Child Parliament addresses school dropout, marriages

A Children’s Parliament in Mchinji District has asked duty-bearers and non-governmental organisations to help address child marriages and child labour which are contributing to school dropout rate.

World Vision Malawi and Girls Activists Youth Organisation (Gayo) facilitated the Children’s Parliament to offer young people an opportunity to talk about the challenges they face in their quest to get education.

In her contribution  Joanna Banda from Mavwere-Kapondo Community Children’s Parliament said child marriages and child labour are rampant in her area, Traditional Authority Mapondo.

“Therefore, I petition duty-bearers to intensify awareness campaigns against child marriages and labour to ensure young people remain in school,” she said.

Gayo executive director Richard Batch said they supported the initiative to give children an opportunity to be heard.

“We want authorities to respond to the issues the children have raised during their discussions,” he said.

A 2022 baseline survey Gayo conducted found out that 23 percent of children in Mchinji were not going to school because of child marriages and child labour.

World Vision Malawi Mchinji district programmes manager Mereena John said the Children’s Parliament provides children a forum to speak out issues that affect them.

“We hope that the Children’s Parliament will help to transform children’s lives in the district,” she said.

Mchinji District Council vice-chairperson Mickson Chikhutu assured the children that the council will intervene on the issues they raised.

He said: “We are ready to take the issues to decision-making forums at council level to find the way forward.