By Rahim Abdul
The Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace (CCJP) and Catholic Relief Services (CRS) have launched a two-year research study to reduce labor-related human trafficking in Mangochi District.
The study, funded by the United States Department for Trafficking in Persons, aims to decrease trafficking from 43% to 15% in two years.
The initiative targets 152 youths and young adults in seven traditional authorities and will focus on designing effective interventions to combat labor trafficking.
According to Priscilla Kauze, CCJP Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, the study will gather insights from the participants to develop a comprehensive manual with three key components: digital saving and loan groups, working capital, and financial asset.
The goal is to empower youths with financial management skills and provide them with financial support, enabling them to start their own businesses locally and reduce their vulnerability to exploitation.
The study will be conducted in two phases, with the first phase covering four months and involving 12 participants.
The Mangochi District Council has commended the initiative, calling for more innovative solutions to address labor-related trafficking and youth economic empowerment in the district.
The study is expected to yield positive outcomes for the youth in Mangochi.
