By Jones Gadama
The Evangelical Lutheran Development Service (ELDS) has made a significant donation to the Nkhwazi Community Skills Centre in Mchinji’s Traditional Authority Mavwere.
The donation includes two sewing machines and start-up tools valued at K4.8 million, aimed at supporting learners at the institution.
The donation is part of the SRHR-HIV Knows No Borders Project, which seeks to reduce poor sexual and reproductive health outcomes among the youth.
Heath programmes officer Verah Nkosi Khomeliwa said the aim is to provide graduates with a starting point for income generation activities and alleviate pressure on the centre’s existing materials.
Khomeliwa highlighted that ELDS, with support from the International Organization for Migration (IOM), has been paying tuition fees for underprivileged learners at the centre.
Over 40 learners graduated from the institution last year, and over 90 have graduated since 2023.
Principal Geoffrey Kachila expressed gratitude for the donation, citing challenges faced by the centre, including a lack of teaching and learning materials and low numbers of instructors.
The centre mostly caters to vulnerable individuals in surrounding communities.
The donation is expected to make a significant impact on the lives of learners at the centre, enabling them to acquire skills and generate income.
ELDS’s support demonstrates its commitment to promoting skills development and improving the livelihoods of vulnerable communities.
