Karonga district community development officer Blessings Kayira has asked village savings and loans (VSL) groups to utilise financial and loan management skills to mitigate shocks caused by gender-based violence (GBV).
He said this on Monday at the end of a five-day training Evangelical Association of Malawi (EAM) organised for 26 VSLs in the district to empower GBV survivors economically.
“Engage VSL members on the group’s constitution and how shares are bought to have vibrant groups that can empower women economically,” said Kayira.
One of the participants, Simeda Mwalilino, said she will help to form VSLs to enable GBV survivors to join to be economically independent.
“When women earn their own money, they rely less on men on finances, thereby reducing conflicts that emanate from finances,” she said.
Karonga District Evangelical Association of Malawi project coordinator Dumisani Nungu urged the VSLs to form more groups to empower GBV survivors economically.
EAM is implementing Timazge Nkhanza project in traditional authorities Kyungu, Kilupula and Mwakaboko in the district to the tune of K49.7 million from Norwegian Church Aid.
