By Santos Zefania
United States fellowship beneficiaries have called for intensified efforts to equip Malawian youth with modern entrepreneurship skills, saying such initiatives are critical to strengthening youth-led enterprises and tackling unemployment in the country.
The call was made on Thursday during an Entrepreneurship Business Model for the Modern Youth Workshop held at the American Embassy in Lilongwe.
The event brought together young entrepreneurs who shared lessons and experiences gained from a U.S. Department of State-sponsored fellowship.
One of the Malawian fellows, Rachel Kumwenda, described the fellowship as a transformative platform that exposed participants to advanced systems and global best practices which can be adapted to local business environments.
“It was a very important programme sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, targeting young people in business, civic engagement and public management.
We were equipped with practical skills that are directly applicable to our work back home,” said Kumwenda.She added that the exposure had enabled participants to identify gaps within Malawi’s entrepreneurial landscape and apply lessons learned to strengthen local enterprises.
“Being exposed to a sophisticated and advanced environment like the U.S. changes how you think about business. When you come back, you reflect on areas that need improvement and use that knowledge to drive change,” she said.
Echoing the sentiments, fellow Victor Henry Daffrece urged government and stakeholders to create a more enabling environment for youth entrepreneurs, noting that young people account for a significant proportion of business operators in the country.
“If Malawi creates a conducive environment for young entrepreneurs through improved access to finance and youth-friendly financial products such as microfinancing, young people can thrive and contribute meaningfully to national development,” he said.
He also emphasised the importance of knowledge sharing, noting that fellowship beneficiaries have a responsibility to pass on skills and insights to fellow entrepreneurs.
“We were trained under the business leadership track. Keeping that knowledge to ourselves would defeat the purpose of the programme. Sharing it allows us to apply those lessons within the Malawian context,” he said.Meanwhile, U.S. Embassy Chargé d’Affaires in Malawi, Jonathan Fischer, said strengthening modern entrepreneurship skills among young people is key to improving employability and reducing unemployment.
“Empowering young entrepreneurs with relevant, modern business skills is essential to building sustainable enterprises that create jobs. When youth-led businesses grow, they not only strengthen the economy but also help reduce unemployment,” said Fischer.
He added that the United States Government remains committed to supporting initiatives that nurture innovative, skilled and resilient young entrepreneurs capable of driving inclusive economic growth.
Fischer further encouraged young business leaders to model best practices and mentor others, saying peer-to-peer learning is vital in building a strong entrepreneurial ecosystem.
The fellows said the exposure had reshaped their approach to business, particularly in promoting collaboration rather than isolated enterprise development.
They noted that if Malawi adopts this approach, youth-led enterprises can support each other and grow sustainably.
The programme places young leaders from Sub-Saharan Africa at various universities in the United States, where they acquire practical skills in business management, leadership, civic engagement and public administration.
