Teen mother gets scholarship
Danish Church Aid (DCA) has come to the rescue of a girl who dropped out of school due to poverty in Chitipa District.
Rita Nyondo, who dropped out at Chisenga Community Day Secondary School (CDSS) in 2013, received a four-year scholarship.
“I quit school and got married because my parents had no resources to support my education. But I later discovered that marriage was no answer as we lacked basic needs,” says the mother of one.
Her predicament caught the attention of Rainbow Community-Based Organisation in Chisenga which works in partnership with Malawi Human Rights Resource Centre (MHRRC) to dial up citizen voices and action in local government and development.
The five-year project, funded by DCA, also encourages girls to remain in school.
“When we approached her, she showed great willingness to go back to school if supported,” said Rainbow coordinator Sawak Kanyika.
Assistant district social welfare officer for Chitipa, Mesheck Mdambo, said it was easy to approve her scholarship because she was interested in school and her parents were ready to take care of the baby.
MHRRC is implementing the project in Chitipa and Dowa. n