By Draxon Maloya
Recently, the Mzimba District Executive Committee (DEC) approved a project initiated by the Foundation for Children’s Rights (FCR) aimed at addressing Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV). This project is funded by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Barely a month since its introduction, this global initiative, which focuses on eliminating violence against women and girls, harmful practices, and sexual and reproductive health rights, has started yielding significant results.
While conducting the SGBV baseline survey under this project, FCR Child Protection Workers (CPWs) encountered 15-year-old Stella Gondwe, the only brilliant girl selected from Eswazini Primary to Euthini Secondary School in the district, Stella nearly dropped out of school due to financial constraints.
Stella’s story is not unique. Her parents abandoned her years ago and migrated to Zambia, teachers have occasionally supported her financially, as she struggled to juggle school and care for her 71-year-old grandmother.
In an interview, FCR’s Executive Director, Jenifer Mkandawire, shared some of the project’s short-term successes, contributing to the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 5 on Gender Equality and Goal 3 on Good Health.
This project is part of a larger program supporting targeted large-scale investments to achieve significant impacts in six implementing districts in Malawi, including Mzimba.
“Our SGBV project under the Spotlight Initiative has already shown promising results, forming part of the global 540 laws or policies passed to end violence against women and girls.
We could not leave Stella Gondwe behind, a brilliant student who recently got selected from Eswazini Primary School to Euthini Secondary School, the only student in the entire school to be selected to a competitive boarding secondary school,” said Mkandawire.
Mkandawire emphasized that the project is a crucial step towards creating a safer and more equitable society for women and girls in Mzimba and beyond.
Touched by Stella’s story, one of the survey team members volunteered to pay her fees, despite struggling financially herself. However, the CPW suggested that the volunteer adopt Stella, as leaving her in the community would render her vulnerable to issues such as child marriage and teenage pregnancy.
This would also offer her a better home to thrive in her studies. It was agreed that all proper protocols would be followed by notifying the social welfare office, her traditional authority, family, and community for the adoption.
The parent who adopted Stella shared her story as an inspiration to the community, encouraging other girls that no matter how poor they are, they should never give up, as someone somewhere would care enough to support their studies. This is not just a story of rescuing Stella.
On 21st September, Stella was brought to Mzuzu to her new family, where she seems to be adjusting well. She has been provided with everything she needs for school.
Among other areas of focus, the FCR project targets the empowerment of vulnerable women through knowledge and awareness programs, reducing domestic violence, engaging men and youths as agents of change, promoting gender-equitable attitudes and behaviors, and strengthening justice systems to increase SGBV conviction rates.
