For 19-year-old Alinafe Moses, becoming pregnant while in Form One at Chisugulu Community Day Secondary School in Phalombe District felt like the end of her dreams.

In 2023, Moses found herself forced to put her education on hold after becoming pregnant. 

The situation became even more painful when the man responsible denied the pregnancy and offered no support.

For a moment, her future appeared uncertain.

But instead of giving up, Moses chose to fight for a second chance.

After giving birth and waiting for her baby to grow, she made the difficult decision to return to school.

“I come from a poor family, and my parents could not afford to take care of both me and my baby. I decided to return to school because I believe education is the key to success,” she said.

Now in Form Three, Moses balances motherhood and education with determination, refusing to let her past define her future.

Her journey took a positive turn after joining the after-school Creating Health Approaches to Success (CHATS) Club, where she found encouragement and motivation from fellow learners.

The club helped restore her confidence and strengthened her resolve to achieve her ambitions.

Moses says despite the challenges she has faced, she remains focused on her dream of becoming a nurse.

Her story reflects the experiences of many girls in Phalombe who face barriers to education but continue striving for a better future.

At Chiringa Community Day Secondary School, Form Four student Letina Muleso also found hope and motivation through the CHATS Club.

Muleso said her parents initially showed little interest in supporting her education because her two elder sisters had not performed well  after being selected to secondary school.

According to her, this created doubt about her own potential.

“I joined the CHATS Club last term, and the support I received from fellow students helped me break into the top 10 in class. This had never happened before since I started school,” she said.

Education authorities in Phalombe say such stories demonstrate the importance of policies and programmes aimed at keeping learners in school.

Principal Education Officer for the district, Ganizani Lipenga, said the school re-admission policy and the introduction of free secondary education have created opportunities for learners who previously dropped out.

Lipenga encouraged students, especially girls, to return to school and continue pursuing their education.

“We encourage all students who dropped out of school to return to their respective schools and continue learning. This is their opportunity to complete secondary education,” he said.

Organisations working with schools say empowering girls with education remains critical in transforming communities.

Age Africa District Project Coordinator, Jessie Banda Puwapuwa, said the organisation is committed to helping learners identify and overcome challenges affecting their education.

“As an organisation, we are determined to ensure that the girl child attains quality education and completes her schooling,” she said.

Age Africa is implementing the Bridge for Girls’Education programme in Phalombe District with funding from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).