By Chisomo Kambandanga

Nkhata Bay, March 26, Mana: Foundation for Children’s Rights (FCR) has withdrawn five girl children from early marriages in the area of Traditional Authority (TA) Zilakoma in Nkhata Bay.

FCR Project Manager, Chimwemwe Singini, made remarks Tuesday during the project’s progress presentation to Nkhata Bay District Council Technical Working group.

Singini said the achievement has been registered within a span of six months through the ‘Addressing Sex and Gender Based Violence (GBV) through social analysis and action Project’ which the organization is implementing in the district.

Singini attributed the achievement to well coordinated efforts among community structures such as mother groups, parents, community gender technical working groups, teachers and traditional leaders in attaining the project’s goal.

“The project was intended to address gender related issues such as child marriages, economic abuse and marital and interpersonal conflicts perpetuated by masculinity.

“Hence, in the long run, we have managed to rescue five girl children from early marriages as one of our immediate achievements within six months,” said Singini.

District Community Development Officer for Nkhata Bay, Jacob Moloko, hailed the coordination between the council and FCR in promoting human rights in the district.

“This project has helped us revamp some of the community structures that were already in existence through the Spotlight Initiative Project.

“I am happy to say that all the five girls withdrawn from early marriages are back to school,” said Moloko.

He said, for GBV survivors to sustain their lives they are supposed to be empowered economically as such the project also trains survivors in savings and loans groups.

He, therefore, urged all development partners in the district to emulate FCR’s gesture by involving relevant sectors in implementing their projects.

The K50 million project is being implemented with financial support from the United Nations Development Programme.