By Angel Chunda:
Save the Poor Foundation (SAPOF) intends to extend its Keeping Every Girl in Education (KEEP4MEG) initiative to five more areas in Blantyre District following successful outcomes in supporting vulnerable girls and teenage mothers to stay in school and prevent early pregnancies.
Speaking during a District Executive Committee meeting on Thursday, SAPOF Field Officer Takondwa Biyazawo said the programme, was introduced in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic which led to increased cases of child marriages, teenage pregnancies and school dropouts.
Biyazawo said the organisation is currently supporting 14 teenage mothers and 60 girls from vulnerable households at Mpapa Primary School and two of the beneficiaries are currently enrolled at Mpapa Community Day Secondary School.
“Since the project started, we have not received any reports of early pregnancies or drop outs from the school,” she said.
According to Biyazawo, the programme has also established a KEEP4MEG club to provide supplementary English lessons to struggling learners.
She, however, expressed worry over lack of interest and reluctancy by some teenage mothers to return to school.
To address this challenge, Biyazawo said the organization offers nursery care for children of some teenage mothers to enable them to continue with their education.
District Youth Officer Peter Mizedya commended the initiative but stressed the need for sustainability and collaboration with other stakeholders.
“There is need to plan long term on how your organization will sustain this project. It is also important to engage other partners working on similar projects to reach out to more vulnerable girls,” said Mizedya.
The organisation plans to extend the programme to Nasiyaya and Khola primary schools, where they expect to reach about 400 girls aged between 13 and 17 through safe spaces, girls’ clubs and community engagement activities.
