Malawi

Through our VSLA groups for caregivers, families are able to participate in savings and credit activities to strengthen household economic resiliency and social support networks. We believe that laying additional services on top of VSLA activities influences desired behavior change in communities. Our work with caregivers of OVC and other community members complements the VSLA methodology with a parenting curriculum to sensitize caregivers about the importance of girls’ education and to equip them with the skills and tools to identify and reject GBV.  Parents and caregivers are encouraged to use the funds saved in the VSLAs groups not only for household economic strengthening activities, but also to invest in girls’ 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.

We enhance direct linkages with our partner, EngenderHealth, whose program strengthens civil society and government coordination for GBV prevention and response and promotes linkages between multisectoral actors to improve legal responses to GBV. Victims of SRGBV are referred for response services supported by EngenderHealth, such as health clinics, legal aid units, or shelters so that victims may access the full continuum of services.