Empowering Youth for the Digital Economy: The Success of mHub’s DOT Going Beyond Project Round One
Figure 1: youth peers from the third cohort in Ntandire celebrate their graduation from the Going Beyond Digital Business Program
The DOT Going Beyond Project, a transformative initiative aimed at equipping youth, young business owners, and SMEs with digital business skills, has successfully concluded its first round. Implemented by mHub in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation and the Digital Opportunity Trust (DOT), the project has trained over 2,400 young people in Malawi, providing them with essential digital skills to enhance their businesses. The Digital Business Program supports youth SMEs and young entrepreneurs, referred to as youth peers, by equipping them with digital expertise under the guidance of youth leaders.
Overview of the Going Beyond Project
The project consists of two key components: The DOT Youth Leadership Program and the DOT Digital Business Program. The DOT Youth Leadership Program recruited and trained 30 young leaders, who then provided digital business training to over 2,400 youth peers in their communities. The program was implemented in three districts—Lilongwe, Dedza, and Salima—where it reached thousands of young business owners.
Impact and Reach
Since its inception in September 2023, the project initially targeted 2,225 youth in the three districts. However, it surpassed this goal, training over 2400 youth peers. The 30 recruited youth leaders were deployed across the three districts, where they facilitated digital business training sessions, helping young entrepreneurs integrate technology into their businesses.
Figure 2 a summary of the Going Beyond Project Show casing the total number of youth peers trained across the three cohorts in digital business skills
Community Engagement and Training Partnerships
To maximize its impact, the project collaborated with various institutions and organizations that served as host organizations, providing space, resources, and support for training sessions. In cases where computers were unavailable, mHub supplied them to ensure effective digital skills training.
● Dedza: Chitzatso Dairy provided space for training in the Chimbiya community, with mHub supplying computers. AY Business Café also offered space and computers, facilitating training at Dedza Boma.
● Lilongwe: Tingathe Organisation operated in Mtandire as a centralized training hub. Area 25 Teachers Training College (TTC), the National Library Services (City Centre), and Lilongwe Technical College provided space and computer resources. Additionally, mHub offices hosted training for youth from surrounding areas.
● Salima: Linthipe Technical College in Dedza Boma provided space and resources for digital training, while Chipoka Teachers Development Centre facilitated training in Chipoka.
The project was implemented in three cohorts, with youth leaders exceeding their targets by training over 100 peers each in every cohort. Each cohort’s completion was marked by a graduation ceremony, celebrating the achievements of the youth peers and awarding them certificates for their hard work and competency in digital business skills.
Throughout the program, youth peers were introduced to digital marketing, financial literacy, and entrepreneurship, enabling them to leverage technology for business growth and job creation. The hands-on training provided a platform for participants to explore opportunities in the digital economy while addressing unemployment challenges.
Partnerships for Business Development and Financial Support
One of the highlights of Round one was the graduation ceremonies held in various districts, where youth peers showcased their businesses and demonstrated their newfound skills.
During these graduations, mHub facilitated networking opportunities by inviting business development service providers, financial institutions, and government organizations. These partners provided insights into funding opportunities, business growth strategies, and financial literacy, ensuring the long-term sustainability of the youth peers' businesses. Key partners included the National Economic Empowerment Fund (NEEF), MMudzi Sacco, the National Youth Council (NYCOM), the Ministry of Trade, Vision Fund Malawi, the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Institute (SMEDI), First Capital Bank (FCB), and FINCA Bank.
Figure 3 a proud moment as a youth peer receives their graduation certificate, standing by a youth leader on the left and an mHub representative on the right
Youth Leadership Graduation and Career Development
After six months of intensive training and community engagement, the youth leaders officially completed their leadership program. To celebrate this achievement, mHub organized a two-day graduation event that included a career development workshop and a graduation ceremony.
During the career development workshop, experts provided training in CV development, job interview techniques, public speaking, and networking. This initiative was designed to equip youth leaders with skills to advance their careers beyond the leadership program. Opportunities such as the Emerging Youth Leaders program, funded by the Mastercard Foundation, were introduced to further their professional development.
The graduation and celebration event featured speeches from representatives of host organizations, youth leaders, and trained youth peers, who shared their experiences and business transformations. Representatives from mHub, DOT’s Project Manager, and a DOT official congratulated the graduates, acknowledging their outstanding contributions to community development. The event highlighted the project’s impact, surpassing training targets and fostering innovation, leadership, and inclusivity.
Figure 4 youth leaders celebrate the successful completetion of their youth Leadership graduation
Moving Forward: Round Two of the DOT Going Beyond Project
With Round one successfully completed, mHub is now working in partnership with DOT and the Mastercard Foundation to launch the second round of the Going Beyond Project. The next round aims to build upon the success of Round one, expanding its reach and impact to further support youth and SMEs in Malawi.
Conclusion
The DOT Going Beyond Project has been a significant milestone in youth digital empowerment, transforming young entrepreneurs and business owners. By equipping youth with essential digital skills and fostering leadership development, the project has created a lasting impact in Dedza, Salima, and Lilongwe. As mHub prepares for Round two, the goal remains the same—empowering young Malawians to thrive in the digital economy and contribute to national development.
Stay tuned for more updates on the next round of the Dot Going Beyond Project!