Nine girls in Traditional Authority (T/A) Ndindi in Salima District have returned to school after their mothers received economic support from the Luso Langa Community Foundation.
The nine girls left school in the 2025/26 academic year due to early marriages but the foundation in collaboration with their parents rescued them weeks before the new academic year which began on Monday.
In an interview on Monday, Caroline Antonyo from Chazima Village, T/A Ndindi said that she withdrew her daughter from an early marriage after witnessing the hardships the girl faced due to her young age.
| Lovemore Khomo
“My young girl is now back to school as we need to provide her with an education opportunity to ensure a bright future,” she said.
Antonyo said besides leading efforts to terminate early marriages and encouraging girls to return to school, the organisation also gives parents chicken to venture into poultry farming to generate income to support the girls.
Another mother Enelesi Sipodala from Mwenyekazi Village, T/A Ndindi blamed cultural practices for contributing to child marriages in the area, but thanked the foundation for addressing the situation.
“The foundation has changed people’s mindset. We now appreciate the importance of education and encourage our children to return to school,” she said.
Luso Langa Foundation community programmes officer Canon Chenjezi said they are working closely with parents in the area to address early marriages and teenage pregnancies.
“We encourage parents whose children were withdrawn from marriages to ensure they return to school as the new academic year has just begun,” he said.
Chenjezi said they empower mothers to run businesses to help them to get an income.
Chipoka community and development officer Nathan Mtema noted that child marriages were rampant in the area and emphasised the importance of collaboration to address the situation.
