The Malawi Government has developed and adopted policies and enacted laws to protect children.
However, thousands of children are still exposed to violence, abuse, and neglect. One such child is 11-year-old Frank (not his real name).
Frank’s life has been tough from the beginning. His father died when he was young and his mother, who is an alcoholic, abandoned him and his four siblings.
As a result, Frank left school and stopped taking his life-saving medications. When health workers at the health centre where he was a patient missed him, they contacted the Department of Social Welfare Services to trace him.
Rescuing Frank
Million Nankhonya, a Unicef-trained and passionate child protection volunteer and case manager was responsible for tracing Frank.
He found him and his siblings living in a dilapidated house under the care of an older sibling. There, his physical, mental and health needs were not met. Food was scarce and there was no one to remind him to go to the hospital and school.
He fitted into what Million calls a violence abuse, exploitation and neglect case management tool.
This tool guides child protection workers, who are known as case managers, in how to manage cases of children in need of child protection services.
With the help of the community, Frank and his siblings were taken to another location where he now lives with his grandmother, who, unfortunately, is already burdened with raising four other grandchildren.
Working together to keep children safe
Million collaborated with the teachers from the local school to re-enrol Frank in school. He also works closely with Frank’s grandmother and the local health centre to ensure that Frank does not miss his check-ups and continues to take the life-saving medications prescribed to him.
He explains: “When Frank came here, he was fragile and depressed. He often expressed a desire to die. I believe it was because he missed his mother. He is a completely different person now.
“ H e t a k e s h i s prescriptions on a regular basis and is back in school. He isn’t doing well, but he is having a great time. He loves football. He’s back to being a child again.”
Million lobbied the member of Parliament for the area to build a house for Frank and his siblings. The construction is halfway done and will be completed this year.
Back on track and enjoying his childhood
Frank says he likes living with his grandmother and he likes his new school.
He explains: “I am one of the oldest pupils in my class but the other kids failed the end-of-term tests. They advised me to work hard next term. The doctors at the clinic are quite pleasant too.
“They all know my name. When my regular doctor is not around, other doctors see and give me medication. They also come to check on me at home.”
Million is in the process of establishing a children’s corner in Frank’s village. He says Frank and his siblings will benefit from it because the activities are designed to offer psychosocial support to children who have been through difficulties.
Unicef support
With support from Swed ish NatComm, Unicef Malawi supports the Ministry of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare to train child protection workers like Million in case management.
With these skills, the child protection workers can identify children at risk of violence, abuse, exploitation and neglect. They assess their household needs, then develop an action plan to address their challenges.
Where necessar y, referrals are made to relevant services providers such as health, education, police and even the faith community. Once support has been mobilised, the child protection workers then conduct home visits until they are satisfied that the child is safe and their case can be closed.
