Ujamaa Pamodzi Africa Responds to Violence Against Learners with Special Needs

Ujamaa Pamodzi Africa, an organization dedicated to preventing sexual and gender-based violence, has reaffirmed its commitment to protecting learners with special needs in Dowa district to improve their access to education.

The organization, which envisions an empowered society free from violence against women and children through evidence-based interventions, is implementing programs in several primary schools under Traditional Authorities Chakhaza, Msakambewa, Mkukula, Kayembe, Dzoole, and Mponela.

Its project, “Preventing and Responding to Violence against Learners with Special Needs (PREV-LSN),” is currently transitioning to scale up the Empowerment Transformation Training (ETT) program, with the goal of reaching 5 million learners by 2028.

Presenting a progress report to the Dowa District Executive Committee (DEC), Ujamaa Pamodzi Africa’s District Coordinator for Dowa, Ernestiner Kamalo, said the project aims to empower girls and boys with albinism by equipping them with skills to actively participate in their own protection and improve access to education.

Kamalo explained that the project is also strengthening referral pathways and linkages to legal, medical, and psychosocial services for survivors of violence, while building the capacity of special needs teachers to effectively deliver the ETT program in resource centers.

Key activities include training special needs education teachers, identifying 20 survivors of violence, and ensuring that they receive psychosocial support, medical assistance, and other referral services.

“The project is being implemented in collaboration with stakeholders such as UNICEF, the Malawi Police Service, Law Commission, MACOHA, Social Welfare, Gender, Health (Dermatologists), Education, and APAM,” Kamalo said.

However, she noted challenges, including low completion rates among children with albinism. Some learners, particularly those from Dzaleka Refugee Camp, dropped out of training programs due to competing priorities and the pressing need to focus on immediate material needs. Funding constraints have also caused delays in implementation.

In her remarks, Dowa District Council’s Director of Planning and Development, Mercy Mpakule, urged all partners implementing interventions in the district to submit quarterly progress reports. She said this would strengthen cooperation, transparency, and accountability.