CCJP to support girls with bursaries in Neno

The Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace (CCJP) of the Archdiocese of Blantyre has committed to support 100 girls in Neno District with bursaries to pursue their secondary education.

Briefing the district executive committee members on Tuesday, CCJP coordinator Joseph Kampango said the project will also train 20 mother groups in traditional authorities (T/As) Mlauli, Chekucheku, Dambe and Symon with entrepreneurial skills.

He said: “The project will pay school fees for girls selected to community day secondary schools who have interest to continue with education but lack financial muscle.

“It will also support those who dropped out of school at secondary level and are willing to return through the re-admission policy.”

Kampango said their baseline survey showed that lack of parental care was one of the reasons contributing to school dropouts in the district.

“We will equip mother groups with bakery, tailoring and soap-making skills to generate income to support girls in schools,” he said.

Neno district commissioner Rosemary Nawasha commended CCJP for the project, saying it will help vulnerable girls to complete their secondary education.

She, however, asked stakeholders not to leave boys behind as they are also vulnerable.

On his part, Neno District Education Network chairperson Russell Msiska welcomed the project.

“The project will help to increase school enrolment for girls,” he said.

CCJP will support the 100 girls through its Shaping Girls Future Project funded by the Misereor Germany.

The project will support the girls for four years.

Neno is one of the districts with high school dropout rate among girls, due to poverty, early marriages and teen pregnancies, among others.