DAPP Malawi is in 2021 celebrating 26 years of active involvement in development work with communities through out the country
DAPP is implementing 17 projects within education, health, agriculture and community development in 25 district that span across the country's three regions
Being implemented at DAPP Chilangoma Teachers training college (TTC) in Traditional Authority Kuntaja, Blantyre district, the Tourism and Hospitality project aims at providing an educational opportunity in tourism and hospitality to 20 young people to become reliable and profitable human resource in the tourism sector.
On the 19th of September, Technical, Entrepreneurial and Vocational Education and Training Authority (TEVETA) Assistant Training Programs Specialist for southern region’s informal sector visited the project to appreciate the implementation process to date. The students also displayed the skills they have attained through demonstrations and serving the officials.
Theory component of the course in session
Students serving the TEVETA team
“I am impressed with how the students demonstrated an understanding of the skills and knowledge they have learned so far” said Mr. Clifton Kambalame The project will result in an increase in employment opportunities within Malawi’s expanding tourism industry which will in turn contribute to the country’s sustainable development. After completing the six months of training on campus, students will then complete a 2-month professional internship within the tourism sector. Once the students successfully complete this course, they will receive a Government-recognized certificate (Technical Education Vocational Entrepreneurial &Training Authority – TEVETA) in tourism. The project started in January 2019 and phases out in 2020.
Under the theme “RUN 4 Reforestation”, DAPP Malawi participated in this year’s Sustainability Fair in Zomba district on 7th September 2019. The fair, organized by Zomba Forest Lodge was a platform to raise money for Zomba TREEZ initiative which focuses on conservation, fire prevention, environmental awareness and tree planting on and around the Zomba Plateau. The fair also highlighted environmental concerns and dangers of rampant tree cutting currently happening around the Zomba Platea.
A DAPP Teacher explains the importance of teaching learners to plant trees
DAPP Project Leader demonstrating how the firewood saving stove works
DAPP Representatives presenting the shoes donation to the manager of Zomba Forest Lodge
Firewood saving stove making being explained
DAPP participated by mounting up exhibition of environmentally friendly techniques that DAPP Malawi uses in projects such as Farmers Club and 400 Primary School Program teachers and DAPP Teachers Training College. The platform gave project leaders an opportunity to explain how the various project are environmentally friendly. Apart from the Exhibitions, DAPP participated in the five, ten and twenty-one kilometer run to Chawe as well as donated twenty-four pairs of sports shoes to members of Happy Hammers Queens and Barriers Queens netball teams. Through its various developmental projects, DAPP Malawi emphasizes on the importance of environmental conservation. And encourages various project beneficiaries to take care of their surroundings
The Teachers Network also known as the 400 Primary Schools program is a DAPP Malawi’s education program that brings together and encourages teachers graduated from DAPP Teachers Training Colleges (TTC) to stick together by meeting regularly for sharing of ideas and knowledge on how they can improve the learning and living environments around their various schools.
The teachers meet regularly during what is called a Production Camp to evaluate their achievements according to set plans, share experiences and to come up with action plans for coming months. As per custom, the 67 teachers met from 18 – 24 August for the production planning session held at DAPP Chilangoma Teachers’ Training College (TTC). This session has seen an addition of 14 new teachers to the network bringing the total to 100 teachers in the network to date.
Mr Busher (left) views materials made by the teachers
Group photo
During the production Camp, activities included orientations on teachers’ roles in the fight against climate change and global warming, the use of class room trios (group of three) and trio task systems, resources mobilization for schools, income generating activities and production of teaching and learning materials. Mr Moses Busher, Board Chair of Civil Society Education Coalition (CSEC) graced this year’s camp and commended DAPP for the job well done. In his remarks, he said “I am inspired by these teachers and the quality of the locally made teaching and learning materials which they are producing. I believe this program is impacting pupils in rural primary schools and I commend the teachers for the great job they are doing”
The 400 Primary Schools project started in 2012 with 12 members but is currently working with 100 teachers who are working in primary schools in 18 districts across Malawi.
DAPP Malawi continues to train and equip youth in various skills through its four teacher training colleges and Mikolongwe vocational school. As such, on 16th August, TEVETA Head of Projects & Development Mr Ishmail Ali visited DAPP Dowa Teachers Training Centre (TTC) to appreciate the courses on offer. He interacted with graduated tailoring students who were trained under a four months tailoring course known as Satellite which targets adolescent girls and young women from vulnerable backgrounds. The course, offered in all the four DAPP TTC’s, is an extension of the three year Tailoring and Fashion design course at DAPP Mikolongwe Vocational school and is funded by Sympany from the Netherlands.
A graduate explains the theory components of the course
Product sewn by one of the graduates
Very impressed with the array of various sewn materials made by the graduates, Mr Ali commended DAPP for the good work that is being done.
DAPP Malawi has been working with TEVETA in supporting the Malawi governments efforts in ensuring that the rates of unemployment in the country is reduced by equipping youth with entrepreneurship skills that will enable them to start up small scale businesses through its Mikolongwe Vocational school as well as preparing students to become teachers for the rural government primary schools through DAPP’s four Teacher Training Colleges in Mzimba, Dowa, Thyolo and Blantyre. To date, 2,919 students have graduated from the four DAPP TTC’s since their establishment
24 year old Victoria Amidu is a first born daughter in a family of 3. Her dream and passion has always been in the fashion design industry though against her parent’s liking as they wanted to see their daughter being a banker.
“I don’t want to be receiving petty cash while dressed in descent clothes in an air conditioned room in a banking hall, I want to be making my own money whilst working hard,” Victoria narrated her response to her parent’s dislike for her work and her personal goals.
One of the his & hers collection by Vtouch Designs
Some of Vtouch's productions
Upon completion of her secondary education, Victoria first studied Business Management at PACT College and found a job in the sales and marketing industry. She nonetheless paid a tailor who taught her some basics of tailoring and later left her job to join DAPP Mikolongwe Vocational School (MVS) for a Textile and Fashion Design (TFD) course to fulfil her dream of becoming a fashion designer. She joined the institution 6 months later than her classmates who had enrolled in 2015 for the 3 year course. Victoria did her attachments at Lily Alfonso in Lilongwe. There she boosted her skills in entrepreneurship and garment finishing in a quest to satisfy customers. Whilst in school, before and after her attachment, she worked with the tailor she had paid to train her in tailoring basics on different designer clothes for different customers. Four months after graduating, she opened her shop in Nancholi township in Blantyre. She employed her tailoring basics mentor and her former classmate from DAPP Mikolongwe Vocational School due to the volume of work she was having.
Her customer base is not only in Blantyre, it extended to the capital city, Lilongwe through a shop going by the label Vtouch which makes more than MK300,000.00 a month (more than EUR350). From the proceeds, she pays her employees as well as shop rentals whilst also taking care of her home as she stays with her younger brother. In a period of 4 months, she managed to buy a sewing machine, furniture for her home, a smartphone and a laptop among others. Victoria is earning a living and more, whilst also fulfilling her designing instincts.
