NGO disburses K5.3m to CBOs in Mangochi

Malawi Girl Guides Association (Magga) has given K5.3 million to five community-based organisations (CBOs) in Mangochi to enable them implement activities to curb gender-based violence in the district.

The five CBOs from three traditional authorities (T/As) are Bwananyambi, Bwananyambi EduFund, Go Fund a Girl, Lusalumwe and Mitanga.

Speaking after presenting the cheque, Magga national coordinator Mphatso Baluwa Jimu said the grant was meant to empower the CBOs to embark on activities that fight against gender-based violence.

She said: “Our organisation is implementing a gender-based violence project with funding from UN Women which is also receiving funding from the Government of Iceland.

“We are distributing these grants to the community structures to help them carry out activities that fight against gender-based violence.”

Baluwa said the CBOs are expected to implement activities in their areas up to December this year.

“We expect them to roll out gender-based violence activities in their areas. We also want them to capitalise on 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-based Violence to bring awareness to the masses about the evils of gender-based violence,” she said.

Baluwa urged the CBOs to be committed to their work to reduce gender-based violence cases in the communities, adding that the district registered many cases during the Covid-19 pandemic.

“You have to implement activities that will help bring change. We want all the people in your areas reached with information regarding gender-based violence,” she said.

One of the recipients, Shaibu M’bwana, who is chairperson of Mitanga CBO from T/A Mponda, said the money will help them to implement activities to address gender-based violence cases in their areas.

He said: “We have been failing to implement activities that provide civic education on gender-based violence.

This has resulted into gender-based violence victims failing to know places where to go to get support.”