livelihoods and make a positive contribution in their respective communities.
Juma encouraged the youths to form groups and start small-scale businesses saying this will be easy for them to access loans.
“I believe that the skills you have acquired will help you to be self-reliant and at the same time create job opportunities for others and if you put much effort, the vocation skills will assist you to be economically independent,” said Juma.
She further hailed the Embassy of Iceland for supporting Mangochi District Council in empowering the youths economically.
Juma therefore warned the youths against selling the equipment they received upon graduation.
Embassy of Iceland representative, Sigurdur Geirson expressed commitment in empowering youths of Mangochi through vocational, technical and entrepreneurial skill trainings.
“The Embassy wants to see large numbers of youths becoming economically independent and this is the reason we supported this second cohort,” he said, adding that the Embassy of Iceland also gave them start-up equipment for a good beginning.
Member of Parliament for Mangochi North Constituency Benedicto Chambo has since asked Mangochi District Council to create job opportunities and assist the youths with loans so that they should utilise the newly acquired skills to improve their living standards.
He has since expressed commitment to assist the youths to advance their ambitions in the newly acquired skills through the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) saying he will ensure that the youths are given opportunity to be engaged in every developmental project taking place in Mangochi North East.
Jane Ngoma, from T/A Makanjira who graduated in electrical installation said the skills will enable her to venture into electrical installation which will eventually empower her economically.
“I am grateful that the council has made this initiative. Mangochi has many youths that are not employed due to poor education levels and these are the youth that need technical and vocational skills,” said Ngoma.
So far 120 youths have been trained in vocation and technical skills through the programme.
Mangochi District Council is implementing the Programme phase II through the District Youth Office.