A Social impact-driven creative agency InspireX has called for the inclusion of creative and digital skills in Malawi’s school curriculum as a way of helping students discover their true potential and contribute towards the country’s Malawi 2063 development agenda.
The call comes as the agency in collaboration with Noble Minds an Information Technology Company launches its new initiative titled "Design the Future," aimed at empowering young people—particularly secondary school students— to explore their talents in creativity and digital arts.
To mark the beginning of the initiative, InspireX rolled out the pilot phase of the project at Bwaila Secondary School in Lilongwe on Wednesday, June 11. The launch featured a dynamic workshop attended by about 49 students, including 20 girls, who were inspired by presentations from creative professionals in areas
such as videography, photography, graphic and motion design, web development, and drawing.
As part of the launch, all participating students received InsipireX’s customized A4 notebooks designed to help them document their goals, dreams, and creative inspirations.
The initiative was carried out in partnership with Noble Minds, a local company specializing in Information Technology, Creative and Consultancy. The partnership enhanced the program’s reach and impact, reinforcing the power of collaboration in youth empowerment.
Speaking after the workshop, Cynthia Frederick, a Form 3 student at Bwaila, commended InspireX for the initiative, noting that it helped her discover her passion and career interests.
“This initiative has opened my eyes to what I can do after secondary school. I now know that I can pursue a career in art,” she said. She also urged fellow girls to embrace creative careers, emphasizing that creativity is not limited to boys.
Yankho Zingunde, a Form 4 student and aspiring artist, echoed similar sentiments. “This program has come at the right time. Many students lack career guidance and struggle to find direction after Form 4,” he said. “After today’s session, I’m inspired to explore careers in the creative arts.”
Immaculate Nyasulu, a teacher at Bwaila Secondary School, hailed the initiative for its impact. “The workshop has been an eye-opener. It has given our students, especially girls, the confidence to consider artistic careers,” she said. “We must break the stereotype that art is only for boys.”
Ekari Faria, Chief Creative Officer at InspireX, said the initiative was born out of the realization that there is a significant gap in career advocacy for creative skills among students. “Our goal is to empower young people to become creators and changemakers.
The interest and enthusiasm shown by students today give us hope that we are on the right path,” Faria stated.
The Design the Future pilot phase will be conducted in three urban secondary schools in Lilongwe: Bwaila, Nkwichi, and Chipasula, targeting a total of 150 students (50 from each school). InspireX also plans to extend the initiative to both public and private schools, with an ambitious goal of reaching 50,000 students
nationwide by 2030.
The agency hopes the program will inspire a generation of young Malawians to lead in the fields of art, design, and digital innovation.
