The Malawi Police Service (MPS) and Action Aid Malawi have embarked on a back to school campaign in Machinga District.
Action Aid Project Officer, Phillip Mulauzi, unveiled the campaign on Tuesday during a follow up meeting held at Wataka Primary School, Traditional Authority (T/A) Mlomba, in the district.
He said, due to rising cases of learners dropping out of school, they have introduced initiatives aimed at promoting school retention.
“We are implementing the campaign by, among other things, introducing suggestion boxes in both primary and secondary school where learners can report any forms of violence they are facing. This can be early or forced marriages, child labour, and sexual abuse in form of defilement and sexual harassment,” Mulauzi said.
Machinga Community Policing Child Protection Officer, Ganizani Chiwaya, encouraged the pupils to speak out against violence.
“I assure you that Police, Action Aid and other stakeholders like mother groups will not let you suffer in silence,” Chiwaya said.
The initiative, which is being implemented under the Safe Schools Project, has seen cases of early marriage and school dropout decline, especially in Chibwana, Mpalume, Matope, Kambulanje, Sinjiri and Makanjira villages— all under Traditional Authority (T/A) Mlomba.
Other targeted T/As in the district are Ngokwe, Nsanama and Mlomba.
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