Issues of high prevalence of child marriages, inadequate learning and teaching materials, rampant cases of child labour, school drop-out, among others, took centre stage during a children’s Parliament session that was held on Monday in Mchinji District.
World Vision Malawi, in partnership with Girls Activist Youth Organisation (GAYO), supported the children’s Parliament in Mchinji with the aim of empowering children to highlight issues that affect them.
Executive Director for GAYO, Richard Batch, said they decided to support the initiative to ensure that the children are heard.
A 2022 base line survey conducted by GAYO found out that 23 percent of the children in Mchinji were not going to school because of child marriages and child labour issues.
World Vision Malawi Mchinji District Programmes Manager, Mereena John, said they initiated the Parliament as a forum which will help children to transform.
Vice chairperson for Mchinji District Council, Mickson Chikhutu, assured the children that the council will intervene on issues that were raised during the Parliament deliberations.
By Brighton Thengoliweta Chimsinde, MANA