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- Empowering Youth with SRHR Information: N’zatonse Project by Evangelical Association of Malawi Reaches Over 23,000
Empowering Youth with SRHR Information: N’zatonse Project by Evangelical Association of Malawi Reaches Over 23,000
The N’zatonse project phase 4 is being implemented in six T/As of Kachulu, Zolokere, Katumbi, Mwahenga, Njikula, and Mwalweni in Rumphi district with financial support from KFW through NCA/DCA.
Malawi: The Evangelical Association of Malawi (EAM) is working to empower young people with sexual and reproductive health rights information through its N’zatonse program, writes Susan Moyo.
The project targets young people between the ages of 10 and 24 and aims to advocate for access to high-quality SRHR information, products, and services.
In rural areas of Malawi, child marriages and teenage pregnancies remain major challenges for young people, with a teenage pregnancy rate of 29 percent, according to UNICEF data.
Tumpale Kangere, the district project coordinator, says that so far the program has reached over 23,018 people with SRHR information and trained 320 peer educators, including 156 females and 164 males from religious circles, on sexual and reproductive health.
Kangere also mentioned that they have mentored 194 religious and community leaders in SRHR and youth-friendly health services.
“We have also constructed three youth centres in the district so that the youth can meet and discuss the issues that matter to their lives and learn different skills from their friends,” Kangere said.
Legganie Sambo, a 22-year-old peer educator, says they have gained a lot from the project.
“In the past, we did not know that young people had rights to access sexual and reproductive health services, but EAM has closed the gap,” Sambo said.
The training support from EAM has also reduced the number of teenage pregnancies in the district.
Mwai Mtoloka, a 24-year-old youth from the area, concurred with Sambo, saying many youths in the area lacked information on SRHR.
“We did not have any information on how best we could live our lives as youths, people were telling us that if a girl gets pregnant, her educational life is over,” Mtoloka said.
Pastor Samuel Kapuzula Msiska, Chairperson for Pastors Fraternal in Phoka area, said the church has broken the silence and is now able to preach about SRHR.
“The Nzatonse program by EAM has enlightened us on the need to be open to these youths on these issues,” said Msiska.
The chiefs have also agreed to end harmful practices that were hindering youths from accessing SRHR services.
Group Village Headman Mtembe-lembe from Jalawe said that through the training from EAM, they have realized the importance of SRHR education and services for young people.
“We encourage them to take care of themselves by seeking help so that they can prevent teenage pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases,” he said.
The N’zatonse project phase 4 is being implemented in six T/As of Kachulu, Zolokere, Katumbi, Mwahenga, Njikula, and Mwalweni in Rumphi district with financial support from KFW through NCA/DCA.