Beautify Malawi (BEAM) Trust says it will leave no stone unturned in its efforts to mobilize enough resources to support education of needy girls in the country.
The commitment was registered Friday by BEAM Regional Chair Person for the North, Caroline Mfune on the sidelines of a clean up campaign launch organized by Chitipa District Council which took place at Chitipa Boma.
Mfune presided over the function on behalf of founder and patron of BEAM, First Lady, Dr Gertrude Mutharika, who was tied up with equally pressing engagements.
The Coordinator said BEAM appreciates the need to empower girls, especially those in need and vulnerable, with education so that they become responsible citizens of the nation.
“Education is the best treasure needy girls have to be equipped with if they are to be self reliant and lead a responsible future life,” said Mfune.
She observed that to a larger extent, volume of gender based violence (GBV) cases perpetrated on illiterate women by men counterparts is a result of lack of economic empowerment among wives who absolutely depend on husbands as sole bread winners.
She said her organization also succumbs to the understanding that when you educate a girl child, you educate the nation, hence the efforts to ensure easy access to education by all girls, regardless of their status.
She, therefore, said BEAM is seriously concerned to discover that some girls drop out of school due to economic stand of their parents who can not afford to met education needs of their girl child.
She said it was in this appreciation that BEAM, through visionary and dynamic leadership of Dr Gertrude Mutharika, rolled out various fund-raising programmes to mobilize resources to sponsor girls who dropped out of school because their families do not have the capacity to support their education.
The Coordinator also said BEAM has embarked on a programme to construct girls hostels to alleviate accommodation challenges in schools which forced girls to walk long distances to school, a situation she said puts students at risk of being sexually abused by misguided men who capitalize on the girls vulnerability.
“BEAM is constructing girls hostel so that girl students are accommodated at the school for their safety as well as to give them enough time to concentrate on their studies.
She then advised parents to avoid discriminating their children with disabilities in provision of education, saying every child has a right to education, irrespective of one’s status.
Meanwhile, Chair person for Chitipa District Education Network (DEN) Sydney Sido Simwaka has commended efforts by BEAM to consider sponsoring girls who dropped out of school due to economic challenges.
He said besides effective contribution to the socioeconomic growth of the nation, parents who are literate also appreciate the need to send their children to school.