2013 Malawi national exams begin with warm wishes from AGIC

Newly formed Active Girls Initiative Centre (AGIC) is sending warm wishes to all girls in this time when Malawi Nation Examination Board (MANEB) examinations have begun across the country.

The organization’s secretary Beauty Chilombo said the organization believes that though it never carried out its activities as it has just been formed, but the warm wishes will still mean a thing to all girls in the country who are sitting for MANEB examinations.

“Our words to the girls sitting for MANEB examinations should be to encourage them have the spirit of self reliance and confidence in each and every paper they are going to face. This is their time they need to seize the opportunity for education while they are young as we well know, learning is a tiring and difficult exercise, hence a need of young and fresh minds,” she said.

According to Chilombo the organization aims at helping brilliant rural as well urban girls from different schools so as to ensure stiff competition among girls.

Chilombo: Best wishes
Chilombo: Best wishes

“Our organization was formed five months ago and is specifically aiming at helping brilliant rural as well urban girls.

“AGIC was introduced to make sure that all girls from all walks of life, whether in rural or urban areas but brilliant should have equal benefits,” she said.

According to Chilombo, AGIC considers giving out prizes to the first three brilliant girl students in each class from standard 5 of the primary level to form 4.

“It is our belief at AGIC that girls have the potential of achieving greater things in life once motivation reaches them at grassroots level. We shall take them (girls) at level (standard 5) because we believe it’s an advanced stage where pupils in primary schools begin a sense of maturity.

“We have several prizes in our plans that will be given to the brilliant girls in each class for example we are planning to have t-shirts with our logo, dictionaries, Scientific calculators, books, note books, mathematical instruments, novels, pairs of school shoes, uniforms, schools bags and many other prizes,” added Chilombo.

She further said that her organization is aware that some girls despite being brilliant and are given prizes, but they are poor who can come to school on empty stomach, they are abused in homes, or cannot afford fees to pay for their studies and was quick to say the organisation will also look at that.

“We regret that this time, we are unable to start up with our activities because we are busy mobilising resources that will enable us reach a larger number of girls,” she said.

As a mode of choice, the secretary said giving out prizes to the brilliant girls will require teachers’ recommendations and results that will show on paper from terminal tests.

Chilombo did not disclose as to when the programmes will commence but only said soon.

“You know, the reason why we are talking of urban schools is that we have witnessed most girls who because of peer pressure, they are not interested in working hard and the fact that urbanisation has come with a lot of things most girls are very much involved in other things abandoning education,” said Chilombo.

She however said the coming in of AGIC will help bring back to concentration on education by most girls because they are bringing in competition among girls.

“The other problem with most girls that lead them to their failure is that while in school and in class, very few can ask a teacher on areas they don’t understand. But we at AGIC ask girls to take that responsibility of asking teachers in whatever subjects they don’t understand as that will enhance their understanding in various subject areas,” she said.

Chilombo also said AGIC has a lot of plans apart from giving out prizes to the girls doing well in their education.

“We have so many activities to undertake and that needs a careful consideration on how much and what resources we have so that we carry out our programmes well.

“We will work hand in hand with other organizations be it at national or international level so that the initiative reaches out to greater number of girls.

“Am sure we have women in several organizations holding some positions. We have women in the media, other organizations, in the field of teaching, police, army, business. We need those to support our initiative because mostly in rural areas, girls do not go ahead with education due to lack of models,” she said.

She said AGIC targets every girl whether be it physically challenged, poor or rich, from any denomination, across the country.

“This should give me a chance that other people reading the article have the mind to help us whether financially or physically even seeking information from us. To those feeling so, they can contact us through this email address [email protected] or on +265 884 243 315/ +265 884108504. to talk to me. We also have a face book page where people can search and possibly like it under the same “Active Girls Initiative Centre,” she said.

She then thanked government, other individuals and organizations who are taking part in developing education for a girl child.

AGIC's services will start from the grassroots (in primary schools)
AGIC’s services will start from the grassroots (in primary schools)

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