‘IT’S NOT JUST A TRAINING PROGRAM, IT’S AN OPPORTUNITY TO COMPLETELY CHANGE THE LIVES OF YOUNG PEOPLE’

Gayighayi Mathews Mfune, Director, Music Crossroads Malawi

“I am proud of what we have achieved with this project. When we started in 2017, together with Gered Gereedschap and Young in Prison, our goal was clear: to give former incarcerated youth a second chance. We started small, with a group of 10 students in metalworking and welding. At first, there were many doubts about the success, especially because our students were former prisoners. But soon the results became visible, and the resistance faded.”

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“Today, we train more than 60 young people per year, from all walks of life. The support of Gered Gereedschap was essential in setting up new workshops, where we now offer courses in tailoring and shoemaking alongside metalworking. Our approach is very practical. We focus on young people who often don’t have access to formal education and provide them with the tools to build an independent life.”

“It’s not just a training program; it’s an opportunity to completely change the lives of these young people. We not only give them skills but also the confidence to find their own path. They learn not only how to make products, but also how to understand what their customers want and how to deliver it. Our former students have proven that they can successfully open their own workshops and contribute to their community. That is what I am most proud of.”