By Evance Chisiano
A group of young people has lauded Rydbery Starck Limited, an innovative engineering and technology company, for empowering them with computer and entrepreneurship knowledge and skills, including start-up business capital through Digital Skills Development Innovation Programme implemented under Digital Malawi Project (DIGMAP).
Ministry of Information and Digitalization officials had a tour of Rydberg Starck Limited’s offices at Mount Pleasant in Blantyre, recently, where they interacted with some of the youths that benefited from Malawi Digital Project to appreciate how youth digital and financial empowerment impacted on the trained youths.
Nellie Kamba, one of the ten young people, said she received K2 million start-up business capital from DIGMAP after undergoing a two-week training programme that also helped her gain computer and entrepreneurial knowledge and skills.
She added that after presenting a wining business idea, she got the grant that enabled her to open Kuwala ICT Center at Lunzu, where she offers typing and printing, scanning, photocopying, laminating, binding, and graphic designing services, besides offering computer lessons to young people at the trading centre.
Under DIGMAP, Rydberg Starck Limited trained 635 youths (43 per cent males and 57 percent females) in Blantyre, Chiradzulu, Chikwawa and Nsanje, where young people are in various income generating activities and other digital related employment for a living.
Another young lady, Happiness Douglas was trained by Rydberg Starck Limited on computer and entrepreneurial skills but she was not among the ten youths that received K2 million grants for business.
“I got business management skills; My business capital was the knowledge I got, and I am able to apply the knowledge such that I am in agri-business,
“I have got 22 goats and I grow a lot of onions and other vegetables, and I also support my siblings’ education,” she said, adding that she advertises her business on social media platforms to get more customers.
Douglas who looks forward to creating jobs, said she wanted to see her agri-business grow beyond what people see today.
Deputy Director of Policy and Planning in the Ministry of Information and Digitalization, Bessie Msusa, called on the youths to venture into businesses with knowledge and skills they acquired from DIGMAP.
“Start from the scratch if you want to prosper; You have skills and we expect you to grow,” she said, adding: “We trained you to enable you attain sustainable livelihood.”
Rydberg Starck Limited, Communication Officer, Cuthbert Magawa, said the organisation was pleased to be associated with young peoples’ successes out of entrepreneurial and digital skills training programmes.
“ICT mass literacy campaign and other digital skills training programmes are relevant to the young people. We are therefore impressed to see the young people we trained doing great things in their respective communities,” he added.
The communication Officer, said Rydberg Starck Limited will continue to empower young people with various digital and entrepreneurial skills, hoping that the skills will lead most young people to sustainable livelihood.
Luntha ndi Chuma, Digital Skills Development and Innovation Training Programme was being implemented by Public Private Partnership Commission (PPPC) under DIGMAP with funding from the World Bank.
