Women in diaspora asked to help girl child education

First Lady Gertrude Hendrina Mutharika has urged women in the diaspora to assist in the education of the girl child back home to make them become responsible and productive citizens.

Madame Mutharika, who is accompanying President  Peter  Mutharika at the US-Africa Leaders Summit in Washington DC, was speaking on Sunday at the National Presbyterian Church when she interacted with Malawian women living in the US.

She said girls in the country dropout of school due to such challenges as long distances to school and early marriages.

“Government has introduced a number of initiatives with the assistance of our development partners to make sure that girls stay in school and complete their education. Let us take interest in assisting our girls back home so that they can contribute to the development of the country,” she said.

The First Lady said apart from being interested in the education of the girl child, she is also passionate about issues about environment, noting that Malawi experiences problems in waste management.

“I have established the Gertrude Mutharika Beautify Malawi Trust which will promote hygiene practices, proper waste disposal and recycling of waste.  The Trust will work with local councils and schools, focusing on community health and hygiene, among other things,” said Mutharika.

The meeting was organised by women in diaspora to offer women an opportunity to interact with the First Lady.

The women have since pledged to work with the First Lady to promote girl child education and the cleanliness of the cities and townships.