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Village banks help to eliminate GBV in MJ

Economic empowerment among vulnerable women and girls in Mulanje is one of the ways to reduce gender-based violence (GBV) in the district.

Christina Yohane, 22, from Limbuli in Mulanje made the remarks on Wednesday during a meeting organised by Youth Net and Counselling (Yoneco) under the Adolescents Girls and Young Women Project.

Yohane (R) sells dried fish and tomatoes

Yoneco is implementing the project in the district with support from ActionAid and Christian Aid.

The meeting on Tuesday was aimed at gauging the response of the people with regards to dealing with GBV in the district.

Yohane said she dropped out of school in Form One because her parents could not pay school fees, a situation that forced her into prostitution.

She said: “In a day, I used to make about K2 500 but I was usually abused in different ways by clients who sometimes could beat me so that they do not pay me. The community as well used to sideline me in socio-economic development activities.”

Another woman, Lydia Kapesi of Safari Village in the district, who is divorced, said village banks are liberating women from GBV.

Yoneco executive director MacBain Mkandawire said majority of women are abused due to their economic status.

He called on communities and others to empower women and girls economically if GBV is to be curbed. n

 

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