Solar energy is creating new opportunities for young people in Malawi
In many parts of Malawi, natural resources like forests and farmland are under severe pressure. Poverty forces many people to rely on cutting down trees to produce charcoal and firewood – a livelihood that harms the climate and threatens local ecosystems. At the same time, young people often struggle to find safe and sustainable income opportunities. That’s why IM’s partner, Concerned Youth Organization (CYO), is making such an important impact by promoting climate-smart agriculture.
CYO has provided Chikalema Youth Cooperative in Neno District with a solar-powered irrigation pump. With access to reliable water during dry seasons — and without putting extra strain on the environment — the cooperative can now grow vegetables year-round. Alongside the equipment, CYO has supplied vegetable seeds and training in horticulture and pump operation to boost yields.
And the results are already visible. On a half-acre plot, the young farmers have produced their first vegetables — now heading to market and offering a path toward self-reliance.
Green jobs for the next generation
This initiative is part of the Sustainable Futures project, which focuses on creating climate-friendly income opportunities for young people. When youth are given the chance to build a livelihood in a sustainable way, pressure on forests decreases — and the risks of unsafe or exploitative work are reduced.
By investing in local innovation and skills, CYO and IM are supporting a positive cycle of change: more young people gaining decent work, communities growing stronger, and nature being protected for the future. Together, we are helping to build a greener and more secure Malawi.
Text: CYO, edited by Malin Kihlström
Photo: CYO
By: Malin Kihlström