TEVET quality assurance director, Eliot Mulanje, said this in Mzimba Tuesday on the sidelines of a graduation for 65 young women trained in bakery business.

Skills Training Education Program STEP pumped in K37m towards the nine months training which was conducted by Kurya Ndiko Uku Bakery training center of Mzimba.

“When you look at skills development in Malawi there are lots and lots of youths particularly in rural community that would want to be trained in skills programs like this but often times or not the resources are not that adequate to cover every corner of the country,” said Mulanje.

Mulanje hailed partners supporting vocational skills training a move he described as crucial in wealth creation as the trainees go on to employ others.

Kirsten Larsen of skills education program whose organization pumped in K37m towards the bakery training, says vocational skills are crucial in helping vulnerable young women become financially independent.

“As STEP we are there to provide assistance to young women and vulnerable groups so that they can access the necessary skills to improve their livelihoods,” said Larsen.

However bakery trainer, Lexa Harrison, of Kurya Ndiko Uku training center said their is need for partners to increase allowances trainees get when they on attachment as well as supporting them with capital to kick start their businesses.

“The challenge we have is that monies they are given as allowances is not enough. When they go on attachments they need to pay for their upkeep and rent for them to survive. But in all I think the future is bright for them,”said Harrison.

One of the trainees from Nkhata Bay, Eunice Zagaf, said the training has been an eye opener as she has learnt how to run a viable and profitable bakery.