Category: News

The Girls Shine Foundation has today, 12th September 2025, awarded certificates to students who have completed vocational training in computer studies, tailoring and design, and welding as one way of empowering the youth.

The ceremony, held at Mtandire in Lilongwe, marks the completion of a short course designed to provide practical, marketable skills to young girls from various educational backgrounds.

One of the certified trainees, Naomi Sankhani, expressed her gratitude to the foundation, stating the course has given her a foundational knowledge of electronic devices like laptops and printers.

Aspiring to become a journalist, Sankhani believes these skills are essential for her future career.

She has however urged her peers to work hard, emphasizing that the foundation supports those who show potential.

The acting coordinator for the Girls Shine Foundation, Divason Satha explained that the vocational training serves as a preventative measure against common societal challenges such as early marriages, pregnancies, and school dropouts.

Satha shared success stories of girls who, after participating in the program, were re-enrolled in school with the foundation’s help.

Despite facing financial constraints that limit the foundation’s ability to reach girls in distant areas, Satha remains determined.

“What I want is just for them to be protected against all challenges,” Satha said, reiterating his belief that education is the key to creating lasting change for girls in Malawi.

He noted that the Ministry of Education has granted them authorization to work in schools, a key step in expanding their reach.

In his remarks, George Chikafa, a computer teacher from the partner institution Edit Center Computer Training, praised the students’ dedication and expressed confidence that the skills acquired will contribute to Malawi’s development.

“We are living in the world of information technology. This country needs to be changed,” he said.

The teachers in all sides posses with the trainees

The beneficiaries of Girl Shine Foundation

The initiative targets students who are currently in primary and junior secondary school, and those who have completed their Malawi School Certificate of Education (MSCE) with an aim of bridging the gap between academic education and practical skills, preparing young women for both further studies and the workforce.

By Eric Norman Mkwaira

The Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace (CCJP), in the Catholic Archdiocese of Lilongwe, has reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that the forthcoming general election is conducted in a credible, peaceful, and highly ethical manner.

The Director of Social Services for the archdiocese, Brian Odiambo, shared these sentiments on Friday, August 22, at Msamba Catholic Centre in Lilongwe.

Odiambo said justice is the profound backbone of a peaceful election, urging all relevant stakeholders to act professionally and prioritize people’s needs.

“There is a strong conviction that peace is the fruit of justice; this work only matters if it protects people, strengthens trust, and allows the truth to breathe. Our commitment to this is clearly non-partisan, professional, and people-centered. We, therefore, implore all other players to act in line with this,” Odiambo said.

“I want you to know that your role extends beyond polling day. Your mission is to watch the whole journey, not just the finish line. Observe the pre-election environment, document incidents, verify facts, and file timely reports. Be courteous, be non-interfering, and always prioritize people’s safety and dignity. Share local realities candidly and escalate issues early so they can be addressed before they harden into crises.” Odiambo urged the Long-Term Observers.

In his remarks, CCJP district coordinator for Nkhotakota, Precious Rabson expressed his gratitude for the orientation, stating it would go a long way toward ensuring a credible and peaceful general election within the archdiocese’s catchment area and throughout Malawi as a whole.

Rabson called on all long-term observers in all the deaneries to remain vigilant, focused, and disciplined in their work.

“I ask my friends to maintain a disciplined reporting cadence and foster a culture of verification. Remember to put facts first, get names right, and be exact about times, as every detail strengthens credibility. We need to have a rigorous observation and take courage, honesty, and dedication as our compass for peace to take root in our country,” Rabson stated.

During the orientation, the district coordinators also shared their reports from all the deaneries in the archdiocese. The meeting brought together all the CCJP district coordinators, the CCJP secretariat, several Catholic priests, and some administrative staff from the Archdiocese of Lilongwe.

By Alex Nasoni

The Catholic faithful in Mchinji District have been challenged to find ways of addressing some of the driving factors behind the rising cases of early child marriages.

According to some community members, the distribution of contraceptives by civil society organizations and government agencies in villages and schools is the root cause of the issue.

However, Auxiliary Bishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Lilongwe, his Lordship Vincent Mwakhwawa, quashed these concerns.

He said the Catholic Church does not allow its members to use modern contraceptive methods, allowing only traditional ones.

Bishop Mwakhwawa believes that the issue is a lack of faith in the community and urged them to deepen their faith to combat the problem.

Speaking at Mponda Zone of St. Joseph Ludzi Parish on Wednesday in Mchinji District, Bishop Mwakhwawa noted that most families do not pray in their homes, which he believes contributes to bad behavior.

He appealed to the faithful to deepen their love for prayer, the Eucharist, and to be hard workers and charitable.

He believes these practices will not only help end early child marriages but also strengthen the community’s Catholic faith and help them resist anything that contradicts church teachings.

St. Joseph Ludzi Parish Priest, Father Thomas Msalala, urged the 280 confirmed children to use the gift of wisdom they received from the Holy Spirit to know the difference between right and wrong.

“Sometimes it is very difficult for young people to differentiate between good and bad. They should realize that wisdom from the Holy Spirit surpasses intelligence,” Father Msalala said.

Mponda Zone Chairperson, Gift Saka, stressed the need for continued coordination so that children continue to receive church teachings, as confirmation alone is not enough.

One of the confirmed children, Joseph Jonathan from Maimbidwe Zone, expressed his joy after receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation, believing that his desire to be a PMS animator might now be fulfilled.

Jonathan urged his peers to see this as a blessing and use it to change their lives spiritually.

By Lester Mhone

Acting secretary for the Catholic Development Commission in Malawi (CADECOM) under the Archdiocese of Lilongwe, Madalitso Chilalire, has expressed satisfaction with the progress of cooperatives under the Securing Sustainable Livelihood for 2,000 Subsistence Fishermen at Lake Malawi project.

Chilalire shared his excitement Wednesday during a monitoring visit to the Makwasa Fish Farming Club, Namauta Irrigation Scheme, and Nakalezi Cooperative in Salima District.

CADECOM is implementing the project with funding from BMZ through Sign of Hope, which is phasing out this month.

The project is focused on securing sustainable livelihoods for 2,000 subsistence fishermen and farmers in the region.

The secretary has called on members of the cooperatives to find other sources of funding to sustain the initiated projects.

“I have called on members of these cooperatives to find other ways of getting finances for sustainability,” he added.

Acting Chief Planning Officer for Salima District Council, Joana Chitaya, applauded CADECOM’s initiative, stating that it aligns with the Malawi 2063 development goals.

Chitaya highlighted that even though the project is phasing out, the district has plans in place to support the initiatives.

“Let me assure the cooperatives that the government has put plans in place to support such initiatives so that they are well-sustained,” she said.

Chairperson for the Namauta Irrigation Scheme and representing the three cooperatives, Langton Sayinani, said CADECOM has changed their lives through the support they have provided.

Sayinani then urged the government to provide full support for the project to ensure its sustainability.

“Let me ask the government to support us through loans so that we can continue with the projects,” he added.

By Dumayo

The Catholic Archdiocese of Lilongwe has taken a strong stance against child marriages, a practice that the Auxiliary Bishop Vincent Mwakhwawa describing it as an “evil that destroys” the lives of young people and contributes to national poverty.

Speaking recently during a sacrament of confirmation at Msukuwala zone in Guillime Parish (Mchinji), Bishop Mwakhwawa addressed the issue of child marriage, which he noted is common in rural communities.

The bishop emphasized the importance of safeguarding children’s rights and encouraged parents to resist pushing their children into early unions.

“We as church leaders, we take this opportunity of such celebrations, such gatherings of adolescents, that they should love school,” he stated.

Bishop Mwakhwawa also appealed to the adolescents to focus on their education and future goals, rather than rushing into marriage.

He acknowledged that poverty often drives the practice, with some parents pushing their children into marriage because they cannot afford school fees.

“It was very clear here that parents also are encouraging this kind of bad practice, noting that some parents may even seek to gain income from the weddings,” the bishop said.

Hislordship mentioned that the church, in collaboration with the government and other organizations, is actively working to combat this trend.

He urged parents and young people to prioritize education, which he said is essential for personal growth and for the development of the nation.

“Through this celebration, we have encouraged young people to love school and also have ambitions of getting education that they can save the country in their various capacities when they finish school,” Bishop Mwakhwawa concluded.

By Lester Mhone