The First Lady of Malawi, Professor Gertrude Mutharika has commended the Chilema Ecumenical Training and Conference Center for being a center of excellence in women empowerment.
The First Lady said this at Chilema in Malosa, Zomba on Friday when she presided over the first 2018 Community Social Worker Course graduation.
The Training Program offers ten courses among them Agriculture and Food Security, Clothing and Textile, Food and Nutrition, Tailoring and Fashion Design, Good Behaviour, Business Management and Community Development.
The First Lady therefore called upon the graduating students to put into practice as well as impart to others the knowledge and skills acquired during the six months they have been at the centre.
On environmental issue, the First Lady said she was grateful for the continued cordial working relationship that exists between the Anglican Diocese of the Upper Shire and Beautify Malawi Trust saying she always cherishes the relationship.
Speaking during the function, Bishop of Anglican Diocese of the Upper Shire, Reverend Brighton Malasa hailed the partnership that exist between the Anglican Church and the First Lady’s Beautify Malawi Trust which aims to restore the vegetation cover on the Malosa mountain.
Chilema Ecumenical Training and Conference Center, Executive Director Reverend Cliff Nyekanyeka commended the Ministry of health for recruiting graduates from the school over the years.
Reverend Nyekanyeka said by employing their graduates the ministry was giving testimony impact of the women training program in the socio-economic growth of Malawi.
Before the graduation ceremony, appreciated through inspection of displays the skills that the students have acquired in food and nutrition, tailoring and designing, agriculture among others programmes.
Mapemphero Dambula emerged as the overall best student of the 58 students that have undergone the training program.
Chilema Ecumenical Training and Conference Center which is co-run by the Angrican Diocese of the Upper Shire and the CCAP Blantyre Synod has a lay leadership training program for church ministers, kindergarten program and community social worker training program.
It was established in 1965 but was officially opened by late Gwanda Chakuamba in 1967 who was then the Minister of Local Government. Mana