Traditional leaders in Dedza district have commended YICOD for engaging various stakeholders in the validation exercise of the results from the baseline survey and the irrigation feasibility study held on Wednesday afternoon.

A couple of weeks ago, YICOD conducted a baseline survey in the areas of three Group Village Heads (GVHs): Kanyama, Kapesi, and Chiluzi, under Traditional Authority Kasumbu, which will serve as a reference point for measuring progress and evaluating impact.

In addition to that, YICOD conducted a feasibility study to determine the viability of a small-scale solar-powered irrigation scheme in GVH Kapesi that will enhance the resilience of women and youths to the effects of climate change and economically empower them, thereby contributing to their livelihood improvement.

Youth Initiative for Community Development (YICOD) has called on authorities and stakeholders to improve access to Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights Services, following the 2024 Malawi Demographic and Health Survey report, which was launched on 3^rd February this year and indicates a rapid rise in teenage pregnancies in rural areas of Malawi.

The survey’s findings were presented on Tuesday in Lilongwe during a stakeholder meeting that brought together youths involved in the SRHR, organised by Youth Initiative for Community Development (YICOD) in collaboration with Phalombe Youth Arms Organisation and Youth for All, with support from the Commonwealth Foundation.

With support from The Hilden Charitable Fund, YICOD has distributed sewing machines and start-up materials for making reusable sanitary pads to five primary schools in the Dedza district. This initiative aims to help girls stay in school and avoid missing classes during their menstrual periods, as mothers' groups will sew sanitary pads and distribute them to the needy girls.

The schools that benefited from this five-day distribution exercise, conducted last week, include Kanyenda, Dedza Government, Mwatonga, Liphupwe, and Mlunduni.

Various stakeholders in the Dedza district have commended the interventions that YICOD is implementing, which are economically empowering young people and women, thereby improving their livelihoods and building resilience against climate change.

This was revealed last Friday during a field day organised by YICOD in the Traditional Authority of Kachere for stakeholders and members of various communities to appreciate the impact of the initiatives that YICOD, with support from IM Swedish Development Partner, is implementing in the three Group Village Heads (GVH) of Fosa, Kachere, and Mkhoma Wanthu 2.