Geared towards keeping girls in school
Standard Bank and Unicef have partnered in a drive to keep girls in school through a nine months mentorship programme.
The bank’s head of marketing Thoko Unyolo says the programme will involve its female employees visiting schools in Dedza, Salima and Mangochi, encouraging them to stay in school up to university.
“Current statistics indicate that 57 percent of Malawian girls enrolled at government primary schools are unable to complete their education, leaving 34 percent transitioning to secondary school.
“We are targeting girls aged eight to 15 or in standard five to eight in 79 primary schools in the three districts plus selected youth drop in centres,” says Unyolo.
Unyolo notes that in a developing country such as Malawi, girls bear the brunt of poverty which often undermines their chances of advancing their education and taking up leadership positions in future.
“There are many social economic and cultural factors that precipitate this unhealthy trend, but it is our sincere hope that by providing mentorship, girls will be equipped with the right knowledge to guide them so they can make informed decisions about their future.
“Standard Bank as an equal opportunity employer has many young women in leadership positions. Therefore, we aim to be role models. We will entrench a positive attitude in the girls to build their confidence,” she adds.
Unicef education specialist Kimanzi Muthengi adds that out-of-school adolescent girls in the three districts will also benefit from the mentorship programme, affording young girls the opportunity to see and hear how staff of Standard Bank achieved success.
“We believe this will provide adolescent girls with support and encouragement to stay in school. It will allow them to see first-hand the results of staying in school. It will allow them to dream and see a world bigger than their present circumstances and surroundings.
“It is important to note that this programme comes in the wake of an intensive adolescents and youth situation analysis undertaken last year, resulting in a multi-sectoral response dubbed Action 4 Adolescents and Youth (A4A&Y). We applaud all partners in taking part in this great stride,” he says. n
