By James Kanyenda:
First Lady Monica Chakwera has commended Save the Children for uplifting lives of ordinary and vulnerable children to greater heights through it’s sponsorship programme.
The first Lady made the remarks during the Sponsorship Programme_ National Dissemination conference by Save the Children which was held at Bingu International Convention Centre.
Madame Chakwera said the sponsorship programme which was being conducted in Zomba for 13 years has positively impacted the area.
She added that the area is really transformed through the rising of people’s livelihoods and education standards as more children have now access to early childhood, primary and secondary education.
She added that as the project continues to spread into other areas, the impact communities and Malawi won’t be the same.
Madame Chakwera then called upon other development partners to emulate Save the Children and join the stage in uplifting lives of the vulnerable children.
The First lady also appealed to parents to send their girl children to school and ensure they complete their education instead of dropping them out of school and marrying them off.
Speaking during the event, Minister of Education Agness Nyalonje said her ministry is impressed with what Save the Children is doing and is also learning from it. She said the sponsorship programme has improved education standards in Zomba and this has been clearly shown through the way the district is now performing in national examinations.
Nyalonje added that whatever Save the Children is doing is in her Ministry’s mandate and the ministry is set to implement them countrywide.
Speaking earlier, Director of Operations at Save the Children International Frank Mwafulirwa said his organisation is always impressed and inspired with what the First Lady is doing in uplifting vulnerable children through her ‘Shaping Our Future Foundation.’ He said Save the Children aligns it’s activities with what the First Lady is doing.
In it’s sponsorship programme, Save the Children worked in education, health and improvement of people’s livelihoods through economic empowerment among others.
During the Event, the First Lady was crowned as Ambassador for for Abwezi a Ana programme to be run by Save the Children in Zomba replacing the sponsorship programme which is now going to Ntcheu.
