Campaign for Female Education (CAMFED) has announced plans to roll out an Ending Child Marriage Project aimed at reducing child marriages in Machinga through long term interventions.
CAMFED Malawi Executive Director, Susan Silika, said the issue of child marriage goes beyond cultural factors, hence the need for a multi-layered approach and collaboration to achieve lasting solutions.
“Child marriage goes beyond cultural factors hence the need for a multi layered approach and collaboration to ensure long term solutions in tackling the root causes,” said Silika.
She said the project will enhance safety for vulnerable girls through improved boarding infrastructure and self-boarding facilities to improve retention in both primary and secondary schools.
Silika added that the programme will also support learners at risk of dropping out through provision of material support for self-boarding, peer support mechanisms and engagement of local leaders.
She further said the initiative will ease financial burdens that often force girls out of school and into early marriages.
Machinga District Council Social Welfare Officer, Charles Kazembe, welcomed the development, saying it will go a long way in addressing child marriages in the district.
He said financial constraints have been a major barrier in implementing effective interventions against the practice.
St. Therese Primary School Headteacher, Anastasio Sululu, also hailed the programme, saying combined efforts are needed to address economic factors driving child marriages.
The project, which will be implemented by CAMFED in collaboration with the Ministry of Gender, Children, Disability and Social Welfare, is expected to run for five years with funding from the Children Investment Fund Foundation.
