Vincent Gunde 
By Vincent Gunde
A local Non – Governmental organization (NGO) – There is Hope (TIH) in partnership with WUSC will implement a two years project at the Dzaleka Refugee Camp in Dowa district targeting youth (refugee and host community).
The project “Displaced and Refugee youth Enabling Environment Mechanism – Accelerating Transition to Employment for Refugee Youth ( DREEM – ArTERY) will be implemented with a core focus on transitioning youth from skills, training to employment and entrepreneurship.
Presenting the project to the District executive committee (Dec) at the meeting held at the Boma, the organization’s Project Officer Mphatso Chimalizeni, said the project will be implemented with an overall goal of promoting youth employment, entrepreneurship, economic inclusion and self – reliance.
Chimalizeni said the project has the objective of improving access to work opportunities and income generation while reducing dependency.
He said the project will facilitate employment and self – employment opportunities, provide post – training support through mentorship, career guidance and start – up kits, and build on vocational skills already acquired through TIH and other accredited institutions.
The officer said the project has set specific targets for 50 youth (30 refugees, 20 Malawians), 25 youth employment or self employment, 10 employer partnerships to facilitate job placements and mentorship.
“On enterprise, 10 youth led businesses established with start – up kits and mentorship, 15 for job placements, and 220 household members expected to benefit indirectly,” said Chimalizeni.
In his remarks, Dowa District Council’s Principal Environmental Development Officer Yusuf Laki, thanked There is Hope for complimenting government efforts towards training the youth in vocational skills for them to be self – employed and employing others.
Laki called on partners to support the project so that it achieves its planned objectives saying the success of the project is the success of all the Dowa communities.
There is Hope will implement Displaced and Refugee Youth enabling environment mechanism (DREEM) project with funding from Mastercard Foundation.
