EU commits 5 600 bursaries for girls

The European Union (EU) says it will provide 5 600 bursaries to mainly benefit girls as part of its commitment to creating an environment for girls to succeed.

In a statement issued yesterday ahead of the International Day of the Girl Child which will be celebrated today, the bursaries will be provided through its partner, Campaign for Female Education (Camfed).

The bursaries will also be provided through the second phase of the Improving Secondary Education in Malawi which builds on the success of the first phase of the project implemented from 2016 to 2021.

Reads the statement in part: “This ambitious effort spans 12 districts [Blantyre, Nsanje, Mulanje, Chiradzulu, Zomba, Mangochi, Lilongwe Rural East, Dedza, Salima, Ntchisi, Mzimba North and Rumphi] and covers 40 Community Day Secondary Schools over a five-year period [2021-2026].”

According to the EU, some of the conditions that girls in Malawi go through impede their opportunities for personal growth, resulting in gender disparities and inequalities in access to opportunities compared to males of similar age groups.

“Shockingly, statistics reveal that 42 percent of girls in Malawi are married before the age of 18 with nine percent getting married before they reach 15,” further reads the statement.

The International Day of the Girl Child which falls on October 11, provides a platform to advocate for the full spectrum of girls’ rights.