Neno PACHI coordinator Russel Msiska told Zodiak Online today, Tuesday, that the youths who have come from ten youth clubs are being equipped with skills and knowledge of child marriages and GBV so that they reach four thousand youths in all four T/As of the district with GBV messages in eight months of the project.

"After noting a rise in cases of child marriages and gender based violence, we said no, let us engage the youths who are in majority in the district in this fight," said Msiska.

He further told us that, the youths are expected to champion the fight against the vices through sensitisation in their respective clubs with a hope that the club members will inturn sensitise others.

He then hailed the Neno district council for its support in the fight against gender bases violence.

Taking her turn, Mary Malunga, from the Neno social welfare office, said in 2021, 17 girls were defiled, 21 children neglected by their parents with 93 cases of sexual abuse and 109 physical and emotional violence.

Neno district hospital coordinator for GBV, Willy Chisindo however lamented gender based violence survivors lateness to visit health facilities saying this defeats the whole purpose of ending the vices.

Meanwhile, one of the participants Bright Khungwa has hailed PACHI and UNICEF for the idea, saying they will ensure that they utilize the knowledge gained to end child marriages and sexual gender based violence.