A 15-year-old schoolgirl who was sexually abused by a teacher was the catalyst for Global Care’s new partners to start a ministry supporting vulnerable girls in Malawi.

“Coming from a poor family of five children whereby affording two meals a day is a challenge, being selected to a boarding secondary school is a nightmare for both me and my parents, who are mere small-scale farmers,” the girl told them. “I wondered ‘where will I get school fees and basic needs?… (then) a primary school teacher offered me money in exchange for sex.”

In rural Malawi, secondary schools are often too far away for students to easily walk each day, so some young people need to find lodgings and board nearby. This leaves vulnerable young people – especially girls – at terrible risk of exploitation and abuse. It also drives high levels of school dropout, particularly among girls.

A secondary headteacher told our partners that up to 80% of the girls starting at his school will drop out. “Most of these dropouts are necessitated by poverty,”  he said.

Compassion & Care

This situation – and this particularly awful story – brought the Muthange Community-Based Organisation (CBO) into being. Muthange CBO are a group of Malawian Christians moved by compassion for vulnerable children and the Christian call to care for the poor.

They began providing school essentials for a tiny handful of students at one primary and two secondary schools and also run a termly mentoring programme for secondary aged girls.

Focus on supporting vulnerable girls

Muthange have a particular focus on supporting vulnerable girls, but also support some marginalised boys. They aim for a caseload of 70% girls but also have a strong focus on children affected by HIV/AIDS.

Now, thanks to their new partnership with Global Care, they are expanding their ministry to support more children with school fees and supplies, and improving the effectiveness of their mentoring programme by meeting the girls monthly. They will also run a special termly gathering of up to 50 girls, identified in consultation with teachers.

“Without our help, these children would not be able to stay in school and finish their education. After trying so hard, they give up on their dreams.”

Pilot Programme

Global Care has agreed to fund a 12-month pilot programme. We’ll equip Muthange CBO to provide school fees, uniform, shoes, a school bag and essential stationery for 30 children identified as especially vulnerable, across the three schools. We’ll also cover the costs of all mentoring sessions and materials, including the new joint gathering, and associated transport costs.

The entire programme will cost a total of £9,528, and has been funded through our Children at Risk programme. At the end of the pilot year, we’ll review the project, and expand into a new three-year partnership if appropriate.

Head of Operations, Steve Wicking, said: “Malawi is a country which has been in our hearts and prayers over recent years. So the opportunity to partner with Muthange CBO is really exciting.  Muthange are a truly grassroots organisation; local people taking simple steps to improve the lives of children in their communities. So, we look forward to reporting further as the partnership develops.”

How can you help?

  • Would you like to support the development of new initiatives? Consider becoming a monthly partner of our Children At Risk programme. We use this fund for rapid intervention in the lives of children in crisis in our existing projects, and to kickstart new projects. Partners give from £3 per month.

 

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