Malawi’s First Lady Monica Chakwera on Friday launched a Child Online Protection initiative which seeks to build a future where every Malawian child can explore the digital world ‘safely and confidently.’
Chakwera-a Child Online Protection (COP) Ambassador for the Malawi Communications and Regulatory Authority (Macra)-presided over the launch of the initiative at Mkwichi Secondary School in Lilongwe where she also simultaneously awarded best-performing students in the 2024 Malawi School Certificate of Education (MSCE) examinations under her Shaping Our Future Foundation (SOFF).
But launching the initiative, Chakwera likened the digital world as an open field—vast, full of endless possibilities, ‘yet not without hidden dangers.’
The First lady said the internet offers incredible opportunities such as access to knowledge, global connections, and limitless dreams, but quickly stressed that on the flipside, the digital system also comes with it several risks such as cyberbullying, exploitation, exposure to harmful content, and identity theft.
“Today, we are not merely launching an initiative; we are making a promise—a solemn vow to protect, to educate, and to empower every Malawian child in the online space…today marks the beginning of a movement, a movement where no child is left behind, no child is unprotected, and no child’s potential is wasted,” she explained.
Chakwera said child online protection is a shared responsibility of government agencies, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), private sector partners, educators, as well as parents.
She urged all such stakeholders to work together to strengthen policies, promote digital literacy, and provide resources that empower children to make informed decisions online.
“The internet has the power to profoundly shape our children’s lives. Let us ensure that it shapes them for the better. Protecting our children online is not just a responsibility. It is a moral imperative,” she emphasized.
On his part, Minister of Information Moses Kunkuyu said his ministry is working tirelessly with other stakeholders to develop laws that will protect children online and also promote digital literacy for children.
He also said the ministry is partnering with several internet providers to block access to harmful content to children.
During the event, Chakwera awarded 30 best-performing students nationwide, who attained 10 points and below and also 29 top-performing students from the SOFF program, who achieved 15 points and below in the 2024 MSCE.
In 2023, out of 54 students under the SOFF bursary program who sat for MSCE, 47 passed, achieving an 87.75 percent pass rate.
In 2024, the success continued as out of 176 students who sat for MSCE exams, 144 passed, recording an 81 percent pass rate.
