Prisca Bakes Her Way to a Better Life

Prisca with friends, showcasing perfectly baked, golden-brown doughnuts.

Prisca Symon, a 26-year-old single mother from Chikhumba Village in Ntcheu, has turned her baking skills into a successful small business. Her journey started with the Youth Economic Empowerment (YEE) project, where she learned basic baking skills from local artisans.

However, since the training did not lead to certification, Prisca struggled to make a living from her baking.

“I tried to run a small business, but I didn’t know how to improve my doughnuts or attract more customers,” she recalled.

Everything changed when the Green Jobs for Adolescent Youths project (GJ4AY) supported by Save the Children Italy, gave former YEE beneficiaries another chance to improve their skills.

Prisca was one of eight young people from her area selected for advanced training at SOS Technical College in Lilongwe through the Informal Sector Skills Development Program (ISSDP).

“At SOS, I learned a lot. I discovered that baking is not just about mixing flour and frying. I learned how to measure ingredients correctly, make soft and tasty doughnuts, and even manage my business better,” she said.

With her new skills, Prisca made a bold move—she left her village and settled in Golomoti Trading Centre, where she started a small doughnut business.

Today, she earns enough to buy fertilizer for farming, support her family, and save money through a village savings and loans group.

“Moving here was a risk, but it was worth it. Now, I sell my doughnuts every day, and people love them.

Some even order in advance. I never thought this would be my life, but I’m proud of how far I’ve come,” she said with a smile.

Prisca proudly selling her doughnuts and making a living from her skills.

Despite her success, Prisca is sad that some of her classmates have not used their skills.

“We were more than 10 in my class, but many of my friends are still struggling. Some could start something with as little as K10,000, but they don’t. It makes me sad to see them waste the opportunity,” she said while selling her doughnuts at Golomoti Trading Centre.