Malawi First Lady Calls for Support of Girls' Education
This is the third annual retreat organized by the Shaping Our Future Foundation, following events in Lilongwe in 2022 and Mzuzu in 2023.
ZOMBA, Malawi— Malawi's First Lady Monica Chakwera urged civil society organizations and other partners Tuesday to support girls' education, highlighting her Shaping Our Future Foundation's commitment to this cause as key to the country's development, writes Winston Mwale.
Speaking at the opening of the foundation's 2024 Girls Empowerment Retreat in Zomba, Chakwera expressed concern over the increasing number of girls dropping out of school due to lack of support and social factors.
"My dream is to educate and empower girls in school so that they achieve their dreams and become self-reliant," Chakwera said.
"As a foundation, we are committed to supporting all girls, but we may not reach out to all, hence our call for your support."
She emphasized that Malawi Vision 2063 recognizes human capital as a key enabler, arguing that investing in girls' education could spur the country's development.
"By educating a girl child, we can educate the whole nation," Chakwera said.
The First Lady also called on traditional leaders to promote girls' education by condemning practices that hinder their advancement, noting that cultural norms and gender-based violence contribute to girls' educational challenges.
Jean Sendeza, Minister of Gender Community Development and Social Welfare, praised the First Lady's foundation for its efforts to help girls advance in education.
Dr. Limbikani Kamlongera, Executive Director of Girls Education Trust, said the trust plans to expand its support initiatives to reach more girls.
The four-day retreat, attended by 150 secondary school students from the southern region, features motivational talks from women in various professions.
Before the opening, Chakwera toured pavilions of partners supporting girls' education, including the Joyce Banda Foundation, Sparkle Foundation, and Advancing Girls Education in Africa.
This is the third annual retreat organized by the Shaping Our Future Foundation, following events in Lilongwe in 2022 and Mzuzu in 2023.