Our database has 1.1 million reach as of December, 2022. We train Malawians through the following trainings:
Mass Training
These are open manufacturing training where everyone is invited to attend. During the training, PIC demonstrates production of different products. After the exercise, participants are given one week to pick any product of choice to demonstrate then successful manufacturers are selected forming part of the 5 thousand target for an intensive Training leading to product certification with MBS.
Some of the notable mass trainings have been conducted at Chibowa in Blantyre, BICC in Lilongwe and Mzuzu Sunbird Hotel.
Cohort Training
The five thousand selected manufacturers from mass training are grouped into a team of 200 called cohorts. These SMEs are now further trained in a number of production skills where Corporates are invited to train them further. Malawi Bureau of Standards trains them in product Standard and Certification, Malawi Revenue Authority takes them through Tax and Tax calculations, Ministry of Trade presents on cooperatives, SMEDI takes them through Business Development Programs, Banks take financial literacy and PIC coordinates and prices Technical advice.
Constituency Training
In order to reach out to rural masses, PIC works hand in hand with the Member of Parliament of the day to jointly provide manufacturing skills to rural masses. Usually, the member of Parliament is requested to assist with cost of raw materials and logistics for the area.
Social Media Training
Understanding the influence social media has on today’s generation, PIC further conducts open Training using Kondwani Kachamba Ngwira page which has close to 100 thousand followers, 700 WhatsApp groups and 15 thousand on Telegram. This ensures that those who would not manage to attend physical trainings also access such information.
International Training
After Cohort Training, PIC further organizes International Training where SMEs are sponsored to travel to different countries usually within Africa for further skill development. The purpose is to expose them to the world and appreciate how others are manufacturing similar products for perfection.
University Entrepreneurs Clubs
PIC has further established clubs across Universities in Malawi where students are given free sunflower seeds, Wheat and fertilizers for production. The students are allowed to use PIC cooking oil pressing machines freely to help them build their businesses as part of reducing dependency on job seeking after completion of studies.
The clubs are drawn from University of Malawi Kamuzu College of Medicine, Malawi University of Business and Applied Science and Technology, Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Malawi Assemblies of God University, University of Livingstonia, Mzuzu University e.t.c