China has provided the Development Aid from People to People (Dapp) Teachers Training College in Dowa with a youth centre that is furnished with ITC equipment such as computers.
Chinese Ambassador to Malawi, Wang Shi-Ting, said the donation was made as China recognises the importance of education to every country’s development. He made the remarks yesterday when he officially handed over the facility.
He said the centre will serve as recreational place for the youth surrounding the area while the youth at the college will use it as a resource centre.
“We had a request from this college to have a youth centre to train students and communities around[the college]. We value education because it holds a key for development of a country,” he said.
China also donated a borehole, which the ambassador said will reduce water challenges the college and the communities face especially during the dry season.
The Chinese Ambassador further said China is in agreement with Malawi to construct five community colleges with youth centres in the country.
Dapp Partnership Officer, Florence Lilongwe, commended China for the support and said it will also contribute to the organisation’s programmes that are being implemented to support young people.
“It’s really a milestone because with our programmes, Dapp alone cannot manage to bring development to the people. The support which Dapp has received will go a long way considering that they were lacking this kind of environment where young people could interact and share skills,” she said.
Deputy Director for the Department of Technical and Vocational Training, Richard Chirwa, said the donation will complement government’s efforts in the area of youth development.
“Government has already started establishing the youth centres and community colleges in various places so the unveiling of the youth centre will compliment those efforts,” Chirwa said.
On the other hand, Chirwa also tipped China to support the college with remaining facilities for it to be a fully fledged youth centre in line with the ministry’s guidelines.
The youth facility has been constructed at a cost of K20 million while the borehole cost K7 million.
So far, the Chinese government has supported Malawi with 600 boreholes.
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