Child Rights Organizations Fume At Govt On Criminal Justice Delay
Eye of the Child spokesperson Memory Chisenga
A group of Child Rights Organizations has called on the Ministry of Justice through the Director of Prosecution to expedite the prosecution of a Dutch national Wim Akster accused of human trafficking and sexual abuse.
According to a joint statement released on Friday by the child rights organizations, Akster, former employee of Timotheos Foundation was arrested in April 2020 on allegations of trafficking and sexually molesting six students and three young men who were at the time beneficiaries of Timotheos scholarships and bursaries.
“There is reasonable belief that the accused person used his power as Finance Director at Timotheos to entice and abuse the children,” read part of the statement.
Umodzi Youth Organisation Donates Sanitary Facilities to Likulu Primary School
ALL SMILES: Likulu Headmistress Senzeni Dzaipazatha on cloud nine upon receiving the donation
Umodzi Youth Organisation (UYO) on Thursday handed over sanitary change rooms to Likulu primary school as a way of promoting girl child education and women’s rights.
Speaking during the handover ceremony at the school, in Traditional Authority (T/A) Kapeni, Blantyre, UYO Programs Director, Shy Ali said following the organisation’s research it established that most girls tend to miss classes and fall behind in education due to lack of sanitary facilities.
“School absenteeism has been one contributing factor as to why most girls do not do well and complete their education. This is a tendency when the schools do not have the necessities to accommodate girls during their menstrual periods,” he said.
OVER THE MOON: Pupils showcasing the pads courtesy of Umodzi Youth Organisation
Female learners at Likulu Primary School in Group Village Headman (GVH) Manesi, Kapeni, Blantyre expressed joy upon receiving reusable sanitary pads from Umodzi Youth Organization (UYO) saying it will help curb school absenteeism.
Speaking at the handover ceremony UYO Programs Director Memory Pondeponde said the organization is working tirelessly to help keep girls in school and donating sanitary pads is one of the ways.
“After a thorough research we found out that most girls tend to miss classes when they are having their menstrual periods as such they end up falling behind in lessons which affects their academic performance.
Women’s group members during tailoring training
Umodzi Youth Organisation (UYO) has donated sewing machines and sanitary pads sewing materials to Likulu Primary school in Group Village Headman (GVH) Manesi, Kapeni, Blantyre to minimize challenges girls face at school during their menstrual periods.
According to UYO Programs Director, Gloria Sabudu, girls tend to abscond classes during this period as they do not have necessities such as sanitary pads as well as change rooms within the school.
“It has become an excuse for most girls in schools such that they end up missing classes which leads to poor performance and at times school dropouts. “Our aim is to put an end to this, this is why we partnered with a United Kingdom based institution Think Malawi for the provision of such resources as sewing machines and sewing materials for the production of sanitary pads to be freely distributed to those girls at menstruating age,” she said.