Pachi launches Back to School campaign in Nsanje

Parents and Child Health initiative (Pachi), a Non Govermental Organization has launched a back-to school campaign in Nsanje a development which is working on encouraging girls who dropped out to return to school.

The campaign following the reports that the majority of girls in the district drop out schools due to early marriages and teenage pregnancies.

With K23 million funding from the European Union, Pachi is implementing a Social Behaviour Change Communication Project dubbed Ifenso under the Spotlight Initiative Programme from May to November this year in the district.

The interventions implemented through Clubs in primary schools, include drama performance and awareness campaigns that utterly disapprove cultural practices that fuel child marriages, early pregnancies and encourage girls to remain in school.

Chairperson for Chididi Primary School Club has told the Malawi Guardian that they have so far managed to drag back 10 girls to school.

She said, “We engage parents, traditional leaders, and teachers on tge need to talk to girls who dropped out to return to school.)

She further blamed parents and guardian who usually instead of sending girls to school, they send them to sell fruits to markets.

The Head Teacher for the school, Lloyd Thom the interest in education has grown in the community.

” The club is doing a great job in persuading parents and guardians to return to schools.

“We have recently noted a growing interest in education in many girls due to the encouragement rendered by the Club, ” He said.

Group Village Head Mtema of Traditional Authority Ndamera confirmed that the Club is not only persuading girls to return to school but also terminating child marriages in the area.

He said, “Most girls went into early marriage but through Pachi interventions, the situation is gradually changing.”

Agness Galafa, a teacher at Nyankhwalu Primary School in Traditional Authority Tengani said Chigumukire Education Zone has formulated by-laws with traditional leaders to fine parents who marry off children.