Project helps Chikwawa girls

Chikwawa district social welfare officer Rosemary Mahata says Goat for Girls project which Stephanos Foundation is implementing in the district has helped many girls to continue with their education.

She said this at Ngabu in the district on Friday when Stephanos Foundation presented certificates to beneficiaries of the project that wrote the Malawi School Certificate of Education (MSCE) examinations.

Goat for Girls is an initiative where girls receive goats which are used to pay fees and other school-related activities after they (goats) multiply.

“Many girls fail to continue with their education because of lack of fees. They end up getting married. This project will help them to continue with their education because it is their financial backbone,” said Mahata.

She called on non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to come forward and complement government’s effort of uplifting education standards in the country.

Stephanos Foundation executive director Clifford Kuyokwa said the project started in 2014 after Jannine Koert came to Malawi for a different visit.

“When she learnt that girls are dropping out of school because of fees, she promised to do something; hence, the project. Through Stephanos Development Fund of Canada, they have helped 280 girls so far,” he said.

Kuyokwa said the project helps girls from Standard Three up to secondary school.

On her part, Koert  promised to continue helping the girls so that they fulfill their dreams. She noted that when a girl child is educated, she becomes a cornerstone of the country in terms of development.

“We will continue to establish relationships with these girls so that they should not feel isolated when pursuing their education. They are under pressure from boys to marry them and we can only lessen this if we give them such source of income,” she said. Goat for Girls project is being implemented in Ngabu, Maseya and Khoko in Chikwawa.