Empowering Women Key to Ending Gender Violence
The Girls Inspire Project has impacted over 15,000 beneficiaries in Mchinji district since 2019.
MCHINJI, Malawi- Executive Director for Concerned Youth Organization, Harvey Chimaliro, has said empowerment of women and girls is the key to ending gender violence, Gerald Fanuel.
The remarks were made during the launch of Mchinji District's 16 Days of Activism at Mduwa Primary School Ground in T/A Mduwa on Friday.
Chimaliro articulated that their organization's mission is to create opportunities for youth to acquire needed skills and experiences towards job creation, employment and career development.
"Our organization has invested in skills development, smart agriculture and education all to create opportunities for women and girls to acquire skills and experiences needed towards job creation, employment and career development, which may in turn reduce the cases of Gender violence as these women and girls are not dependent on their husbands and parents, respectively," he said.
Showcasing their newly attained skills in tailoring during the launch, Onesta Banda from Tsapira village said being 19 years old and a school dropout, learning to tailor has given her a new platform to earn a living as it gives her skills needed in the job market as well as business.
Through Girls Inspire project, initiated in 2019, over 2230 women and girls have had access to education including awareness on the importance of girl child education and readmission policy.
One beneficiary, Zione George, from Sikalioti village has benefitted from community support after CYO sensitised on the importance of girl child education and readmission.
Mchinji District Council Chairperson, Dorothy Musa, said creating opportunities for girls in skills development and education is an inspiration to many.
"Education is key to ending GBV, hence it is important for the girls to be readmitted to school and continue with their education," she said.
The Girls Inspire Project has impacted over 15,000 beneficiaries in Mchinji district since 2019.