Alliance One Tobacco Malawi Limited has spent over K127 million on building and renovations of school blocks, procurement of desks and provision of portable water in three selected primary schools in the central region.
The beneficiary schools include Mpita primary school (K61 million) and Jusi primary school (K26.1 million) both in Mchinji district and Katengeza primary school (K39.2 million) at Madisi in Dowa District.
In a statement, Alliance One Tobacco Malawi Corporate Affairs Officer Ben Kawonga the support is in line with the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility Programs in the areas of, education, health, water and sanitation, climate change impact reduction, as well as providing support to Orphans and Vulnerable Children.
He said: “Helping schools falls into our education component. These schools fall in areas where our farmers are located and we try to complement on where the government is falling short and in so doing fighting child labor as well since children drop out because of lack of quality schools.
He said they expect the initiatives will help keep children in schools and motivate them to work hard and not be involved in tobacco fields.
Mpita primary school head teacher Patrick Chichitike said since Alliance One Tobacco Malawi Limited constructed new blocks and renovated some with desks provision, enrolment has drastically increased and that some learners who were opting to work in tobacco fields are now liking the learning environment.
Sub-Traditional Authority Kambuwe said the developments will help the area to produce more educated citizens as better learning environment attracts more learners.
