Rotary Club partners ACB, RBM in new anti-corruption drive
With cases of corruption, theft and other societal ills on the rise, Rotary Club of Lilongwe (RCL) has partnered with Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) and Reserve Bank of Malawi (RBM) in a project aimed at tackling the problems from the grass-root.
The three organisations have embarked on a project aimed at inculcating a culture of ethics, patriotism, honesty and integrity amongst secondary school going students with a view to creating a corruption-free society that will foster the country’s social economic development.
The project is also expected to contribute to a reduction of incidences of immoral behaviour amongst school going children and the youth.
Under the project, which is in its pilot phase, students from nine secondary schools from the three cities of Blantyre, Lilongwe and Mzuzu will participate in an essay writing competition focusing on patriotism, integrity, honesty and ethics that will see successful students being offered scholarships, bursaries and other awards.
The selected secondary schools include Rumphi Boys, Mary Mount Girls and Mzuzu Government, Lilongwe Girls, Bwaila, Likuni Boys, St Patricks, Stella Maris and HHI.
Two teachers from each of the schools have been oriented to implement the project in their respective schools before administering the essay writing contest.
Speaking during closing of the orientation workshop for 18 teachers in Lilongwe on Friday, governor for Rotary District 9210 Dean Lungu said the project had come at the right time when the Malawian society is faced with various challenges ranging from corruption, theft and other social ills.
“This project is in line with the essence of Rotary of making the world a better place to live in. By engaging the youth at such a tender age, we are going to have a better Malawian generation free of the current social ills,” said Lungu.
ACB senior public education officer Bright Chimatiro, who was also one of the facilitators for the orientation workshop said the aspect of involving young people has been the missing link in the national anti-corruption drive as said most of the programmes were focusing on adults.
“This is a very important project. If the youth are patriotic, they will not engage in corruption, theft, destruction of school or public property and other immoral behaviours. They will become good citizens and will contribute to the development of the country,” said Chimatiro.
RCL president Chris Kapenda urged other partners to join hands with the three organisations in spreading the project to other schools after the pilot phase. He expressed hope that the project will become part of the school curriculum in future.
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