YDP student Diriro reports on the recent skills taster sessions

Diriro is a Youth Development Programme (YDP) student who plans to study journalism at university. In his own words, Diriro reports on the recent skills taster sessions for YDP students at Hope Skills Centre. He took part in the electrical network hardware course.

ABOUT COMPUTING

I have gained experience and knowledge. Our instructor, Neil, is a fun guy. He has a lot of experience with networking and electricity. We have been doing so many things, including wiring network cables, plugs and sockets.

We even replaced the RAMs and batteries in some laptops. We also had a look around to see how network towers work.

Neil told us: “If you think someone has been electrocuted, don’t touch him/her directly as you may also get electrocuted; instead, find an insulator (a material that does not conduct electricity) to help that one out.”  It was interesting and important to learn.

Overall, it was so amazing. I am now able to do wiring for cables, and I am more knowledgeable about computer networks and electricity. We also downloaded and installed Google Chrome OS, Windows 10 and OpenOffice onto desktop computers. 

 ABOUT TAILORING

The students on the tailoring programme have been sewing shorts, t-shirts and dresses –school uniforms for primary school students. They are still proceeding with their work until they finish.

Isabel, Hope4Development’s interim tailoring trainer, was their instructor, and Diana, local tailor and deputy headteacher at Chimwembe Primary School, also joined during the taster session.

The students said: “We were enjoying what we were doing on the tailoring course because Isabel and Diana were open and friendly to us.”

Most of them can take some measurements and create good patterns, which they couldn’t do before these sessions. Lonjezo Kungaume, a YDP student on the tailoring programme, said: “What is needed is to be serious in whatever we are doing, as we know hard work pays.”

ABOUT FARMING

Lonjezo Geoffrey is a YDP student on the farming programme. “Most Malawians are farmers, and they do depend on farming as the backbone for their economy, but the problem is they do it on a subsistence basis,” he said.

With the knowledge the students on the farming programme have gained, they are now able to educate others in their societies on how to do farming as a business (on a commercial basis).

The students spent time doing animal husbandry with Aubrey Botoman. Hope4Development’s farm manager is their instructor. They focused on goat and chicken farming as their priority.

With chickens, they were dealing with ‘layers’, which are mainly for egg production. They looked at the proper feed for layers and how to control parasites and diseases.

With goats, they looked at proper feeding and considered how to maximise profits.

“We enjoyed it because we were free to ask questions where we didn’t understand, and even where we needed more clarification,” the students said.

It seems that the students really enjoyed what they were doing, as most of them are curious to start their own farming projects after this programme (YDP).

ABOUT BUILDING

The building students were with instructor Ben, Hope4Development’s builder, and Mr Gongoni, local foreman.

They were making mud plaster for the small houses here at the skills centre.

Chimwemwe Walani, YDP student, said: “For the plaster to be durable and reliable, it has to be one inch thick on the wall. This is very important because it helps to prevent falling down of the wall during heavy rains.” 

“Mixing sand and other soils well has also to be considered when doing mud plaster because that determines how the plaster will be,” said Hannah, a YDP student.

The team enjoyed what they were doing. They gained a huge amount of experience building because they tackled many things, not only plastering skills.

ABOUT WELDING

Welding was hosted by John, a local welder, as the instructor. The team went to do their work at his workshop in Admark, a short walk from Hope Skills Centre.

The students learnt that for welding, you need to know the metals you are working with. They practised doing some calculations and measurements, which is very important. They have even managed to make a table and a window frame on their own after the training.

They really enjoyed it and have been invited by John to go for further training in their free time.

Diririo with Lonjezo Geoffrey, Ibrahim, Raphael and Steve.

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