Long before she became a graduate accountant, Regina Lyton stood at crossroads between poverty and the persistent pull of early marriage widespread in her lakeside home area of Makawa in Mangochi District.
The 23-year-old is the face of resilience.
She went to St Michael’s Girls Secondary School in Malindi along Lake Malawi, where her parents could not afford tuition. Financial hardship deepened pressure from her community, where most girls marry before their 18th birthday.
“Many people advised me to quit school for marriage. I kept going, hoping for something better,” Lyton says.
She rebuffed several marriage proposals, including well-off men who promised to sponsor her education.
“I saw it as a trap,” she says. “I refused to quit until I eventually got a bursary that helped me to complete secondary education against all the odds.”
The bachelor’s degree in accountancy graduate from Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences (Mubas) works an external auditor with Deloitte.
Last week, Lyton returned to Mangochi as a voice of inspiration, captivating over a hundred of girls during a retreat at Malawi College of Fisheries.
The annual gathering empowers girls from the district’s secondary schools with life skills, mentorship and ways to overcome everyday challenges.
During the event, speakers take turns, inspiring the learners to remain focused and determined. Lyton shared her personal triumph over adversity to rally girls to resist the allure of marriage and dream big.
“I shamed many men who wanted my hand in marriage and conquered that pressure. Today, when I meet them, they run away,” she says.
Lyton’s burning urge to take accountancy was sparked by role models from the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Malawi (Icam) visited her school.
“What they shared matched my dreams. After scoring 16 points in Malawi School Certificate of Education examinations, I chose to pursue accountancy,” she narrates.
She has a word for young girls groping for life-changing careers.
“Choose friends who build you and support your academic growth,” she states. “Set goals, because without them you will not know where you are going.”
Advancing Girls’ Education (AGE) Africa district officer Bertha Bonongwe urges girls to stay focused and resilient.
“Have friends who share your ambitions and direct your energy towards achieving your dreams,” she says.
RiseUp Malawi supported Lyton’s education when the chips appeared to be down.
According to its executive director Hudson Mwale, the retreat equips girls with strategies to overcome barriers to education while building confidence and ambition.
The organisation, founded in 2018 by American Megan Mathis and Malawian Hudson Mwale, supports initiatives to improve access to quality education, health, food security and decent livelihoods.
During the retreat Weston Bello from Beit Cure International Hospital in Blantyre, encouraged girls to manage stress and avoid risky behaviours, including alcohol and substance abuse.
“You can become anything you want if you set goals that counter life’s obstacles,” he said.
Mangochi district’s principal education officer Solomon Bonde challenged the learners to resist negative influences that could derail their education.
“There are better opportunities ahead if you persevere. Avoid distractions and remain focused on your goals,” he said, urging the hearers to emulate Lyton’s tenacity.
For participants like Elizabeth Chimwala, the talks were a life-changing experience.
“I now know what I need to do to excel. I will set clear goals and surround myself with friends who support my ambitions,” says the Form Four student, from Koche Community Day Secondary School (CDSS, who wants to become a detective.
Vanessa Matululu, a Form Two student at Hillside Private Secondary School, said Lyton’s story strengthened her resolve.
“I want to be a nurse and I now believe I can overcome any challenge in my way,” she said.
