The Public Private Partnership Commission (PPPC) under the Digital Malawi Project (DIGMAP) in collaboration with a tech hub, Rydberg Starck Limited, has rolled out the ‘Luntha ndi Chuma’ digital skills development and innovation training programme in Chikwawa District to scale up uptake of the digital and entrepreneurial skills among the youth.
Speaking in an interview during the inspection tour on Monday in the district, DIGMAP Project Manager Chimwemwe Matemba said the ‘Luntha ndi Chuma’ digital skills development and innovation training programme will help the youth to thrive and compete in the digital age.
He said: “Most youths in hard-to-reach areas like Chikwawa are lagging far behind in penetrating the digital space because of the lack of the requisite digital and entrepreneurial skills”.
“This is why the PPPC under DIGMAP is implementing the ‘Luntha ndi Chuma’ programme to build human capacity by nurturing and equipping the youth in the district to become young tech enthusiasts who have employable digital skills or can apply these skills in their business endeavors. We target the less vulnerable and the marginalized, hence offering free training”.
Rydberg Starck Team Leader Yusuf Chimole said the training programme targets 200 youths in the district.
He added that the courses being offered include Computer Basic, Introduction to Digital Communication, Fundamentals of Entrepreneurship, Basic Business Management, and Budgeting, just to mention a few.
“Apart from the ‘Luntha ndi Chuma’ digital skills development and innovation training programme, we will also implement Mass ICT Literacy which will target 300 trainees that will include among others, youths and the elderly. This programme will tackle cash transfer and cybersecurity issues, and the like” said Chimole.
Moses Emmanuel, one of the beneficiaries of ‘Luntha ndi Chuma’ digital skills development and innovation training programme, said the project will empower and transform his life economically.
“After finishing my secondary school education in 2018, I was just staying home doing nothing. But now, things will change because once I acquire the skills, I will be able to start my own business”, said Emmanuel.
The PPPC under DIGMAP is implementing the ‘Luntha ndi Chuma’ digital skills development and innovation training programme across the country with funding from the World Bank through technical (tech) hubs.
