Scaling innovation in Malawi

Since 2018, SOS Children’s Villages Malawi has partnered with Young Africa International to reimagine vocational training. Together, we have applied the Franchise Business Model and Life Skills Education, empowering youth with confidence, practical skills, and real business experience.

Today, three production workshops, including Fabrication & Welding, Horticulture, and Food Production, offer practical on-the-job training while generating income to sustain the vocational programmes. Partnerships with small businesses further strengthen the community, demonstrating how shared innovation can multiply impact.

Over 300 vulnerable young women have been trained through Young Africa’s FBM models in Malawi. Visits to our Model Center in Zimbabwe have provided invaluable exposure, inspiring new wellness and sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) initiatives in Malawi.

This sequence leads with the tangible training and income activities, then highlights community partnerships and impact amplification, and finally shows the broader influence through training numbers and cross-country inspiration.