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Chikwawa-Based Organisation Bails Out Needy Students From Illiteracy
High poverty levels in Chikwawa, Malawi cause high school dropout rates, leading many youth to resort to early marriages, writes Moses Thole.
Chikwawa, Malawi-Chikwawa district, just like many parts of Malawi, has been grappling with a high school dropout rate due to poverty levels among parents. This has resulted in many young people resorting to early marriages, writes Moses Thole.
However, a Chikwawa-based organization, Pashello Charitable Trust, has introduced a bursary program that has saved many young people from drowning in illiteracy and self-pity.
Richard Rabson, a student at Ngabu Secondary School, narrated how the bursary program saved him from dropping out of school.
"When I was selected at Ngabu Secondary School, there was no one who could manage to pay for my school fees and provide other basic necessities since I lost both parents a long time ago. I went to Pashello and expressed my situation, and I was included in the bursary scheme. Besides paying for my school fees, the trust also provides for my basic school needs," revealed Rabson.
The Executive Director of Pashello Charitable Trust, Felia Malola, disclosed that currently, the trust has students in various schools across the country, while others have graduated from various universities.
"We have a lot of students in Community Day Secondary Schools (CDSS) and other national secondary schools like Dedza and Stella Marris. Though we have many students who have succeeded in life, we have discovered that there are a lot in villages who still need assistance," she added.
Senior Group Misongwe under Traditional Authority Ngabu in Chikwawa district has called on other stakeholders to join hands in making education affordable for every needy student.
On his part, the Chairperson for Chikwawa District Council, Khofat Malunga, commended the move Pashello Charitable Trust has taken and appealed to other well-wishers to emulate the trust's example.
However, just like many organizations operating in rural areas, Pashello Charitable Trust is facing financial challenges due to the increase in the number of needy students asking for support, and the many other programs it is running.
Malola lamented, "Our challenge is that we have a lot of students who need our support, and we cannot manage to assist them all. We need financial help from well-wishers and donors, but most times it is not enough."
Malola also disclosed plans for the trust to open its own primary, secondary, and skills training schools so that they can train them for free.
Currently, the trust is running a free nursery school with over 50 children.
Pashello Charitable Trust's initiative has provided hope to many young people who would have otherwise missed out on the opportunity to get an education.
The organization's determination to provide assistance to the less privileged is a commendable example that other organizations should emulate.