First Lady Monica Chakwera has called on individuals and organisations to join forces in safeguarding the rights and welfare of street-connected children.
She said this yesterday at Kamuzu Palace in Lilongwe when she hosted 200 street-connected children as part of the International Day for Street-Connected Children commemorations.
The First Lady further pledged that through her Shaping Our Future Foundation, she continues to make it her mission to support and uplift vulnerable children in the country.
“If we want a better Malawi tomorrow, we must invest in our children today. That will require that we work together and commit to help street-connected children who are vulnerable,” she said.
In addition to protecting their rights, the First Lady called for the need to build the children’s capacity through education and skills development.
In her remarks, Deputy Minister of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare Halima Daud said the ministry prioritises the inclusion of children as a cornerstone of national development.
She acknowledged that government alone cannot address the challenges street-connected children are facing; hence, the need for collective responsibility.
“The government, through the ministry, is committed to protecting and upholding the rights of children in line with legal instruments and child protection guidelines,” said Daud.
She said the ministry is strengthening child protection systems, collaborating with partners to support community-based interventions and reviewing policies to ensure they uphold children’s rights.
Bwenzi la Mwana Foundation executive director Amos Chibwana, whose organisation facilitated the event, said as of 2025 the country has an estimated 15 000 street-connected children.
“The number has increased from 5 000 in 2017. This highlights the urgent need for collaborative action to address this growing issue,” he said.
