Malawi

We use a multisectoral, integrated approach to strengthen the resilience of vulnerable children and their families at the individual, household, and community level.

Country Overview
Health and HIV
Economic Strengthening
Education
Social Protection
Adolescent Girls and Youth

Malawi

We are working to aggressively address school-related gender-based violence (SRGBV) in Malawi. Over 50% of all 14 – 17-year-old children experience some form of SRGBV, and about one-third experience physical violence. Our programming works to improve the ability of both girls and boys to protect themselves from SRGBV through a targeted peer-led curriculum that equips them with knowledge of the manifestations of SRGBV and provides them with the life skills to respond to and report abuses. At the same time, we work with teachers and school personnel to build their awareness of school violence and assist them in creating a safer school environment. Caregivers are sensitized about SRGBV and the importance of girls’ education and encouraged to participate in economic strengthening activities to build household resilience to meet education expenses.

INNOVATIONS:

We are piloting school-led fairs called “Bonanzas”, bringing together health and social service providers, promoting positive SRH behavior change uptake and linking adolescents to services such as HIV testing and counseling, or GBV support; these services are made available directly on school grounds and complement our life skills, GBV, and SRH training that are provided in peer-led Protect Our Youth Clubs.

Health and HIV

We implement a curriculum that encourages attitudinal and behavioral changes to reduce exposure to gender-based violence and HIV. Through community-wide health fairs, we bring health and social services to youth with the objective of improving access to post-exposure services, medical counseling, and support platforms, all while serving as entry points for referrals into the national welfare and health systems.

Economic Strengthening

We promote savings groups for caregivers with the objective of improving their access to savings and credit and enhancing opportunities for income generating activities, both of which enhance their ability to provide for their children. We complement the saving groups with a parenting curriculum that sensitizes caregivers about the importance of girls’ education and equips them with the skills and tools to identify and reject gender-based violence.

Education

We equip teachers and school administrators with the knowledge, skills, and tools to identify SRGBV and report and refer cases for services. School personnel also receive training on gender sensitization, decreasing stigma around pregnancy in schools, pro-girls’ education approaches, positive discipline, classroom management, and response and referral mechanisms. Our Protect Our Youth Clubs are administered as an after-school activity where students are introduced to and practice life skills to identify and report GBV and understand how to keep themselves safe from risky sexual practices that might negatively affect their educational success.

Social Protection

We work through youth clubs to improve girls’ and boys’ knowledge of the manifestations of school-related gender-based violence and equip them with the life skills to respond to and report abuses in and around their schools. We help teachers and school officials implement positive discipline practices and participate in efforts to prevent and respond to violence. We foster dialogue among caregivers to reject harmful gender norms, change attitudes and practices around girls’ education, and to adopt parenting techniques that promote mutual respect and understanding.

Adolescent Girls and Youth

We work through youth clubs to improve girls’ (and boys’) understanding of the manifestations of school-related gender-based violence and to equip them with the skills to respond and report violence or abuse. Our curriculum focuses on promoting social and protective assets and life skills related to GBV and HIV, so that youth may be better able to navigate harmful gender norms. We also promote sexual and reproductive health education to foster healthy habits and reduce behaviors that may put them at risk of gender-based violence and HIV.