Genet engages 1175 girls on GBV, SRH

Girls Empowerment Network (Genet) has trained 1 175 girls from eight traditional authorities in Nkhata Bay on gender-based violence (GBV) and sexual and reproductive health (SRH) issues. 

During the six months training, the organisation engaged the girls, referred to us mentees,  through “safe spaces” where they shared experiences on GBV cases and SRH issues.

In an interview, Genet Nkhata Bay district coordinator Juliet Msosa said they encouraged the girls to report GBV under the guidance of their fellow young women called mentors.

“The current cohort was recruited last year. As the girls are graduating from safe spaces, we will enrol others,” she said.

Msosa also said they facilitated the formation of the girls clubs.

“We gave them grants to economically empower them,” she said.

One of the trainees, Maggie Chirwa from Traditional Authority (T/A) Mankhambira, said the grant enabled her to return to school.

“I dropped out in Form One last year because my parents could not afford to pay fees for me,” she said. 

In a separate interview, Mankhambira child protection worker Gerald Banda said from March 2019 to December 2020, 36 girls went into early marriages.

He said: “This happened when schools were closed as a precautionary measure for Covid-19.

“However, we have withdrawn 29 girls from marriages and are back in school.”

NGO in back to school campaign