YECO Opens Free Secondary School to Combat Financial Challenges in Dowa District
In addition to the school, YECO is also providing business and agricultural training to youths in the district to fight poverty.
Malawi: A youth-led organization, Youth Enactment and Consortium (YECO), with the help of local traditional leaders, has opened a secondary school in Dowa, Malawi, to provide free secondary education to children from less privileged backgrounds, writes Benson Kamonjola.
Approximately 90 students have enrolled so far.
Moses Pemba, the Executive Director of YECO, expressed his concern over the growing number of school dropouts in the district due to financial difficulties.
"The school dropouts in Dowa district have been increasing at a very alarming rate, hence the move to introduce the school to deal with that financial challenge among students," said Pemba.
"Our school accommodates needy students who have failed to go to schools they were selected for because they couldn't find school fees, so here they don't pay anything."
Pemba also highlighted the importance of coordination among stakeholders for the success of the initiative and thanked the community for their support.
One of the beneficiaries, Grace Winston, said, "The coming in of this school has given me a second chance at completing my education."
Senior Chief Kayembe praised the initiative, saying, "It is only when people are educated that they can ably and easily take part in development."
She called on other stakeholders to follow YECO's example in improving education in the country and added that the school will also help reduce early pregnancies among girls.
Lucky Mbewe, an education and youth rights activist, said, "The role of non-governmental organizations is to help the government where it is failing, so YECO in Dowa is doing exactly what is required."
He called on the government to address the challenges children face in accessing their right to education.
YECO said that they are committed to working with the youths in the district to improve their well-being.
They have appealed for assistance in managing the school and providing for teacher welfare.
In addition to the school, YECO is also providing business and agricultural training to youths in the district to fight poverty.