KWATHU UPGRADE

The Kwathu Upgrade project is a flagship multi-platform project under the Kwathu Innovation & Creative Centre, which aims at building the capacity of young creatives in Malawi through interactive workshops, Management training programs, business development training, business incubation, content development, networking opportunities, and distribution as well as showcase events.

The Kwathu Upgrade Project is an initiative that looks to impart practical skills and knowledge to entrepreneurs in Malawi and beyond who are lead players in the fields of Innovation & Technology, Media & Communications, Fashion & Design, Music & Dance, as well as the Arts & Crafts.

The platform focuses on providing capacity to young creatives and entrepreneurs in the Music, Arts, Fashion, Media, and Innovative Technology with skills that will formalize their trades. The Kwathu Upgrade project is executed in the form of editions, centering around various sectors of the creative industry.

GOALS

Building capacity of young creatives and entrepreneurs
Assist creatives and entrepreneurs in formalising their business services
To aid in research and development

AREAS OF FOCUS

Innovation & Technology
Media & Communications
Music & Dance
Arts & Crafts
Fashion & Design

Kwathu Upgrade Project

The Kwathu Upgrade will look to reduce this gap by assisting young entrepreneurs with the following activities:

Research & Analysis
Incubation & Development
Trainings & Workshops
Networking & Showcasing

Target Audience

Young people (18-35)
Africans
Leaders in the Innovation & Technology, Media & Communications, Arts & Crafts, Music & Dance and Fashion & Design sectors.

We also to aim is to reduce the disparity between men and women in the formal sector, as more women are in the informal sector. As leaders in their sectors, the selected women will be the benchmark of reducing the disparity between men and women in the formal sector, as they will be empowered to assist more women and young women in their sectors. A report done by the International Labour Office (2019), states that In developing countries the percentage of women workers who are informally employed (92 percent) is substantially higher than the percentage of men workers (87 percent).

Music4Malawi EDITION

With funding from Music in Africa Foundation and partners (the German Federal ForeignOffice, Siemens Stiftung, and Goeth Institut), through the Music in Africa Live project, NthaFoundation, through the Kwathu Creative & Innovation Centre and the Music4Malawi platform launched the Kwathu Upgrade: Music4Malawi Project.

Learn more about Music4Malawi, and why it exists here

The Music4Malawi edition trained music creatives professionals who were; Talent managers, Artists, Event Managers, and Producers between November-December 2021, for a 5-day workshop to be held at the Kwathu Innovation & Creative Centre.