From Child Laborer to Skilled Entrepreneur: The Inspiring Journey of Benson Panwell in Malawi
31 March 2022
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Benson Panwell, a 17-year-old from Chawala Village in Malawi, was like many other youths who had to work in the coffee fields to support his family after dropping out of school due to lack of sponsorship. Despite being underage, Benson had to work long hours in the coffee fields to earn enough money to buy basic needs for his family. However, his life took a positive turn when he was identified and withdrawn from child labour activities by the International Labour Organization's ACCEL Project.
Benson was among 150 youths who were supported by the ACCEL Project to undergo a three-month training program in Carpentry and Joinery at Bowe Technical College. Besides vocational skills training, he received training in business management and entrepreneurship, financial management, and child labour and related laws. The training program aimed to equip young people with knowledge and skills in business management to prevent them from engaging in vices such as child labour.
Benson is grateful to the ILO for initiating the ACCEL Project, which aims to empower youths with vocational skills to increase economic opportunities for sustainable livelihoods. Benson now hopes to employ fellow youths at his Carpentry and Joinery shop and equip them with skills to run their own companies.
Benson's success story is a testament to the transformative power of vocational skills training in eradicating child labour and creating sustainable livelihoods for youths in Malawi. With more initiatives like the ACCEL Project, we can ensure that no youth has to suffer the indignity of child labour and instead have the opportunity to achieve their dreams and aspirations.
Benson was among 150 youths who were supported by the ACCEL Project to undergo a three-month training program in Carpentry and Joinery at Bowe Technical College. Besides vocational skills training, he received training in business management and entrepreneurship, financial management, and child labour and related laws. The training program aimed to equip young people with knowledge and skills in business management to prevent them from engaging in vices such as child labour.
Today, Benson is doing an attachment at Aseliano Carpentry and Joinery shop in his area, earning a minimum of K5,000 (about USD 4.83) per day. In a busy month, he can earn K110,000 (about USD 106.15) compared to the earning of coffee field work, which was K53,000 (about USD 51.15) per month in only three months of the coffee season. The ACCEL Project has improved the livelihood of Benson and his family as he is now able to buy basic needs and provide financial support to his family.I started working as casual labourer in coffee fields when I was 15 years old. The money I was getting was used to buy basic needs and support my parents. However, the money was not enough to sustain our lives in relation to the intensity of the work done in coffee fields."
Benson Panwell
Benson is grateful to the ILO for initiating the ACCEL Project, which aims to empower youths with vocational skills to increase economic opportunities for sustainable livelihoods. Benson now hopes to employ fellow youths at his Carpentry and Joinery shop and equip them with skills to run their own companies.
Benson's success story is a testament to the transformative power of vocational skills training in eradicating child labour and creating sustainable livelihoods for youths in Malawi. With more initiatives like the ACCEL Project, we can ensure that no youth has to suffer the indignity of child labour and instead have the opportunity to achieve their dreams and aspirations.