Girl power takes effect: Malawi rural women get K500, 000 for economic boost

Young women in Malawi’s southern district of Chiradzulu have received a financial boost from a local NGO, Girls Empowerment Network (GENET) which is implementing a social-economic empowerment project which seeks to economically empower vulnerable women and girls in the area of Senior Chief Chitera.

The project which is funded by African Women’s Development Fund follows a study which shows that young women are among the most poorest and marginalized groups in Malawi and are often discriminated against and secluded from various social and economic activities.

So far GENET has disbursed an initial capital of K500, 000 to two women groups of 20 people, with each group receiving K250, 000 which to be loaned to group members.

The project coordinator Mercy Mituka said during the disbursement of the funds that the amount will be periodically beefed up with match grant commensurate with the amount of interest the groups will be accumulating over the period of three months.

Group members verifying the money recieved
Group members verifying the money recieved

“We want group members to use this money by starting businesses of their choice. We will be visiting them for at least once a month to monitor the progress of their businesses and where possible give they advise where necessary”

Mituka said she is confident that the women will manage their businesses well as they had undergone vigorous business management training in micro entrepreneurship prior to the disbursement of the funds.

The ceremony was franked by Senior Chief Chitera who asked the beneficiaries to make use of the funds and avoid using the money for appeasing men.

“You shouldn’t use the money you have received today for buying men soft drinks but use it to uplift your economic status,” she said.

Chitera who lectured the women on how best they can utilize the funds, thanked GENET for living up to task of uplifting the status of women in her area saying such initiatives have helped making her more popular countrywide.

Leader of one of the groups that have received the funding Agness Fillimoni hailed the organization for coming to the women’s rescue from the what she said economic challenges they have been going thorough in the area due to lack of financial assistance to start own business.

She pledged to use the funds for its intended purpose and achieve the desired results.

“We know that the purpose of this project to help us Chitera women to be financially independent. So I am assuring you that we will make sure to realize this dream,” she said.

According to GENET the one-year project which targets 100 young women, has a replicable approach which will see 5,000 young women benefiting indirectly.

We want you to be economically independent...GENET's Mercy Mituka tells the beneficiaries
We want you to be economically independent…GENET’s Mercy Mituka tells the beneficiaries
Senior Chief Chitera lecturing the beneficiaries how best to make use of the money
Senior Chief Chitera lecturing the beneficiaries how best to make use of the money
Drama on how to utlise the money was part of the activities during the event
Drama on how to utlise the money was part of the activities during the event

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