Sewing and Tailoring

ECOWISE Continues to Empower Women Across Malawi

Today marks a remarkable milestone in the journey of women’s empowerment in Malawi, as 88 courageous and resilient women single mothers and widows have successfully graduated from the ECOWISE Project, an initiative under the Zicoforward Foundation. These graduates have completed comprehensive vocational training programs, equipping them with essential skills that promise to transform their lives and uplift their communities.

The graduation ceremony, held in Lilongwe, was a celebration of commitment, perseverance, and hope. Each woman received a certificate recognizing her accomplishment and her readiness to enter the world as a skilled entrepreneur and change-maker.

Empowering Through Skills

The ECOWISE project focuses on empowering women through hands-on training in:

Tailoring & Sewing

Soap Making

Freeze & Sausage Production

Flower Crafting

Agricultural & Small-scale Farming Practices

Baking and Culinary Arts

These skills not only promote financial independence but also foster a sense of dignity, purpose, and community leadership among women often marginalized in socio-economic development.

A Message of Inspiration and Purpose

Zicoforward Foundation’s Executive Director, Sibongire Mhango, expressed pride in the achievements of the graduates while also highlighting the organization’s ongoing challenges.

“Despite operating without formal funding, we remain committed to reaching even more women across Malawi. We currently serve women in Lilongwe, Blantyre, Chitipa, Chiradzulu, and Mulanje. Our goal is that no woman should be left behind.”

I emphasised that the lack of financial support continues to hinder the expansion of the project, though the impact so far has been substantial. Since its founding in 2017, Zicoforward Foundation has supported over 5,000 women through various empowerment programs.

Empowering Women for Sustainable Livelihoods

Introduction to ECOWISE – Empowering Women Through Skills Development

On 10th February 2025, the ZICOFORWARD Foundation proudly launched its latest flagship initiative – ECOWISE (Empowering Communities of Women with Inclusive Skills for Entrepreneurship) – in Area 25, Sector 3, Lilongwe, under the gracious presence of Chief Phyerabwinja, who commended the Foundation's unwavering commitment to uplifting women in his community.

ECOWISE is a transformative empowerment program designed to equip women particularly widows, single mothers, women with disabilities, and disadvantaged young women with a diverse range of vocational skills that foster both economic independence and community resilience. The project provides hands-on training in key income generating activities including.

🛠️ Skills Training Includes:

Soap making

Freezer pop (freezits) production

Sausage making

Floral design and artificial flower crafting

Sewing and tailoring

Baking and pastry production

With a deep understanding of the economic and social challenges facing many Malawian women, ZICOFORWARD Foundation has structured ECOWISE not only as a skills-development platform but also as a springboard for small-scale enterprise creation. By promoting practical, marketable skills, the project aims to reduce dependency, increase household incomes, and promote inclusive participation in Malawi’s informal economy.

During the official launch, Chief Phyerabwinja lauded the initiative, stating:

| "This is a remarkable step towards transforming the lives of women in our community. When women are empowered, entire families and communities rise with them."

"This is a remarkable step towards transforming the lives of women in our community. When women are empowered, entire families and communities rise with them."

The ECOWISE initiative reflects ZICOFORWARD’s broader mission to create sustainable solutions for marginalized groups through holistic development, and the Foundation envisions expanding the program across multiple regions in the coming years.

By investing in the potential of women, ECOWISE is not just building skills it is nurturing independence, restoring dignity, and creating pathways for long-term socio-economic empowerment in Malawi.

Author: zicoforward