Malawi urged to nurture good morals among youths to end child marriages

Christian Aid has urged Malawi to prioritize nurturing young people’s behaviors in a bid to accelerate the fight against child marriages and promoting girl child education.

International Global Director for Christian Aid, Amanda Khozi Mukwashi said this during an open day in Mulanje district that was organized by Youth Net and Counselling (YONECO) in conjunction with Malawi Girl Guides Association (MAGGA).

In an interview with YFM, Mukwashi said Malawi has all the necessary resources and support it needs to curb the situation, but should however focus on youth’s behavior for successful results.

“When you think of what Malawi is doing in ending child marriages, this project is really doing well, it has all the necessary resources to end this problem,” she said.

“It very pleasing to note that young girls are now aware of their rights and they are able to demand for they are rightfully entitled to.”

“With this initiative Malawi can position itself as a country that is really concerned and committed to the plight of a girl child, but however we should focus on nurturing moral behaviors among the young ones, which will help them to have a positive mindset on education rather than marriage.”

In his remarks YONECO Executive Director MacBain Mkandawire, attributed the good results of the project in the district to the collaboration between various stakeholders in the response.

“Mulanje is very unique in the way that there is collaboration between stakeholders, everyone is realizing now that there is need to do more to change the status call for girls,” he said.

The Adolescent girls and young women project is aimed at reducing cases of HIV and AIDS among girls, ending gender based violence and reducing school dropout rates among girls and in Mulanje district the project is being implemented by a consortium of YONECO and MAGGA, with financial support from Global Fund through Action Aid and Christian Aid.

Since its commencement in 2016, the project has managed to terminate 1820 marriages and out these, 800 have been re-admitted in schools.