Thursday, 11th January, 2023, the Department of Innovations and Creativity (DIC) visited Dowa based energy innovator, Ernest Andrew to appreciate his innovation.  The young innovator who has been generating electricity to provide power for his family has also recently, produced a water powered electricity transformer to provide electricity to more people in his community.

Speaking during the visit, Principal Innovations Officer for DIC, Francis Kulemeka said “the Department of Innovations and Creativity is interested to work and promote innovators like Andrew because of their potential to help Malawi realise the Malawi Vision 2063's aspiration of being self-reliant. ”  According to Kulemeka, besides providing direct funding or technical assistance, DIC supports innovators by linking them to necessary institutions to ensure capacity building, protection of their ideas and also lives of the beneficiaries.

He added that his visit was therefore, to assess the situation and see how best to assist the innovator. Andrew who has already connected 3 houses to his electricity said he hoped to power more houses and a nearby school called Kongwe II Primary School.

The 19-year-old innovator who only managed to go up to Form 3 of his secondary education has recieved much support from people in his home village and beyond. So far, Electricity Supply Commission of Malawi has supported him with an electricity multi-meter and a training in electricity production and safety.

The District Commissioner for Dowa also provided bulbs and an electricity wire and the head teacher for Kongwe II Primary School also provided an electricity wire. However, Andrew who hails from Chinguwo Villlage says he still needs more assistance with materials including sockets and switches, electrical pipes and wires.

The innovator who also plans to produce a water pump, also asked well-wishers to assist with a fan. According to Village Headman Chinguwo, Andrew is an inspiration to  his community and and a role model to many youths in his village.

“We are hopeful of better things from the young man, my advice is for young people in my village is to desist from peer pressure and work hard in school so that later, they can engage in meaningful activities like Andrew is doing. Andrew hails from Chinguwo Villlage, Traditional Authority Chiwere in Dowa.

 .