Concerned Youth Organization (CYO) Empowers Students in Mchinji District with Scholarships
The 'Access to Quality Education' initiative by CYO has made a significant impact, reaching over 2230 individuals in the Mchinji District.
BLANTYRE, Malawi — In a commendable effort to eliminate barriers hindering girls from accessing education, Concerned Youth Organisation (CYO), a non-governmental organisation based in Blantyre, has granted scholarships to 51 students from Mchinji Mission Community Day Secondary School and SOPA Community Day Secondary School in T/A Nyoka, Mchinji District, writes Gerald Fanuel.
Under the 'Girls Inspire Project,' funded by the Commonwealth of Learning from Canada, the initiative named 'Access to Quality Education' began in 2021 with the goal of providing a second chance for those who dropped out, especially girls, to return to school.
The broader objective is to address gender inequalities in education and enhance the gender equality index in the district.
Sophrate George, a 16-year-old Form 2 student at Mchinji Mission CDSS, expressed her gratitude for the opportunity provided by CYO, which restored her hope and optimism for the future.
"I commend CYO for the opportunity to pay my tuition fees. This has restored my hope, and I am optimistic that I will pass junior national examinations with better grades," she said.
Fagness Njovu, another beneficiary, shared how the scholarship not only supported her education but also eased the financial burden on her parents.
"The scholarship has helped my parents very much, as their focus shifted to the provision of tuition fees for my brother, who is also studying at Mchinji Mission CDSS. Without the tuition fees provided by CYO, it could have been difficult for my parents to pay for school fees," she explained.
CYO's initiative has reached beyond secondary education, supporting 315 girls and boys in primary schools with essential supplies like exercise books and pens.
Additionally, the organisation provided 200 primary school students with school uniforms, supplied 60 desktop computers to three rural community day secondary schools, and introduced computer studies in those institutions.
Grace Zalira, a resident of Nyoka village, emphasised the significance of the scholarship for families dependent on subsistence farming.
"We depend solely on farming, which does not give us much. As such, the scholarship that CYO provided was vital," she stated.
Aubrey Chidziwitsano, Mchinji District Project Officer for CYO, acknowledged the financial challenges they face and stressed the need to scale up the initiative.
He highlighted the impact of reducing disparities in access to quality education, particularly for girls facing barriers like tuition fees and a lack of school materials.
Trouble Mchenga Thole, an Area Development Committee (ADC) member, lauded the initiative for bridging the gap in accessing quality education.
While recognising the financial challenges, Chidziwitsano affirmed their commitment to enrolling more students on scholarships, emphasizing the positive impact on students who dropped out due to financial constraints.
The 'Access to Quality Education' initiative by CYO has made a significant impact, reaching over 2230 individuals in the Mchinji District.