Case story – David Lameck

Written by DAPP Malawi. Posted in Case Stories

I am David Lameck and I hail from Matemba Village, Group Village Headman Chitinji in Traditional Authority Chiwalo in Machinga district. Since DAPP Child Aid project came to our village, it has helped us a lot in terms of sanitation and hygiene. In the past, people in this village didn’t have pit latrines and they were open defecation everywhere while other would depend on their neighbor’s toilets.

Community mobilazation meetings are conducted often

Latrines and a hand washing mechanism known as a tippy tap in use

The community didn’t know the importance of having a toilet at household level and we were defecating in the bush. This kind of behavior was fueling up hygiene related diseases like Cholera, dysentery and Diarrhea.
Most of the children in the village used to suffer from diarrhea frequently because we did not have pit latrines as our children made it a habit to defecate everywhere. To make the matters worse, our toilets also did not have drop hole covers which attracted more flies and led to more diseases. Then DAPP Child Aid project came and changed all that. They help us to form groups called Village Action Group (VGA) committee which is currently working hand in hand with the project leaders in sensitizing the whole community on the importance of good hygiene. This has been through the use of pit latrines at household level, construction of Tippy taps which is a hand washing mechanism and ensuring that pit latrine drop whole covers are present.
I am thankful to DAPP for the project. It has changed our lives here in Chintinji village.

Case story – Olivia Mbewe

Written by DAPP Malawi. Posted in Case Stories

Olivia Mbewe is a single mother of two who was trained under the four months Satellite Tailoring Course Offered at DAPP Dowa Teachers Training College (TTC). The course equips vulnerable adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) with skills and knowledge in basic tailoring with the aim of ensuring that they become self-reliant members of society.
“Before joining the course, all I dreamt about was being independent” Says Olivia
When she got enrolled into the course, Olivia knew her dreams would come true.” I felt excited because I Knew that my goal and vision will be achieve through the training. I started the course and finished the training in four months. After the training, we received the startup tools including a sowing machine, scissors, threads, iron, roll off fabric and a tape measure and were encouraged to work in groups of three’s known as trios” she said

Students during gradution

Sown traditional wear worn on graduation

Case Story – Eliza Adam

Written by DAPP Malawi. Posted in Case Stories

Eliza Adam is 86 years old. She comes from Nthulo village in Traditional Authority Ngolongoliwa, Thyolo district. One afternoon, standard 8 learners from Nthulo primary school paid here a visit. Led by their class teacher Mr George Mphanje, the learners had been prepared to visit the Gogo (old woman) to cheer her up, donated grocery items and assist her with the household chores.
George Mphanje is a Deputy Head teacher at Mphanje. He graduated from DAPP Chilagoma Teachers Training College.
He is a member of the DAPP graduated teachers network that voluntarily stick together to share ideas and experiences on how to improve the environments around their schools known as 400 Primary Schools.
He said supporting the elderly in the communities they live in together with the learners is one way of grooming the young generation to grow up into responsible citizens.

George playing with Gogo Eliza

Learners from Nthulo visit Gogo Eliza

DAPP Malawi participated in the International Youth Day commemorations that took place on 25 October 2019 at Embangweni Primary School ground in Mzimba district. The commemorations had been organised by Mzimba district council to celebrate youth in and around the district.The event was commemorated under the theme “Youth and Education: The Role of Education in Social Economic and Behaviour Change”.Students undergoing a Cobbler and Shoe Making course offered by DAPP Mikolongwe Vocational School at DAPP Mzimba Teachers Training College displayed the shoes that they have been producing in fulfilment of their training. The celebrations were graced by the District Commissioner for Mzimba. Also in attendance was the District Youth Officer and the Traditional Authority Inkosi Mzukuzuku. International Youth Day is commemorated to raise awareness and draw attention to issues that affect the youth.

Case Story: Nickson Somola

Written by DAPP Malawi. Posted in Case Stories

The initial Textile and Fashion Design (TFD) course funded by Sympany Netherlands produced 30 graduates. The three-year Textile and Fashion design course is offered at DAPP Mikolongwe Vocational School (MVS) in Chiradzulu district and equips students with skills and knowledge in Tailoring, designing, life skills and business management.
Nickson Somola was one of the 30 initial graduates. He grew up with passion to venture into the fashion industry and jumped to the chance of being trained at DAPP Mikolongwe Vocational School (MVS) in Chiradzulu district. He enrolled at MVS having been staying idol at his parent’s home while searching for tertiary education opportunities.
Even as a student, he started earning money from the work of his hands. He had a few customers that called upon his services mostly around his parent’s home in Bangwe Township of Blantyre district. Nickson started staying alone while in school just a stone throw away from his parent’s home. He bought a sewing machine from his early tailoring proceeds and with it he started business soon after graduating. He plied his trade for almost a year at his home in Bangwe while also offering tailoring lessons to those in need, at a small fee of course.
In April 2019, Nickson joined hands with his cousin, a Textile and Fashion Design (TFD) graduate from Beehive tailoring school and together they opened “2 in 1 Textiles & F.D” shop near the MACOHA weaving factory in Blantyre district.
The shop’s main lines of business since opening its doors have been designing and sewing bridal shower and engagements garments and school uniforms for primary and secondary schools. The shop has 4 sewing machines of which 3 belong to Nickson.
Nickson has had a monthly earning of more than MK100, 000.00 since opening the shop. His partner makes around the same amount. He reflected his first days in business as tough with customers not aware of his expertise but with time has built trust and a reasonable customer base.
He brands the training institution (MVS) as a yardstick in his life. He says despite his passion he nor his parents would afford to pay school fees hence thankful to Sympany for the financial support towards his training. He is independent, a bread winner to his immediate and extended family because of the training imparted by DAPP’s Mikolongwe Vocational School. He is also very appreciative to his trainers who he says have shaped his fortune.