By Pempho Nkhoma
Blantyre based football team, Chilobwe United, has started a youth empowerment initiative, providing vocational training to its players and community members as a way of empowering young people in Chilobwe Township and surrounding areas.
Chilobwe United FC which plays in Southern Region Football Association’s Premier Division has partnered with Chilobwe Community Technical College to start offering three-months vocational training to local youths at a subsided K15,000 commitment fee.
The team’s Public Relations Officer, Julio Chimbuzi, told Malawi News Agency on Friday that being a community football team, Chilobwe United FC has various programmes designed to give back to the community, citing environmental restoration and youth empowerment as an example.
“We work under a theme; ‘Where Football Meets Community Impact’. Whatever we are doing as a team, should benefit the community. We use football as a tool of helping our society,
“The vocational skills initiative is not for players, we want every young person in Chilobwe Township to have equal opportunity through our vocational programme,” said Chimbuzi, adding that Chilobwe FC wants to see young people becoming economically self-reliant, on top of seeing the young people refraining from risky behaviours.
He therefore called on well partners and other people of good will to support the programme, saying the team was doing a lot that need adequate support to achieve meaningful impact on the young people.
“The door is open for people who want to help us. Whether with cash or materials to be used at the college. We are also looking for partners that can provide work opportunities or internship to students,” he added.
First cohort of students, consisting of nine Chilobwe United FC players and other community members, is attending classes.
Captain for Chilobwe United FC, Sylvester Chimenya, who has enrolled for Welding and Fabrication, has expressed gratitude, saying the programme will help young people become self-reliant.
“This is very beneficial; we will have something to rely on after retiring from football,” Chimenya added.
Apart from Welding and Fabrication, Chilobwe Technical College also offers Carpentry and Joinery, Plumbing, Tailoring and Fashion Design, and Information Communication and Technology.
Chilobwe FC planted has been involved in other community engagements and, in February, the Club planted 1, 000 trees at Soche Hill in Blantyre.
