Britain Committed in Empowerment of Malawi Youth Through ‘Zitheka!’

• Zitheka! Promotes entrepreneurship skills as one way of supporting Malawi economy

• British Council launched the programme on Thursday 

Michael Nevin 

The British High Commission to Malawi says remains committed in championing youth empowerment programmes as one way of supporting Malawi’s economy.

The UK government through British Council on Thursday launched ‘Zitheka!’ initiative (make happen), which aims at raising awareness of entrepreneurship amongst young Malawians and to encourage them to consider entrepreneurship as a viable route to employment for them and others.  The initiative, seeks to provide a forum to explore ideas, learn business skills, network with those who can provide support and above all motivate people to taking action.

In an exclusive interview British High Commissioner to Malawi, His Excellencey Michael Nevin says the launch of Zitheka! is a demonstration of Britain’s commitment in ensuring that Malawi youths have better skills and knowledge of how they can support themselves through entrepreneurship.

“This is not a large scale public works programme for the youth or anything like that but, what we are trying to do is to create a movement, attitude shift whilst also providing (particularly online), some tools, guidance and ideas for basically young people to do for themselves” said Mr. Nevin of this initiative

“As it has been quoted for so many times by ministers in the current government, it would be impossible for either the current private sector or government to provide jobs for such a large pool of young people. So, that means young people have got to side how they are going to help themselves”

The British High Commissioner then said Zitheka! “Is a target” trying to provide young Malawians with some guidance about how to help themselves so that they can also support Malawi economy.

“We have other programmes on economic development and agriculture sector” he said, “But this is particularly targeted on saying, Okay Young Malawians, the future is here but you've got to take it and here is how you might be able to take it. But it’s up to you to take it”

The British envoy explained that though Zitheka! has been done as one off event on Thursday where series of master classes were conducted to about 200 young people in Lilongwe, but all materials will be available on British Council Website and promoted throughout this year to make possible for every young Malawian learn various entrepreneurial skills.

He further said, such materials will assist youth in different stages of developing and implementing an idea, develop business plan and approaches to possible financiers and make that idea into reality. 

Whilst noting that Malawi is a bit lagging behind on youth entrepreneurship as compared to countries like Kenya, Mr. Nevin said initiatives like Zitheka! is another way of making Malawi go through an attitudinal shift for such a problem “This is a kick start on changing attitudes, change approaches by showing that you will need to do things for yourself in usual initiatives and this is types of things that you need to think about to be successful.”

Zitheka! project is part of the ‘Entrepreneurial Africa’ campaign being launched by the British Council to further support entrepreneurialism in Sub-Saharan Africa where a quarter of all young people are out of work and not in education.

The Britsh High Commissioner, Michael Nevin has assured that if the trial of this project develops a better of life, then British Council will see what more to do to extend its reach.