Plan hands over K150m girls’ hostel

Plan International Malawi has handed over a girls’ hostel worth K150 million to Khwalala Community Day Secondary School (CDSS) in Mulanje.

Speaking during the handover on Thursday, the organisation’s programme area manager Daniel Kapatuka said the project started after communities complained of the abuse girls were facing on their way to school.

He said: “Besides facing abuse on the way, some girls covered a distance of about 20 kilometres everyday, a situation that discouraged most girls to pursue education further.

“Therefore, as an organisation, we believe there is no better investment that an individual, parents, society and the nation can make than investing in education.”

Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MoEST) director of administration Hillary Namainja said the new facility would provide a conducive learning environment for the girls.

“Educating girls is one of the best investments we can make, not just for their future, but also for their families, communities and the country as a whole,” he said.

Chrissy Phulanya, a Form Three student, commended Plan International Malawi for the hostel, saying the accommodation will encourage girls to study hard as they will no longer face disturbances and abuse due to walking long distances to school.

“Staying on campus will also enable us study during the night and access the library easily,” she said.

The school admits learners from surrounding communities of Mulanje, Chiradzulu, Phalombe and Zomba.