The Livingstonia Synod Aids Programme (Lisap) has intensified its campaign to bring back to school many dropouts.
The project is being implemented in Traditional Authority Malanda in Nkhata Bay, an area with a high school dropout rate and Lisap is targeting 13 primary and four secondary schools in its campaign.
On Saturday, pupils, parents and Lisap officials marched from Chintheche to Uhoho Primary School, about five kilometres away, where they held several activities on the importance of remaining in school.
Celiana Phiri, who became pregnant while in Standard 7 in 2009 at Chihame Primary School, said she went back to school two years later because she saw its importance.
“I asked for my [parents’] forgiveness because what I did was wrong. I asked to be sent back to school and my parents accepted,†she said.
Celiana is now in Form Four at Chintheche Private Secondary and she wants to become a nurse.
Lisap deputy director Lazarus Harawa said his organisation has managed to bring back to school many dropouts.
Harawa asked chiefs, parents and CBOs, among others, to help make the project a success.
Senior Group Village Head Chenyentha called on parents to encourage dropouts to go back to school.
The Dutch government, through an organisation called Help A Child (HAC), is funding the five-year project.
