Badilika Foundation, a religious organisation, has pledged to meet religious needs of girls and women involved in sex work so that they become spiritually transformed.
Speaking at the launch of the foundation in Blantyre on Friday, Badilika executive director Pastor Forbes Msiska said sex workers also need a supportive environment for their spiritual well-being apart from meeting their health and economic needs.
“We want to facilitate spiritual transformation of sex workers. We will also advocate for greater respect and protection of their rights as human beings so that they have access to quality health and other social services,” said Msiska.
He said the foundation has already organised community groups for sex workers where they offer behaviour change counselling sessions and training in such vocations as carpentry and welding.
One of the beneficiaries of the foundation’s services, Loveness Banda, said in an interview she now lives a better life after acquiring welding skills.
“I was advised by the pastor [Msiska] to quit sex work and become spiritually transformed while earning a living by doing welding business. I now live a self-dependent life,” said Banda.
Senior Chief Kapeni, and Blantyre City Council officials attended the launch.
