The Festival Institute, (a creative education institute here in Malawi) is transforming the African Creative Economy with its initiative, Grl Pwrd Creative Training Programme. This innovative program aims to equip young women here in Malawi with the skills, knowledge and hands-on experience necessary to succeed in areas like studio production, stage management, video production and live sound engineering, among other skills in technical production.
After successfully training 15 Malawian girls in the year 2023, the program has been relaunched with an extended six-month edition.This enhanced program is carefully designed to produce market-ready talent, equipping young women with the skills and knowledge they need to excel in their chosen fields as producers, musicians and filmmakers. During an interview with Malawian Girls Rock, Tammy Mbendera; the director of Festival Institute, said, among other things, “we look forward to another impactful year and are excited to see the incredible contributions of what this cohort of talented girls will make to the creative industry.”
The 2024 theme of the program, ‘Financial Equity for Girls,’ focuses on advocating for increased opportunities and work for girls in the creative and cultural sectors, recognizing the significant gender disparities in these industries. The Grl Pwrd X programme started on June 22, 2024, with guest mentor Miss Angellah Zulanga, a flag-bearer for the Grl Pwrd cause and a graduate of The Festival Institute's Creative Training Programme: Project Management Essentials. She has since gone on to lead various creative projects across the globe including Ethno World, a global programme that takes place in over 40 countries worldwide. Angellah inspired the girls with her talk during the training on ‘Taking Up Creative Spaces: Opportunities and Access to Global Creative and Cultural Markets’. She emphasized her dedicated efforts to turn her vision of gender inclusivity in male-dominated fields into a reality, where women have equal opportunities to participate and succeed.
Participants will receive comprehensive training that covers not only technical skills but also strategies for thriving in the creative industry. The program includes workshops on financial literacy, entrepreneurship and personal branding, ensuring that the trainees are not just skilled, but also empowered to navigate and succeed in their careers. Speaking with one of the participants, Jane Chimangeni, said the opportunity to be a Girl PwrD member meant something to her and with her wanting to grow her skills in technical production, particularly in sound live engineering, video production and audio, she is eager to contribute to a community that empowers women in the creative industry. She further said, “I'm excited to share my knowledge, learn from others and be part of a movement that promotes gender equality and challenges stereotypes. It's a chance to make a real impact, inspire others and grow professionally and personally.” Moreover, the cohort will gain from customized training programs, such as the newly introduced Grl Pwrd & Geared-Up Programme, a unique edition of The Festival Institute's Geared-Up Careers Accelerator Programme.
Since its inception in 2023, Grl Pwrd has directly impacted almost 200 girls and created over 20 jobs and opportunities. With the support of The Diamond Standard's Talent Advisory Services, the program continues to manage and develop the talent of its participants. More programs and projects under Grl Pwrd X 2024 will be announced soon.
Great peice ❤️❤️