News

ECHO Covid 19 response has been an arm that directly joins with the Government of Malawi's National COVID-19 Preparedness. Launched on the 8^th April 2020, this plan addresses the most pressing needs associated with the pandemic and coordinates effort with nine of Malawi’s leading INGOs (Save the Children, GOAL, CARE, TROCAIRE, COOPI, CRS, United Purpose, Concern Worldwide and Oxfam). The Action targets 7 high risk districts (Dedza, Lilongwe Urban and Rural, Blantyre, Mzimba North, Mulanje, Mwanza and Mangochi).

Fifty thousand kwacha was enough money to convince James Josiah* to receive as collateral to send his 17-year-old daughter Triza* into marriage.

Although it was against her wishes, Triza, a Standard 8 leaner at Chindowole Primary School in Chikwawa district, had no choice but to concede to her parent’s wishes.

In most parts of Chikwawa, sending young girls into marriage is common. This is exacerbated by poverty, cultural practices and religious beliefs.

Joyce Buleya* was only 14-years-old when she fell pregnant in the midst of her Standard 8 class year. Confused and conflicted, her dream of becoming a nurse suddenly dimmed before her as her options dwindled.

In Malawi, a vast majority of pregnant school-going teenagers drop out of school due to a number of adverse factors, although the government policy is to readmit them back into the fold as soon as they deliver.

Now more than ever the Universal Human Right to Education is in danger. The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the education of more than one billion children across the world and has aggravated the existing global education financing crisis. This has upended the education sector and greatly threatened the progress of the entire Sustainable Development Agenda and specifically Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4).

Edina Bauleni, of Phalombe District, southern Malawi, was inconsolable when her house collapsed and crops washed away as a result of heavy rains in 2019.

The heavy rains had hit Malawi causing flooding in most parts of southern region, including Phalombe. Scores of houses collapsed, crops and livestock were washed away, leaving communities devastated.