Youth Summit Showcases Soybean Business Opportunities for Malawi’s Young People

LILONGWE, Malawi — A three-day National Youth Summit has showcased how agriculture and value addition can create economic opportunities for young people, with soybean-based products emerging as a major attraction at the event, writes Brian Augustus Kanyenda.

Organized by the National Youth Council of Malawi (NYCOM), the summit ran from Aug. 18 to 20, 2026, at the Bingu International Convention Centre in Lilongwe and attracted about 1,200 young people from across the country.

Among the organizations exhibiting at the summit was the Centre for Concerned Youth in Development (CECOYD), a youth-focused organization based in Msundwe, which showcased soybean products including yoghurt, soya milk and soya butter.

The products are being developed under the Youth Economic Empowerment Model (YEEM) project, which CECOYD is implementing in partnership with the Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR), with support from SunHawk Energy International (SEI), in Senior Chief Kalolo’s area.

YEEM project and programmes officer Carlos Dzoole said the organization gained valuable exposure after government officials, development partners and other stakeholders visited its pavilion.

“We have been able to showcase not only our work, but also the strength of partnerships between civil society, academia and the private sector,” Dzoole said.

He said the summit also enabled CECOYD to create new networks, identify potential partners, receive feedback and explore opportunities to strengthen and expand its programs.

The YEEM project supports young people with skills and knowledge in soybean production, value addition, business management and financial literacy.

Dzoole said LUANAR provides technical and research expertise, while SEI supports the implementation and sustainability of the project.

He said CECOYD works with young people at community level to ensure they can apply the skills and opportunities provided through the project.

“This summit has given us an opportunity to demonstrate that agriculture is not simply about food production; it is a viable business and a pathway to employment, entrepreneurship and economic independence for young people,” Dzoole said.

LUANAR lecturer and technical adviser for the project Orpah Kabambe said the summit had provided an important platform for young people to engage directly with government, development partners and the private sector.

“We are glad to see our baby, the YEEM project, bearing these fruits,” Kabambe said. “Seeing young people producing various products from soya is what we have always wanted—to see young people taking farming as a business and taking commercialization seriously.”

The summit also highlighted CECOYD’s Youth Empowerment through Supportive Education (YESE) project, which has provided education support to almost 335 direct beneficiaries.

Some beneficiaries attended the summit and shared how the program has helped them pursue their education.

Bless Kapatuka, a fourth-year nursing student at Daeyang Luke University, said the support had enabled her to continue with her university education.

“If it wasn’t for the support from this project, I wouldn’t have reached this far,” Kapatuka said. “Very soon I’ll be finishing my nursing course, all thanks to CECOYD, with support from SEI.”

Dorothy Matuta, a Form Four student at Dzenza Secondary School in Lilongwe, said she had been at risk of dropping out before receiving support through YESE.

She said participating in the summit exposed her to new opportunities and motivated her to work harder in school.

“The summit has reminded us that young people are not merely beneficiaries of development, but are active participants, innovators and important drivers of the country’s development,” Matuta said.

CECOYD delegate Phyless Kapulula said the summit had encouraged her to become more actively involved in economic development in her community.

“We have learnt that for the country’s economy to grow, we need to be participants, not just spectators waiting for government to do things for us,” Kapulula said.

Meanwhile, summit participant Hezekiah Kamanga said CECOYD’s soybean products, particularly soya milk and yoghurt, had inspired him to consider farming as a business.

The summit brought together young people, government officials, development partners, academia, private sector representatives and civil society organizations to discuss youth development and economic participation in Malawi.