Empowered Voices: Balaka Girls Transforming Futures Under 'Her Future Her Choice' Project
This initiative, supported by role models who share their personal journeys, is bringing hope and transformation to vulnerable girls and young women in the district.
Balaka, Malawi– Adolescent girls and young mothers in Balaka district are becoming advocates for change through the 'Her Future Her Choice' project, implemented by the Centre for Victimised Women and Children (Cavwoc), Howard Mlozi.
This initiative, supported by role models who share their personal journeys, is bringing hope and transformation to vulnerable girls and young women in the district.
Survivors of gender-based violence (GBV), like Shadiha, are using their experiences to inspire others.
Shadiha, now a trained plumber with the Technical, Entrepreneurial, and Vocational Education and Training Authority (TEVETA), defied societal expectations after facing the challenges of teenage pregnancy.
"I became pregnant when I was a teenager, and life was not the same. To most members of my community, this was the end of my future. They looked down on me and thought I was going nowhere with my life,” said Shadiha.
"With determination, I managed to rise and enrol in one of the vocational training colleges, where I graduated as a plumber. Now, I gather around with girls and young women from my area to use my story to inspire them."
Gloria, another role model under the 'Her Future, Her Choice' project, became pregnant at 15 but persevered to become a professional nurse.
She started selling vegetables to fund her education, enduring ridicule from others.
"I didn't allow my dreams to die a natural death when I became pregnant. Instead, I started selling vegetables to support my education. I endured a lot of pain because people ridiculed me when I was selling the vegetables. But luck smiled on me until I made it to college to pursue nursing,” shared Gloria.
"Today, I am happy to be part of the movement that is making a difference in the lives of vulnerable girls and young women."
Shadiha and Gloria are among the young women working with Cavwoc to empower others to change their stories.
Traditional Authority (TA) Kalembo emphasized the significant role that role models like Gloria and Shadiha play in encouraging girls and young women to stay in school and build their self-esteem.
He highlighted the challenges faced by adolescent girls and young women, including high maternal and child mortality rates, unsafe abortion, unmet family planning needs, early marriages, sexual violence, and teenage pregnancies.
Cavwoc Project Officer Rightwell Nyirenda revealed that over 8,500 girls and young women have been impacted by the 'Her Future, Her Choice' project in TAs Amidu and Kalembo in Balaka district.
"The project targets adolescent girls and young women with sexual reproductive health and rights (SRHR) information and services. It uses existing structures like youth clubs, Community Victim Support Units, Community Theatre for Development (CTFD) groups, and others to improve access to SRHR services," explained Nyirenda.
The initiative employs role models to shape the future of adolescent girls and young women, conducting training on SRHR, Theatre for Development (TFD), and Village Savings Loans (VSLs) to empower young women economically.
Despite these efforts, poverty remains a significant challenge, fueling early sexual debuts, teen pregnancies, child marriages, and school dropouts.