By Fostina Mkandawire

Salima, February 22, Mana: A total of 200 youths in Salima District have been empowered with skills in environmental management through utilization of opportunities acquired from environmental preservation.

The youths have been trained through a programme called Malawi Green Corps, implemented by Catholic Relief Services, and the graduation ceremony took place on Wednesday at Katelera Primary School in the area of Senior Chief Kambwiri.

Monitoring and Evaluation Officer for Catholic Relief Services (CRS), Jose Kanjira, highlighted that through the trainings, the youth gain different skills that will enhance their livelihoods.

He said the 200 youths have gained skills and opportunities to create jobs for themselves, be able to employ others and build a green economy, while protecting the environment through recycling old wastes.

"The recruited Malawi Green Corps members are supervised on a day-to-day basis for a period of four months, while equipping them with skills in tree management, bee keeping and saving skill. The supervision is done by CRS under the overall monitoring of UNDP.

"Climate change and deforestation has increased the number and strength of cyclones in Malawi. Therefore, revitalizing landscapes is critical to improving Malawi’s economy and preventing climate-related shocks," said Kanjira.

He said through the trainings, CRS provides human resources and financial services to recruit and train up to 2,000 youths between the ages of 18-35 in ten districts in environmental and forestry management, entrepreneurship, and forest-literacy.

Council Chairperson for Salima, Chifungo Katoweka, highlighted how important such initiatives are in empowering the youths and ending unemployment.

He said nowadays youths are idle because they lack skills that can enhance their livelihoods, hence the Malawi Green Corps has given the 200 youths lifelong skills that will enhance their livelihoods.

One of the graduates, Noel Hoposi, concurred with Katoweka and added that the project has equipped him with knowledge and skills on how to manage the environment, as well as business management.

Malawi Green Corps project has been implemented by CRS with funding from UNDP.