The chiefs who gathered at the T/A Chekucheku headquarters today Wednesday, said the Commission has been instrumental in the fight against injustices that marginalised people face and now it has timely taken over education.

For example, Group Village Headman Kaluphya has told Zodiak Online that the "Shaping Girls Education in Neno" project will help marginalised girls to have access to quality education while giving mother groups entrepreneurial skills to sustain education of their wards.

He said that " Many girls in my area drop out of school due to lack of school fees and we are happy that CCJP is here to render its helping hand," said the Group Village Headman.

He however said that he will take it upon himself to sensitize all the benefitting girls to ensure that they do not mess the opportunity while advising teen mothers to return to school.

In his remarks, CCJP Archdiocese of Blantyre Gender officer Caroline Faiti said that her organisation recognizes the role chiefs play in ending harmful cultural practices that hinder girl-child education hence approaching them in their project.

She said that the chiefs have the power to formulate by-laws that project girl's rights hence being fundamental in the implementation of their project.

"We know that these chiefs are the custodians of our culture and also have the power to scrap off all traditions that harm our girls. So we need them in this project," said Faiti.

Village Headman Chidakwana also concurred with Kaluphya saying time is now for organizations to start concentrating on the education of the girl child and also put measures that will ensure that boys too are not being left out.

On this CCJP Gender officer Caroline Faiti said they have incorporated a component of male champions in their project to ensure that there is gender balance.

The project which is for four years will see 100 girls of Neno being fully sponsored from secondary to tertiary level with mother groups being mentored in tailoring, soap making, bakery among others.

In each of the four Traditional Authorities of Neno, 25 girls will be identified by their Mother Groups, Headteachers, Chiefs and other partners in a bid to ensure that only deserving ones are being taken aboard.

Over 483 million three hundred thirty three thousand Kwacha will be used in the project being funded by the MISEREOR Germany.