MALAWI: Mainstream Gender in Vocational Skills, says Government official
The District Youth Officer for Thyolo District Council, Doreen Mbendera has expressed the need for gender mainstreaming approach in the implementation of Hope for Youth project being championed by the Catholic Development Commission in Malawi (CADECOM) of the Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM).
CADECOM is implementing Hope for Youth Project in five Catholic Technical Colleges namely: Namitete in Lilongwe, Mitengo in Thyolo, and Thondwe Village Polytechnic and Namitembo in Zomba.
Speaking at a day-long training for CADECOM staffs who will be implementing the project at Mitengo Technical College, Mbendera said gone are the days when women and girls were regarded as subjects rather they should equally be treated like men.
She said women or girls just like men should strive to take up vocational jobs in technical colleges and get skills in courses like carpentry, break laying and plumbing.
“Let this project engage more women to have the much needed knowledge in vocational skills just like men do. Who said women cannot do what men do? I am sure women can take up the challenge if given a chance,” she said.
Mbendera said women or girls should also be ready to demonstrate that they can perform even better hence win the trust of the donor community and those championing the campaign for women and girls’ empowerment.
She said the initiative is complementing government’s effort in uplifting the lives of the youth through technical colleges where they are trained various on vocational skills.
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By Prince Henderson, Communications Officer ECM
