11/05/2026
JANE BREAKS GENDER NORMS
Wherever you are this time of the lunch, I desire to share about the young girl. In a society where career choices are often influenced by traditional gender expectations, there are those rare individuals who defy the norm and pursue their passions. Jane Malinda is one such individual, a determined young girl from Manase Township who has chosen a path not commonly associated with women in her country—sign post writing. Her story is one of courage and pliability, as she seeks not only to build her own career but to challenge societal stereotypes around gender and profession.
"Ndinasankha dala course imeneyi inorder to change people's mindset kuti ntchito zina zomwe anthu timaona ngati zamuna okha, akazi ifeso tingathe," Jane says. [I deliberately chose this course to change people's mindset because women, too, can do jobs often seen as exclusive to men.] Her words reecho with purpose and ambition. Jane's choice to become a sign post writer, an occupation requiring precision and creativity, speaks to her determination to chart her own path.
When I asked about her inspiration, Jane is quick to point to other women who have taken on technical skills: "I was inspired by my fellow girls who do technical skills and seriously I am always happy seeing young ladies doing technical skills." For her, this is more than a personal achievement; it's a movement of women pushing boundaries and redefining what it means to be skilled.
Jane's training at the Manase Youth Empowerment Organisation (MYEO), a community training center offering various technical skills, equipped her with the tools she needed to enter this field. With her hands-on experience, she has shown that women can thrive in careers often stereotypically seen as masculine. "My fellow girls, be vigilant and remain focused," Jane advises. "This is not the time to rely on others. For us to be financially stable, we need to engage in hands-on skills that enable us to get something by the end of the day