For many young people in Malawi who leave school prematurely, the path to a stable future often seems blocked. Enock Mtambalika from Kapopo, Mzimba, was one such individual who faced a stagnant existence after dropping out in Form Two.

"I was just staying at home doing nothing and was struggling to buy small, small things that I needed on a daily basis," he recalled.

Today, however, there is light at the end of the tunnel for Enock and others like him. The "Green Jobs for Adolescents and Youths" project is providing a lifeline, transforming personal hardship into entrepreneurial success and environmental contribution.

Funded by Save the Children Italy through Save the Children Malawi, this project targets out-of-school youths, arming them with marketable skills in environmentally sustainable sectors.

Building Sustainable Ventures

The project provides training and business incubation support in environmentally friendly skills, including: Renewable Energy: Solar installation, water pumps, biogas; Sustainable Agriculture: Modern, efficient farming techniques, and Eco-Friendly Vocations: Bakery (using energy-efficient stoves), tailoring, and ecotourism.

The overall goal is to enable participants to stand alone economically while actively contributing to environmental conservation.

Enock and his two friends took this opportunity to specialize in a crucial field: the installation of solar water pumps and home solar systems.

"This project has changed our lives," said Enock. "We call ourselves 'the big three,' and soon we will be operating as a registered company as all the processes for registration have been done.”

The trio is formalizing their business to expand their reach, employ more community youths, and promote clean energy solutions that reduce environmental strain in the Kapopo Mndhlanga area.

From K0 to K500,000

Mtambalika said even without fully completing their training, they are already installing solar pumps and home systems for clients. The results are life-changing.

“It depends on how many have hired us, but on average we make over K500,000 a month when we offer our services,” said Mtambalika, while guiding reporters through a banana plantation where they installed a solar pump.

Their next plan is to expand their reach outside Kapopo by registering The Big Three as a formal solar company.

The impact of the Green Jobs initiative extends beyond solar power. Sophilet Mkandawire, another project participant from the area of Inkosi Mzikubola, utilized the training to acquire skills in bakery.

Mkandawire now plans to establish a fully-fledged bakery, committed to protecting the environment through the use of efficient, modern energy cooking stoves.

“I can say my life has changed. I no longer rely on my parents, I fend for myself through baking,” said Mkandawire. “I have even bought bags of fertilizer from the proceeds of baking which I will use to grow maize.”

Fighting Deforestation with Briquets

The initiative is implemented by a consortium including ADRA Malawi, Emerge Livelihoods, Mzuzu University, CRECOM, and TEVETA, across Mzimba and Ntcheu districts.

Emmanuel Mbizi Mazuwa from the area of Inkosi Kampingo Sibande has also benefitted. Mazuwa, together with his peers, formed the Ng'ombe Yavuka club and specializes in briquet making and biogas installation.

He highlights that briquets and biogas are cheap, vital technologies that can help reduce the rate of deforestation fueled by traditional charcoal production and firewood use.

“Apart from protecting the environment, briquet making and biogas installation are lucrative ventures for income generation among the youths who dropped out of school or do not have white-collar jobs,” said Mazuwa.

He added that through the project, they have also gained crucial business management skills that will be essential when they scale up their production.

Cultivating Mindset Change

Mzimba District Youth Officer Yamikani Nyalugwe hailed the project as crucial in promoting mindset change among the youth.

“This project has had a significant impact on the youths in the district as they have acquired skills in tailoring, pastry and baking, solar installation, briquets making, installing biogas, as well as food production and decoration skills. As government, we are impressed with the strides made,” Nyalugwe said.

ADRA Malawi Project Coordinator Beatrice Banda confirmed the popularity of the program. “The skills being imparted... have been grouped into three categories: ecotourism, renewable energy, and sustainable agriculture, so the youth choose what to pursue on their own.”

By equipping these young individuals with practical, relevant skills, the Green Jobs project is not just offering employment, it's cultivating a new generation of sustainable entrepreneurs committed to building stronger communities across Malawi which are conscious of the environment.