Salima, Malawi — For 20-year-old Desire Thindwa from Salima, dropping out of school in Standard 8 felt like the end of her academic journey. Frustrated by her struggles in the classroom, she left school in 2018, uncertain about what lay ahead.

“I wasn’t doing well in class,” Desire recalls. “So, I decided to drop out. My guardian wanted me to keep trying, but I was discouraged by my inability to progress.”

With no clear plan for the future, Desire spent two years at home helping with household chores. But she longed for more. That’s when she discovered a local youth group dedicated to empowering young people with knowledge on sexual and reproductive health, economic empowerment, and human rights.

“I was tired of just sitting at home,” she explains. “I wanted to do something meaningful with my life. That’s why I  joined the group.”

A Safe Space for Growth and Learning

The youth group, made up of 15 young women and 17 young men aged 15 to 24, meets weekly at the district youth centre in Salima. With support from UNFPA through the Government of Norway-funded Joint Programme on Girls’ Education (JPGE), the centre offers a range of services, including comprehensive sexuality education, family planning, and vocational training.

Despite dropping out of school, Desire was determined not to fall into the trap of early marriage or unplanned pregnancy. The knowledge she gained at the centre helped her take control of her future.

“The sessions on reproductive health were life-changing,” she says. “I learned so much about my body, different methods of preventing pregnancy, and how to protect myself from sexually transmitted infections.”

Turning Passion into Profit

Beyond reproductive health education, Desire also enrolled in a tailoring class—an opportunity that reignited her childhood dream of becoming a fashion designer. Attending a formal college had always seemed out of reach due to financial constraints, but the centre provided a free training program that made her dream possible.

“I’ve always been passionate about fashion, but most of the clothes I see in stores don’t impress me,” she says. “Whenever I see a dress, I get ideas on how I could make it even better. That’s what inspired me to enrol in tailoring.”

For trainees without their own sewing machines, the centre provides shared facilities, allowing them to practice their craft and even start small businesses. Desire has been making the most of this opportunity by designing and sewing dresses for clients. In just six months, she has earned close to MK150,000.

“My clients love the dresses I make,” she beams. “I upcycle second-hand clothing, giving old dresses a fresh, stylish look. The quality of the fabric is usually great. I just redesign them to make them more fashionable.”

The income from her tailoring business has been a game-changer, helping her support her aunt, a single mother, by contributing to household expenses.

I feel independent now. Earning my own money gives me confidence and a sense of purpose

Farming for the Future

While some youth, like Desire, are thriving in fashion, others have found success in agriculture. The youth centre also offers training in horticulture and carpentry, equipping young people with practical skills to generate income.

Frank Hassan, another beneficiary of the centre’s programs, initially had little interest in farming. However, after joining the youth group and seeing the success of his peers, he decided to give it a try. He enrolled in a horticulture course, and today, alongside two business partners, he runs a five-acre farm where they grow maize, tomatoes, and eggplants.

“I wasn’t into farming at first,” he admits. “But after joining the group, I was inspired by others who were making a living from it. I had no prior knowledge of farming as a business, so I decided to take the horticulture course.”

Their venture has paid off. Frank and his partners now earn nearly MK600,000 per harvest.

“We specialize in vegetables because there is a high demand from local lodges in Salima that require fresh produce,” he explains. “Given this demand, we’re planning to rent more land and expand our production.”

Empowering Youth, Transforming Communities

Beyond financial independence, the youth centre is equipping young people with critical life skills. Frank, who is also a father, credits the centre’s reproductive health education with helping him make informed decisions about family planning.

“The health staff have been very supportive,” he says. “Most of us in the group are young and at an age where risky behaviour is common. But with the guidance and services we receive, we can now make informed decisions about our bodies and our futures.”

Joseph Scott, Communications Specialist