By Brighton Thengoliweta Chimsinde

Mchinji, September 18, Mana: Women’s Hope for Change (WHFC) a local non-governmental organization in Mchinji says business skills and management are essential in the fight against Gender Based Violence (GBV) that always deters women and teen-mothers to be prosperous in their lives.

WHFC Programs Officer Faith Chiwenda made the remarks on Tuesday after opening a two-day long business skills and management workshop organized by WHFC held at NICE Conference Hall at Mchinji Boma. 

Chiwenda said the workshop was among activities under their project called Ending Violence Against Women and Children (EVAWC) which is implemented with funding from Segal Family Foundation in America.

“Advocacy alone can’t end GBV, and that’s why we are empowering women with business skills and management. It has proven that women who have been abused are solely dependent on men.

“To curtail the dependency syndrome the project has funds to be shared to the women for them to sustain their small scale businesses,” Chiwenda said.

The Programs Officer said the project objective is to ensure that women are financially independent, self-reliant and prosperous in their lives.

She said initially, the project has earmarked 60 women from Mchinji Boma who are going to benefit from the training and business capital support.

“We have also engaged the district community development office to orient them on Village Savings and Loans (VSL) concept, importance of saving culture and investing their money in various investments. Among the 60 women, there are GBV survivors, teen-mothers, single mothers, change agents who were already plying their own small-scale businesses,” the programs officer said.

Speaking on the behalf of the participants, Emily Phiri of Robert 2 village, Traditional Authority Zulu in the district said by the end of the training they will be able sustain their businesses and VSLs.

Phiri then commended WHFC for organizing the training that has empowered them with knowledge and skills which would help them to support their families and pay school fees for their children.

Women’s Hope for Change (WHFC) is a non-governmental organization formed in 2008 and was formed by a group of women who had passion to fight for women and children’s rights with a special emphasis on a girl child.