Mchinji Youth Organisation Holds Education Tour to Fight Teen Marriages

Mchinji, Malawi-Karen Seyani, a Field Officer for Mchinji’s Girls Activist Youth Organization (GAYO), has emphasized the importance of education visits by children in the fight against teen and child marriages, writes Brenda Sanudi, MANA.

During an education tour at Mzuzu Government Secondary School and St John of God College of Health Sciences for schoolchildren from Traditional Authority Kapondo in Mchinji, Seyani highlighted that such visits motivate learners to remain in school.

“Our visit to Mzuzu Government Secondary School and St John of God College of Health Sciences was meant for children from Kapondo to get inspiring stories from different students on how they made it through their educational endeavours so they can work harder in school and refrain from early marriages, which is a huge problem in their communities,” Seyani said.

The tour was attended by 22 female and 12 male senior section learners from standard five to seven from Chafuta, Chankhanga, Kalulu, and Rusa primary schools.

One of the students, 16-year-old Elizabeth Masayiti from Chankhanga Primary School, was inspired to work harder after the tour.

“I have learned that working hard in school pays off since you get selected to a good school and ultimately go to college, just like our friends we have interacted with in Mzuzu. When I go back home, I will work harder so I can be selected for a national secondary school one day,” Masayiti said.

Goodson Botomani, a teacher at Kalulu Primary School, commended GAYO for the initiative, stating that the tour helped the learners experience some aspects that they only learn in theory and that are embedded in their curriculum.

Esime Mkwinda, the Principal of St. John of God College of Health Sciences, also hailed the initiative, stating that it is crucial to the learners as well as their institution.

“This education tour is very crucial to the learners, regardless of the fact that they are still in primary school. They need to have role models they look up to and be familiar with what happens at the tertiary level. This can help them commit to their dreams of achieving a lot in their educational pursuits,” Mkwinda said.

GAYO is implementing the Rusa Community Sponsorship Engagement Programme with support from World Vision Malawi to fight teen marriages and pregnancies in Traditional Authority Kapondo in Mchinji District.

Overall, the education tour is a significant step in fighting teen and child marriages in the region by motivating learners to prioritize their education and pursue their dreams.