GBV project impresses World Vision USA

World Vision United States of America (USA) programme manager responsible for Global Fund Grants Eric Ndofor has expressed satisfaction with gender-based violence (GBV) interventions in Mangochi District.

He expressed the sentiments on Thursday  when he visited Traditional Authority (T/A) Chimwala to appreciate the impact of the Adolescent Girls and Young Women Project being implemented by ActionAid Malawi in the district.

Ndofor said the project has empowered community structures to report GBV issues to relevant authorities.

“I must confess that I have witnessed good progress of it, especially the close collaboration between the police, education sector, Ministry of Health, volunteers, chiefs, donors and other stakeholders,” he said.

He encouraged communities and other stakeholders to continue collaborating to achieve the project’s goals.

Mangochi district assistant social welfare officer Harvey M’bwezo said the project has increased GBV awareness among communities.

Chimwala Zone primary education adviser Nancy Ndazamo, who is also a treasurer for Chimwala Rapid Response Team, said many girls were dropping out of school due to early marriages, but the situation has improved.

ActionAid Malawi is implementing the project in nine T/As in the district with funding from Global Fund through World Vision Malawi.

The project, which runs from 2021 to 2023, seeks to reduce HIV incidences among adolescent girls and young women aged between 10 and 24 years and improve school attendance.