Projects - Economy - Training

Even the minority of young people who manage to complete secondary schooling find it difficult to get a job because they do not have vocational or other employment related skills. There are only a small number of colleges in Malawi and few government funded places to enable further study.

There is no college in Dedza but Salima Technical College, located at Senga Bay on the shore of Lake Malawi, is a few miles north of the district. The college offers courses in vocational subjects – carpentry, bricklaying, motor mechanics – and accountancy and secretarial studies. It accepts fee paying students for two year courses that are the equivalent of a City and Guilds Certificate.

Motor mechanics class

Lathe in fabrication workshop

We are developing a project to assist this college and enable young people from Dedza to study there. We will assist the college with redundant books, tools and equipment that we hope to obtain from education establishments and businesses in Norfolk and ship to Salima. We will also assist with staff training. In recognition of this help, the College will provide a 50% discount on its fees. Community groups and small businesses in Dedza will be invited to sponsor a student that they select and pay 25% of the fees. The Partnership will pay the remaining 25% as a bursary. This will cost about £175 for the two year course.

We hope to begin the accumulation of materials during 2009 and to start sending volunteers to carry out staff training. We would appreciate any help with the provision of materials, volunteers for training visits and funds for the bursary scheme.