Girls’ hostel gives students in Chikwawa District hope

Seve n teen-yea r -old Manga l i ta England u s e d to wa ke up before dawn in Traditional Authority Chapananga to make a 15-kilometre trip to Chang’ambika Community Day Secondar y School (CDSS).

But that long journey i s about to change as Chikwawa District Council has constructed a 122-bed girls’ hostel at Chang’ambika CDSS, a development that promi ses to t rans form the school experience for Mangalita and many girls.

“For two years, I’ve made this tiresome trip which takes over an hour, but I’m determined to stay in school until my dreams are fulfilled,” she said

Girls share notes in the hostel.

| Leah Malimbasa

For Mangalita, getting an education has never been just about books and classrooms. It meant long walks and wake up early on a daily basis.

However, the K86.2 million facility constructed under the performance-based World Bank-funded Governance to Enable Service Delivery (Gesd) project is expected to accommodate girls to access education within the campus.

“To us, the hostel is not just a shelter, but a gateway to a brighter future,” said Mangalita.

The school’s head teacher Freeds Malata watched that struggle for years. He said the hostel will help improve girls’ enrolment, academic performance and school completion.

“Every girl deserves a quality education,” he said.

Th e h e a d t e a c h e r worked with communities, negotiated with leaders and secured the approval needed to move the project forward.

Girls Education Trust executive director Limbikani Kamlongera said the hostel will protect girls from risks that often threaten their education.

“This will shield them from societal pressure and danger, including risky sexual activity that may hinder their education,” she said.

Senior Chief Chapananga hailed the project, saying it will motivate girls to remain in school.

Chikwawa district director of planning and development Thokozile Munthali said hostels are crucial as they help to keep girls in school.

“That is why we included the construction of more hostel s in the di st r i c t development plan,” she said

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