AYISE embarks on a K30m project to combat Malawi child labour
As one way of combating child labour in Mulanje district, Active Youth Initiative for Social Enhancement (AYISE) has embarked on a K30 million project to protect, prevent, withdraw and rehabilitate of children who are in child labour through education.
This revelation was made at Mendulo Primary School in Mulanje District when the organization was distributing learning materials like exercise books, Pencils, pens, rulers and rubbers to pupils, who were withdrawn from child labour before being sent back to school.
AYISE’s project manager, Christopher Misuku told Malawi News Agency that their aim is to withdraw children who are in child labour at the same time protecting those who are at risk to go into child labour in the district.
Apart from Mendulo Primary School, AYISE with funding from International Labour Organisation also distributed these learning materials to their pupils at Mapanga, Malo, Mombo, Chigonjetso, Manjala and Thichila.
Misuku emphasized that they thought it wise to be providing learning materials to children who were withdrawn from child labour as one way of making sure that they continue their education without hurdles.
He stressed that just sending them back to school without providing them with materials could have led to others shun away classes due to lack of these learning materials.
“As AYISE, we thought it wise that there was a need to help these children if really we were serious with our project of withdrawing them from child labour to further their education. We are now proud that a number of these children who dropped out of school are back in class in various government primary schools with others being provided with non-formal education services,” said Misuku.
Misuku emphasasized that are some pupils who dropped out of school four years ago and that it was possible to sent them back to school due to their over-age.
“We have taught such pupils many different skills like carpentry, welding, barber, home economics while others are builders. We did not stop form their because we even distributed equipments to enable them work properly and being able to generate income on their own,” said Misuku.
One of the beneficiaries, Anne Nthemwe, a Standard eight pupil at Mendulo Primary was on cloud nine after receiving eight exercise books and other learning materials.
Nthemwe, who is aspiring to become a nurse after completing her education stressed that the donation came at the right time because she had nowhere to write her assignments and notes.
“My word to AYISE is to continue providing us with such materials because it will inspire us as far as furthering our education is concerned. Let me also say this is a timely donation because we do not receive exercise books occasionally at our school,” said Anne, who used to work in a tea estate.
The Vice secretary for AYISE, Wilson Njete, who is also responsible in identifying children, who are in child labour hailed the project that many children especially in tea estates have been protected from child labour.
“We have identified a number of children who were at risk of venturing in child labour while others were already in the system. In short l can describe the project as a success,” he said.
