In rural Malawi, thousands of girls face a daily uphill battle to get to an education facility. Long, tiring walks to school often leave them drained before lessons even begin — a challenge that pushes many to skip classes or abandon school completely.
For Georgina Kamuyanja, a Form Four student at Utale Community Day Secondary School in Balaka, that reality was all too familiar. Each morning meant rising before dawn and trekking several kilometres on foot, only to reach the classroom exhausted and late.
But the routine has now changed. Today, Georgina pedals her way to school, full of energy and ready to learn — thanks to a bicycle she received through the Girls MARZ Project.
“The bicycle has made a huge difference. I arrive early and stay focused in class,” she shared, beaming with pride.
The Girls MARZ Project is being implemented by a partnership of the Concerned Youth Organisation (CYO), the Centre for Alternatives for Victimized Women and Children (CAVWOC), and Oxfam in Malawi, with support from the Scottish Government and Oxfam Hong Kong.
Through this initiative, 500 girls from secondary schools in Balaka and Machinga are benefiting from bicycles, school fees, uniforms, learning supplies and solar lamps — interventions designed to keep girls in school and boost their performance.
Speaking during the International Day of the Girl Child ceremony at Njerenje Primary School on Thursday, District Education Office Continuing Professional Development Coordinator, Chikosa Mwafulirwa Magoli, called for continued collaboration in efforts to advance girls’ education.
CYO Executive Director, Harvey Chimaliro, echoed this, highlighting that the project is removing persistent obstacles that have held girls back for years. He emphasized that educating and empowering girls is a foundation for stronger, more prosperous communities.
On 19 December 2011, the United Nations General Assembly designated 11 October as the day to recognize girls’rights and the unique challenges they face around the world.
The day highlights that globally, girls are often disappropriately affected by discrimination, lack of access to education and health, harmful cultural practices such as early marriages and Gender-Based Violence (GBV).
It also serves to draw attention to the need for empowering girls, safeguarding their rights and ensuring that they have the support to fulfill their potential in life.
The day was commemorated under the theme: “Girls take over: Empowering Her Voice in Leadership.”
