SAPOF’s "Keep4MEG" Project Empowers Young Mothers to Continue Their Education in Blantyre
Since its inception, the project has successfully re-enrolled over 50 girls at Mpapa Primary School, offering them a chance to continue their education.
BLANTYRE, Malawi - In a determined effort to ensure that more girls in rural communities receive an education, the Save the Poor Foundation (SAPOF), a non-governmental organization based in Blantyre, is implementing a project aimed at re-enrolling girls who had to drop out of school due to pregnancies, writes Happy Valirani.
The "Keep More Girls in School for More Educated Girls" (Keep4MEG) project, initiated in 2020, is a four-year endeavor taking place in Chim'bona and Mpapa villages under Traditional Authority Somba in Blantyre.
Since its inception, the project has successfully re-enrolled over 50 girls at Mpapa Primary School, offering them a chance to continue their education.
Thembi Mvula, Programs Officer at Save the Poor Foundation, expressed their satisfaction with the increasing number of young mothers returning to school. S
he emphasized that the project's main goal is to have more educated girls in Mpapa and Blantyre as a whole while addressing the issues of early pregnancies and child marriages among girls.
"When schools closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many girls became pregnant, and some entered early marriages. This is precisely why Save the Poor Foundation implemented the 'Keep More Girls in School for More Educated Girls' project, aimed at reducing the dropout rate among girls in Blantyre district. The project's objective was to reintegrate young mothers who had left school back into the education system," explained Mvula.
Tadala Mnenula, a young mother from Chin'bona village, is one of the fifty girls benefitting from the project.
She is now in standard 8 at Mpapa Primary School. Tadala expressed her gratitude for the support received through the project, which includes school necessities, school funds, extra class fees, and even daycare fees for her child.
"I couldn't believe it when they told me that I was one of the fifty girls to benefit from the 'Keep4MEG' project. I saw it as a grace since I had no hope of returning to school because my parents could not afford to provide everything I needed for school, especially after just giving birth. However, SAPOF's intervention has truly helped me and other young mothers. Look at me now; I intend to seize this opportunity to fulfil my dreams," said Tadala.
Tadala also added that aside from the financial support provided by the foundation, they engage in various activities like home visits, sports, career talks, quizzes, and school debates on various topics to help young mothers stay focused on their education.
Angella Mnenula, Tadala's mother, lauded the project's initiation, highlighting how the provision of school necessities and other educational expenses significantly eases the financial burden on families like hers, which could not otherwise afford the costs associated with her child's education.
Leonard Lulanga, a teacher at Mpapa Primary School and a mentoring volunteer at Save the Poor Foundation, echoed Angella's sentiments regarding the project's impact on the lives of young mothers in the surrounding villages.
"We have a re-admission program under the 'Keep4MEG' project, which is helping young mothers and vulnerable girls return to school, significantly increasing enrollment at Mpapa Primary School," disclosed Lulanga.
Mvula mentioned that while the project's initial three-month funding from the National Democratic Institute (NDI) has expired, the foundation is now relying on member contributions to keep it running.
She appealed for further support from well-wishers to help educate the girls beyond secondary school.