Overcoming Obstacles Through Vocational Training: The Journey of Tisungane Elesoni

Tisungane Elesoni, a 19-year-old from Chitengu Village in Thyolo district, had a really tough time growing up. When she lost her father in 2002, her life got even harder. She turned into being responsible to care for the household and siblings since her mother could not do that alone. As the only girl in a family of four siblings, Tisungane undeservedly assumed the role of a mother to care for her brothers and manage household chores. Her mother, deeply engaged at work, could not alone provide for their basic needs, including education.

With the responsibility that she was now shouldering, Tisungane could neither attend classes regularly nor find space to cover up for her missed classes, she eventually dropped out of school at primary level. Her attempts to supplement the family income through casual labour on smallholder tea farms only emphasized the depth of their financial constraints.

“It was very difficult for me to balance school and household demands. My mother usually left early in the morning to sale farm produce like corn and do piece works to fend for the family and always came back late; leaving me with no option but to take care of all the homestead chores. I couldn’t continue with school in that set up,” she said.

However, knowing that she was advancing in age, she felt the urgent need to find ways of breaking the chains of poverty.

It was very difficult for me to balance school and household demands. My mother usually left early in the morning to sale farm produce like corn and do piece works to fend for the family and always came back late; leaving me with no option but to take care of all home chores. I couldn’t continue with school in that set up."

Tisungane Elesoni

Tisungane was selected for a transformative vocational training program under the ACCEL Africa project. Implemented by the Impact Centre for Economic Empowerment and Development (ICEED) and supported by the International Labour Organization (ILO) with funding from the Netherlands' Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the program aimed to alleviate child labour in smallholder tea farms by providing young people with alternative vocational skills. Among the 150 young people selected from Thyolo and Mulanje districts, Tisungane was offered training in welding.

“In fact, I was aware that most youth are not employed. As a school dropout with no certificate to show, I felt my future died together with my father,” said Tisungane.

Tisungane was one of the 150 young people identified for skills development training in Thyolo and Mulanje, the two major tea growing districts in Malawi. They were trained in vocational skills such as carpentry, tailoring, welding and tinsmith. Tisungane trained as a welder.

In fact, I was aware that most youth are not employed. As a school dropout with no any certificate to show, I felt my future died together with my father."

Tisungane Elesoni

“I’m grateful for the training. I’m now a complete welder but I wish to plead with ICEED to consider equipping us with tools to start our own enterprises. The tools will also help us to keep practicing perfecting our skills,” she observed.

Tisungane’s life has been remarkably changed by this opportunity. While she is still in the process of acquiring her own welding tools for complete independence, she has joined a local welding shop to hone her skills. Her quality craftsmanship now garners local clientele, and she envisions establishing her own steelworks workshop in the future. More ambitiously, Tisungane aims to employ young girls, offering them an alternative to the exploitative labour conditions in smallholder tea farms and contributing to the broader goal of female economic empowerment.

Her journey highlights how targeted skill development programs can break the cycle of poverty and engender community transformation. Tisungane’s story transcends her individual achievements, standing as a testament to the potential for elevating vulnerable youth from dire circumstances to economic independence and social contribution. Her ambition to employ more girls not only symbolizes her personal triumph over adversity but also marks her as a catalyst for positive change within her community and, by extension, her nation.

All beneficiaries under the youth up-skilling component of ACCEL Africa attended formal institutions where they underwent a tailor-made, intensive three-month program, despite the standard duration being six months, to accommodate their unique requirements.