By Vincent Gunde
Women Palm Tree Organization (WPTO) says it envisions inspired women, single mother, girl child and widow with faith and hope of life which shall empower their own future in the Dzaleka Refugee Camp in Dowa district.
WPTO works towards promoting youth, women, girls and children to improve their livelihoods through improved education, WASH, and agriculture among vulnerable women, girls, children, youth, and refugees in the rural communities of Malawi.
The organization is set to implement Safe futures project; Advancing Gender Equality and Ending gender-based violence in Dzaleka Refugee camp targeting 8000 host communities and 12,000 people of refugee status.
Introducing the project to the Dowa District executive committee (Dec), the organization’s Assistant Technician Shora Kauluka, said Dowa district has registered 1548 sexual and GBV cases saying out of this, 10 cases were recorded by Dzaleka Refugee Camp Police.
Kauluka said the overall goal of the project is reducing GBV and harmful practices affecting women and girls in Dzaleka Refugee Camp by strengthening prevention, protection, legal awareness, and economic empowerment.
He said the project is aligning with Dowa district Development Plans (DDP) addressing food insecurity, income-generating activities, low access to clean and affordable energy, increased crime, GBV, early child marriages, low household income, inadequate potable water and improved sanitation.
The Technician said the project is planned for 12 months but subject to extension based on the organization’s fundraising effort saying it will engage traditional leaders, religious leaders, women, GBV survivors, and community, and builds the capacity these groups to low awareness about legal protections which contribute to under reporting, while weak reporting mechanisms and fear of retaliation, hinder justice.
‘The project success will rely on the technical support from the project stakeholders such as the District’s Gender and Social Welfare offices, CSOs existing in the catchment area, police officers, court and school teachers, among others,” said Kauluka.
He said the project will benefit 20,000 people with awareness interventions in host communities and Dzaleka, 100 local leaders, women group leaders with capacity building interventions, 100 women and girls with income generating initiatives and a total of 6000 people from the areas of two traditional chiefs Mkukula and Msakambewa in the district.
In her remarks, Dowa District Council’s Director of Planning and Development Mercy Mpakule, called on the organization to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the council and the CSO Network for the district to enhance cooperation, transparency and accountability.
Women Palm Tree Organization will implement Safe futures; Advancing Gender Equality and Ending GBV in Dzaleka Refugee Camp in Dowa district with funds from the UNHCR amounting to K21,012,000.
