Blantyre based youth-run non-governmental organisation, Young Achievers for Development (YAD) has embarked on an initiative aimed at empowering women economically.

The initiative, which is being carried under Girls Shine project, has brought together girls from Nkhata Bay, Mangochi, Lilongwe, Mchinji and Blantyre who are being trained in tailoring and fashion designing skills.

The beneficiaries, who are 20 in total, have gathered in Blantyre.

Speaking to Yoneco online, YAD Executive Director, Jefferson Milanzi, said his organisation expects that at the end of the course the beneficiaries will be economically independent.

Milanzi said: “Through this project we are looking at how best we can equip vulnerable girls and young women with skills that will make them economically independent because we have seen that women who are not economically independent are mostly prone to gender based violence (GBV).”

He further said once the beneficiaries undergo the training they will also impart the knowledge to others in their respective communities.

Milanzi added that the organisation is planning to train more girls by taking the initiative to all the districts across the country however lack of resources remains a burden.

YAD is also working in collaboration with the Ministry of Youth, Community Based Organisations (CBOs) and traditional leaders.

YAD was established in 2009 with a vision to achieve a productive, responsible and purpose driven youths that actively participate in the national building process.