Girls Empowerment Network (GENET) recently joined the international, national and local communities in Dowa district to commemorate this year’s International Youth Day, which highlighted the need to make education more relevant, equitable and inclusive for all the youth.
The commemoration was organized in partnership with DAPP, USAID, World Vision and Government of Malawi at Chinziri ground in the area of Traditional Kayembe (TA) Kayembe where GENET is implementing a project called Improving Girls Access to SRH Services and Information (IGASI), which is funded by Amplify Change.
During the commemoration, GENET donated recreation materials to SRH youth clubs that are working with health centres and community youths in promoting issues of reproductive health.
Speaking during the ceremony, Dowa District Council chairperson Martin Luka, who was the guest honour, described education as a tool for transforming nations, including Malawi.
“Young people need education to become informed and effective leaders. We must work towards championing education of the youth in Malawi because they are the future of our country,” said Luka.
He also urged organizations working in the area to support education of the youth.
“Once the youth are educated, they will be able solve some of the challenges they face such as early marriages, population boom and climate change because education is key to unlocking their potential,” said Luka.
Also in attendance was Member of Parliament (MP) for the area Dr. Abel Kayembe, Dowa District Youth Officer (DYO) Monica Banda and TA Kayembe.
On her part, GENET’s programs manager Tamara Mhango said education was key to promote issues of Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR), saying educated youth easily make well-informed choices about their reproductive rights.
“It is easy to deal with the youth that are educated when it comes to issues of SRHR. Therefore, promotion of inclusive education for Malawi youths is critical. We would’ve not been talking of child marriages if girls had attained a certain level of schooling,” said Mhango.- GENET.
