Save the Children Hands Over Vehicles to Partners

Keeping Girls in School – a Save the Children UKaid funded Improving School Experience and Cash Transfer project on Thursday, March 12, 2015 handed over vehicles to its partners. The event which took place at Save the Children offices attracted over 15 representatives from the five organizations implementing the Keeping Girls in School (KGIS) project.

“ A nation that empowers girls and women is an economically empowered nation, Save the Children is excited to be part of this wonderful adventure- keeping girls in school, making sure they are educated so they can  make informed choices when they grow into women,” said David Onunda, Save the Children’s Director for Education.

Onunda went on encourage the partners to fully maximize the availability of the vehicles to deliver on their project assignments. He emphasized on the need for the partners to use the vehicles for their intended purpose.

“I am imploring each one of us to realize that we have a huge responsibility of serving and saving the girl child. As such we must use these vehicles efficiently and only for what they are   presented to us for,” continued Onunda.

Echoing Onunda’s remarks, Country Director Matthew Pickard, said Save the Children realizes the challenges partners face in accessing communities in their work, hence the presentation of the vehicles.

“I urge you to exercise responsibility and professionalism you are known for in the manner you use the vehicles, because you are representing two highly reputable organisations- DFID and Save the Children. On the basis of the UKaid and Save the Children branding on the vehicles, people will associate your work and your conduct with these two organisations. It is therefore incumbent upon you to maintain the highest standards of care of the vehicles as these organizations are known for,” said Pickard.

Pickard presents keys to one of the partners

Speaking on behalf of the partners, Mirriam Gausi, Deputy Education Secretary for Livingstonia Synod of the CCAP, expressed gratitude for the gesture. She said the vehicle will ease mobility as the partners carry out their work in the 15 project implementing districts.  Gausi said it was with great joy that the partners received the vehicle and assured the DFID that they will exercise responsibility in using them..

The two Improving the School Experience and Cash Transfers projects aim to increase community support for girls to attend and stay in school. The projects are within the broader UKaid-funded Keeping Girls in School (KGIS) programme whose overall goal is to keep girls in school and achieve gender parity by secondary Form 2 by 2016. Save the Children will work with five partners namely Creative Centre for Community Mobilization (CRECCOM), Forum for African Women Educationalists in Malawi (FAWEMA), Lilongwe Archdiocese, Blantyre Synod and Livingstonia Synod to implement the two projects in 10 districts for Cash Transfer project and 15 districts for the School Experience project. Save the Children will also work closely with Ministry of Education Science and Technology, Ministry of Finance (Economic Planning and Development), Ministry of Gender, Children, Disability and Social Welfare (MGCDSW), civil society organisations as well as other KGIS implementing organisations.

At the end of the project, it is expected that cash transfers will be made to mothers of 100000 adolescent girls to incentivise the girls to attend school. On the other hand, 2692 primary schools and over 100 Community Day Secondary Schools are expected to be reached in the School Experience project.

Nomsa Taulo- Campaigns and Communications Officer