Girls Empowerment Network (Genet) has empowered 30 girls and young women with albinism from Lilongwe with skills to prevent gender-based violence (GBV) and other forms of abuse.
During the four-day training, the young women were provided with safe spaces where the mentors shared experiences and acquired knowledge and skills related to economic empowerment, livelihood opportunities, GBV-prevention and mental health.
Speaking at the end of the training on Saturday, Genet project coordinator Lopha Mtambo said the project, targeting girls from traditional authorities Chiseka, Kabudula, Njewa, Chimutu and Chadza, seeks to advance access to socio-economic and cultural rights of persons with albinism.
“We want to ensure inclusion. Girls and young women with albinism should not look down on themselves because of their complexion. They have the same potential as anyone else and our goal is to equip them with skills that promote to self-reliance,” she said.
Mtambo said they encouraged the trainees to form community clubs to support and reach more girls.
“As we observe the 16 Days of Activism Against GBV, we believe these mentees will become community champions who speak against abuse and report perpetrators. When girls and women are economically empowered, they are not easy to victimise,” she said.
A trainee, Bridget Masaiti, 20, from Lumbadzi, described the training as an eye-opener, saying they learned about self-esteem and where to report when abused.
“I plan to share this knowledge with at least 100 girls in my community,” she said.
Another trainee, Shakira Maliko,19, from Chilinde, said the sessions boosted her understanding of safe spaces.
With funding from the European Union, Genet is implementing the project in partnership with Standing Voice and Beyond Suncare in Lilongwe, Blantyre, Mulanje and Thyolo districts, targeting girls and young women with albinism.
