Talitha Kum Network Malawi, operating under the Roman Catholic Church, has launched a one-year anti-human-trafficking project in Traditional Authority Mtwalo in Mzimba District. The initiative seeks to protect children and young people from trafficking, forced marriage, and unsafe migration.
The intervention will target Mateyo Mtegha and Chidula villages, with particular focus on communities surrounding Chimbongondo and Zolozolo schools, which have been identified as highly vulnerable.
Malawi continues to face significant human-trafficking challenges, largely driven by poverty, limited economic opportunities, unsafe migration, and harmful social practices.
Speaking during a project briefing,
Project Coordinator Sister Theresa Nkunika warned:
“Young people are increasingly migrating in search of better opportunities, yet many lack awareness of the risks they face along the way. This greatly increases their vulnerability to trafficking and exploitation”. Said Sister Nkunika.
She further said that rural poverty and limited access to child-protection information have created conditions that traffickers can easily exploit.
A baseline survey conducted before the project revealed low levels of awareness and concerning social trends. Only 22 percent of young people demonstrated an understanding of human trafficking, while 42 percent of girls reported having married before the age of 18.
Additionally, 35 percent of households indicated that at least one young person had migrated, and only 18 percent of respondents knew where to report trafficking cases.
The findings further showed that 40 percent of parents supported early marriage, while 65 percent acknowledged having little or no understanding of human trafficking. Half of the learners surveyed were unaware of available reporting and protection mechanisms.
Welcoming the initiative, M’mbelwa District Council Principal Social Welfare Officer Hellen Simwaka stated:
“Human trafficking and early marriages remain serious challenges in many rural communities. Raising awareness and strengthening community-based protection systems are crucial steps in safeguarding children from exploitation.”
The project will emphasize both prevention and response strategies. Planned activities include community awareness meetings, school sensitisation sessions, engagement with parents and traditional leaders, and specialised training for police, immigration, labour, and social-welfare officers. Strengthening referral pathways for victims will also be a central component.
Schools are expected to play a pivotal role, as teachers are often the first to detect warning signs such as unexplained absenteeism, emotional distress, or indicators of forced marriage. The programme will primarily target learners aged 8 to 18, as well as teachers, parents, guardians, and community child-protection structures.
By the end of the intervention, Talitha Kum Network Malawi aims to enhance awareness of trafficking risks, promote knowledge of safe migration, increase case reporting, and reduce community acceptance of early marriage.
To ensure sustainability, the initiative will focus on building the capacity of teachers, community leaders, and child-protection committees, while strengthening coordination with district authorities and law-enforcement agencies.
For the affected communities, Sister Nkunika underscored the broader significance of the project:
“This initiative is fundamentally about protecting the dignity, rights, and future of our children. Awareness is the first and most essential step toward ending exploitation.”
The project is being implemented in six Catholic dioceses: Karonga, Mzuzu, Lilongwe, Dedza, Mangochi, and Zomba. The initiative is funded by the Hilton Foundation with a total budget of USD 100,000, of which Mzimba will receive USD 16,000. The project will engage all security agencies and members of the media throughout its implementation.
This greatly increases their vulnerability to trafficking and exploitation, Sister Theresa Nkunika.
