WOLREC aims at promoting justice specifically for women and girls reaching about 12 districts in the country and it was fitting to hold this year’s activities in Balaka as cases of girs dropping out of school, early marriages and gender based violence are becoming common.
The organization’s Project Officer Gift Mauluka said WOLREC is implementing a project that mainly challenges cultural practices that inhibits women’s and girl’s enjoyment of rights.
“This is a Trocaire funded project and we are implementing it for 5 years, we use an approach called ‘Star Circle’ were women discuss challenges they are facing and find solutions but with a biasness towards culture practices and how they are impacting on their lives,” said Mauluka.
The Project Officer added that Day of the Girl Child falls under its access to justice project which targets social justice, “Under social justice we aim at teaching people on how to live in a society, so we are here to impart knowledge to the community on the importance of education precisely for girls,” he said.
Guest of Honor, District Commissioner Mateauma bemoaned the tendency of elders in communities backing up perpetrators who exploit young girls.
“Most of these men who exploit young girls and hinder them from education are protected by elders in the community to safeguard their reputation when caught, however this only adds on to the problem and discourages girls to come forward when they have been raped or abused in any way,” he said.
DC Mateauma also highlighted on the need for proper learning facilities in these communities that will accommodate girls to further encourage them to not only show up for school but also participate in class.
“We are very thankful for the assistance in building school blocks however let me also ask benefactors to further provide sitting material in classrooms as this will be helpful to girls; most of these girls do not participate in class because to stand up from the floor can be somewhat tedious.”
One form 4 student at the school, 18 year old Felia, gave a very moving testimony on how she survived pressures that come with poverty.
“I lost both my parents by the age of 10 and I lived with my struggling grandmother but things became very hard so I dropped out of school after passing my PSLCE and I was married at age 13. Things were still not better, if anything marriage made my problems multiply.
I was approached by Social Welfare representatives who encouraged me to go back to school, so after a year of marriage I went back to school. However I am still struggling to pay for my fees as I have to work menial jobs to find a little something to pay for my fees,” narrated Felia, who asked for assistance for fees to finish her education as she cannot afford to go further after her MSCE.
During the activities girls from Utale CDSS showcased their talent from poetry to drama, all in line with the theme of this year Girls’ Progress= Goals’ Progress: A Global Girl Data Movement.
The K200million project is funded by Trocaire, and other contributors including Democracy Consolidation Program, We Effect, Danny Church Aid, Steven Louise Foundation and EED.
