Mkumba Mother Support Group members reinforce girl-child education -Mangochi

23 girls surrounding Mkumba Primary School, Traditional Authority Bwananyambi in Mangochi district have returned to school through the efforts of Mother Support Group (MSG) members that were trained by ActionAid Malawi through World Vision Malawi, with funds from the Global Fund. This is under the Prevention Programmes for Adolescents and Youth, in and out of School Module.

The module aims at reducing HIV incidences amongst girls, in and out-of-school, aged 10 to 24 by increasing awareness of adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) in HIV and AIDS, reducing school drop-out rate, and reducing incidences of gender-based violence. Among other means, the module achieves this by imparting knowledge in members of Parents Teacher’s Association, School Management Committee, Village Heads and MSG on how they can collectively help in creating a safe environment of AGYW in their communities. The topics considered include HIV/AIDS, gender-based violence and school re-admission policy among others.

According to the Secretary for Mkumba MSG, Sakina Makunganya, eight of these girls are now in secondary school. Sakina said the training they attained in 2016 made them understand the importance of education for a girl child and it empowered them to reach out to girls that dropped out of school around their communities to encourage them to go back to school.

Looking at the excuses that some girls and parents/guardians were giving, which included lack of uniforms, pencils and notebooks, Mkumba MSG members started sewing uniforms for the most vulnerable children and they buy notebooks for them using the funds they raise from selling other clothes and sanitary pads which they also sew.

“During the training, I learnt sewing by hand and using a sewing machine. When I came back, I taught my friends and together, sewing is raising funds for supporting many of our activities including helping the needy children. We believe in rekindling a bright future for girls that return to school so that when they are educated become independent, they are no longer vulnerable to HIV due to poverty,” she said.

Patuma (not real name), a 17-year-old girl who is now in Grade 7, is one of the girls that returned to Mkumba Primary School in 2017 after dropping out in the same year. According to Patuma, she dropped out after getting pregnant in August 2017 to a fellow schoolmate when she was 15 years old. However, Sakina and other members of the SGM encouraged Patuma to go back to school.

“The MSG members encouraged me to go back to school whilst three months pregnant. I was in school until my 7th month of pregnancy when I was advised to stay home and wait for the delivery of my child. After giving birth, I waited for four months then went back to school. My mother took the responsibility of taking care of the child and she brings my baby at school for me to breastfeed,” she said.

Patuma thanked MSG members for continuously encouraging her to stay in school, but also Mkumba Primary School management for creating a conducive environment for her to continue with education even whilst pregnant and after giving birth. “Most importantly, I also want to thank my mother for swallowing all the insults and shame she got because of me. She continuously encourages me to concentrate on my dream of becoming a bank tailor,” she continued.

Patuma’s mother, said she is not encouraging girls to get pregnant, rather she is doing all she can to set a good example to other parents/guardians that their girl child can continue with education after getting pregnant, if they support her. “People have talked behind my back and others said this child will be malnourished. But I have proved them wrong. I ensure he is well breastfed and undergoes all the required vaccines. You can appreciate his good health yourself,” she said.

The Patron for Mkumba Girls Club, Felix Mphepo, said the school management was worried to see Patuma dropping out of school. “We are glad that there is a school re-admission policy that allows learners to return to school after dropping out on different grounds. Imagine a girl like Patuma who still scooped second position during 2nd term. Her future would have been destroyed if she was not given a chance to return to school. We will continue supporting her education,” he said.

According to the ActionAid Malawi Manager responsible for the Prevention Programmes for Adolescents and Youth, in and out of School, Francis Mvundula, it is encouraging that community members and other partners taking part in the implementation of this programme are understanding and owning it.

“As we are implementing the programme, we also interested more in the sustainability of the interventions; hence we are happy to see MSG taking the initiative of ensuring girls are educated. Educating a girl child ensures that she is able to earn her own living which will prevent her from indulging in transaction sex that puts her at risk of contracting HIV,” he said.

ActionAid Malawi is implementing the Prevention Programmes for Adolescents and Youth module as part of the Joint TB HIV Programme in five districts of Lilongwe, Mangochi, Mulanje, Thyolo and Chikwawa.