By Blessings Chitekwere:
Chimbota Community Development Organization is breaking new ground in its women empowerment agenda with the launch of a “Bring Back a Girl to School” project, which takes effect in the coming academic year.
This initiative, the first of its kind in Malawi, is designed not only to cover a young mother’s education but also to shoulder the boarding expenses of her child. Both mother and child will be accommodated at Chimbota Private Secondary School, nestled in the area of Traditional Authority Ndola in Nkhata Bay District.
According to Chimbota’s co-director, Kevin Troughton, the project responds to a painful reality. For many girls, the dream of education is cut short once they fall pregnant. Returning to school is rarely an option, as motherhood pushes them into small businesses or casual labor in order to survive and provide for their children.
“We have found that there are girls who dropped out of school because they had a child and are still willing to go back.
“But it is almost impossible for a girl to study when she also has to take care of her child. That is where we come in. We will relieve that financial pressure by taking in both the mother and the child,” Troughton explained.
Under the program, the young mothers will live in a hostel with their children. A matron will be employed to look after the children while their mothers attend classes.
The project begins with three girls already identified, though many others remain on a waiting list, pending the availability of funds.
The initial phase has been made possible through the generosity of Canadian national Butch Montreuil, who has stepped forward to finance the expenses for the three beneficiaries.
Troughton expressed his excitement at the warm reception the idea has received across the country, describing it as a unique model that has the potential to transform lives.
“This is the first time we are seeing a project that not only gives young mothers another chance at education but also cares for their children. People are calling it a great idea, but what we need now is financial support to extend it to many more girls who dropped out due to early pregnancies,” he said.
The co-director added that the pilot phase is already symbolic, as one of the three selected beneficiaries is a daughter of a traditional leader from the very area where the organization is based.
Chimbota’s ambitions, however, extend far beyond the pilot. With adequate funding, the project hopes to take in as many as 20 girls before the academic year opens.
For now, it begins with three girls and their children—a modest but groundbreaking start to what could grow into a powerful lifeline for young mothers determined to reclaim their education.
