Chipembere Community Development Organisation has trained 40 volunteers to promote education for vulnerable girls in rural communities in Thyolo District.
Speaking on Wednesday during the training in the district, the organisation’s executive director Dalitso Chiwayula said many girls continue to face barriers that push them out of school; hence, the need for collaboration to end child marriages and protect girls from other forms of abuse.
| Wisdom Chirombo
He said: “Many girls in the district are at risk of dropping out of school due to challenges such as lack of learning materials and sanitary materials as well as gender-based violence.
“Therefore, we will provide exercise books, school uniforms and fees for 10 secondary school learners. But more importantly, we want to build a community that can protect these girls.”
Bvumbwe community policing coordinator John Billy said child marriages are rampant in the area.
“We register between three and five child marriages weekl y. People should continue to report these cases to address the vice,” he said.
One of the volunteers, Nancy Whayo, a teacher at Chisawani Primary School, commended the initiative, stressing that girls need both material and emotional support to stay in school.
She said she acquired skills to guide girls to continue with their education.
“Only education is capable of helping poor girls to break the cycle of poverty. I will, therefore, motivate girls to remain in school and also encourage community members to protect them from harmful cultural practices that fuel child marriages,” said Whayo.
