Young inmates in Thyolo acquire technical skills

Young Men Christian Association of Malawi (YMCA) is equipping juvenile inmates at Bvumbwe Young Offenders Rehabilitation Centre in Thyolo District with vocational skills to prepare them for life after their jail terms.

The initiative, under the Climate Games project, is targeting nearly 100 young offenders with skills in tailoring, design and agriculture, among other areas.

The project follows the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the association and relevant authorities on July 17 2026 with participants subsequently taking part in gameplay sessions designed to promote interaction and personal development.

Young inmates playing games.

| Yvonnie Sakala

The latest gameplay session was held on Monday at the centre.

YMCA director of operations and compliance Jairos Chafunsa said the initiative seeks to equip the young offenders with skills that can help them become economically independent and reduce their chances of returning to crime.

“We observed a rise in crime among young people. This rise is mainly because they are trying to survive, which pushes them into unlawful acts. Equipping them with skills is giving them a good path of survival,” he said.

Chafunsa said the project will also engage communities where the young offenders come from to encourage acceptance and support when they return home.

“Some of these young people are called bad names, feared and discriminated against in their societies. We need society to understand that these are changed individuals,” he said.

The centre’s prison warden Yollamu Sabwelera said the programme was important in supporting the rehabilitation and reintegration of the young offenders.

“The project’s objectives are in line with our objectives, which makes the youth better citizens and productive when they return to their respective areas,” he said.

One of the beneficiaries, Mwawina Kambani, said the programme gave him an opportunity to learn new skills and develop a different outlook on life beyond the rehabilitation centre.

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