Community members in Traditional Authority Kameme in Chitipa District have intensified efforts to ensure that children attend classes.
The groups, which include child protection committees, mother groups and wives of traditional leaders, encourage children surrounding Ilengo Primary School to remain in school.
Working under World Vision Malawi, the groups advocate for the importance of education in a community where child labour, child trafficking to Tanzania and early marriages are rampant.
In an interview, Chapuchasu Child Protection Committee chairperson Jane Mubisa said they convinced parents to support their children’s education.
She said: “We noticed that many children were not attending classes because of poverty, child labour, child trafficking and early marriages.
“Therefore, we went door-to-door, preaching against such vices. The situation has changed for the better now.”
Mubisa thanked World Vision for training them how to become agents of change and defend the rights of children.
On her part, Ilengo Primary School Mother Group chairperson Kisa Simbeye said they visit children in school to encourage them to work hard.
“We talk to the learners on the importance of education. We also encourage them to utilise the print-rich mechanism mounted at the school to improve their literacy,” he said.
In her remarks, Frida Sinkala, who leads a team of 42 other wives of traditional leaders, expressed excitement that their efforts are bearing fruit.
“We are pleased to see children attending classes regularly,” she said.
