Girls Get Equal Projects Manager Chancy Mkandawire told Zodiak Online on Friday that that so far, they have distributed school uniforms and other school materials to over 200 girls.

He said they are implementing the project in Traditional Authorities Juma, Nkanda, Chikumbu and Njema.

“We have been working with Acting Lhomwe Paramount Chief (Senior Chief Kaduya) and her chiefs and Mulhakho Wa Alhomwe officials in reviewing and ending harmful cultural norms and we are glad to report that most harmful traditions have been scrapped off,” said Mkandawire.  

While commending POP for the strides made so far, Social Welfare Assistant at the District Social Welfare Office in Mulanje Paul Cheka says coordination in implementation of child protection programs remains a challenge in the district.

“Some organizations when they start implementing their projects, they do not share with us their progress reports and we only see them when exiting or when their donors come for monitoring which is not good,” said Cheka.   

POP started implementing the Girls Get Equal project in Mulanje in 2020.

The organization is implementing the project in partnership with the Churches Action in Relief and Development (CARD), Centre for Alternatives for Victimized Women and Children (CAVWOC) and Creative Centre for Community Mobilization (CRECCOM) with financial support from NORAD through Plan International Malawi.