yoneco monthly newsletter july 2020 vol.9. issue 7...yoneco monthly newsletter july 2020 vol.9....

YONECO Monthly Newsletter July 2020 Vol.9. Issue 7

YFM Child PresentersSelected to the University ofMalawi 5

Human Rights Sessions atMangochi District Hospital 9

YONECO Becomes a Memberof SSCN 17

About Us...

Our Mission

Our Values

Our Programmes

Editor’s Note

Contact Us

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The Executive DirectorYouth Net and Counselling - YONECO C/O Youth Leadership Development ComplextAlong Zomba-Lilongwe RoadNext to Calvary Family Church P. O Box 471ZombaMalawi

Tel: +265 1 526 199+265 88 208 88 4342

Fax: +265 1 525 674Email 1: [email protected] 2: [email protected]: www.yoneco.org

A self-reliant, healthy, and resilient society

that respects human rights and

democratic values

Our Vision

Empowering the youth, women and children,

promoting good health, human rights, and

democracy, adapting and mitigating effects of

climate change; and conducting research for

evidence based programming and advocacy

Integrity

Transparency

Accountability

Team work

Respect for human dignity

Confidentiality

1. Enhancing Child Development & protection

2. Governance and Human rights

3.Youth Development

4. Promoting Women and Gender Equality

5. Promoting Good Health, sanitation & wellbeing

6. Climate Change & Disaster Management

7. Media, Networking, Collaboration & Coordinating

8. Research, Monitoring, Evaluation, Documentation

and Learning

Dear Reader,

With great pleasure, I would like to welcome you to this

edition of YONECO Voice Monthly Newsletter for July 2020.

We have stories on our work in youth development, child

protection, advovcacy as well as governance and human rights.

Some of these articles are best practices, promising

practices and change stories from our impact areas.

YONECO is religiously observing all restrictions

that are aimed at preventing further spread of COVID-19.

Such measures include a ban on meetings of more than

100 people, observe social distance and alike. Thus, in this

edition, we have articles that depict our activities that

were attended by more than 100 people. Please note that

such activities were conducted before the restrictions.

Stay safe!

Lemani Makina

YONECO VOICE - Monthly Newsletter July 2020

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Contents

Editor: Lemani Makina Production Team: Grace Mkwapata, Mabuchi Chunga

Alinafe Nyasulu, Deogratious Mwalamoyo

Layout & Design: Lemani Makina Photography: Bright Chayachaya

Contributors: Lissa Lamya, Funny Chilembo, Anderson Chikalipo, Sewenthe Chipofya, Lauren Piringu, Smart Sochera,Inocent Bisika, Blessings Sabao, Titus Linzie

Media & Communications Manager: Benson Nkhoma Somba

Executive Director: MacBain Mkandawire

@YONECOMw

@yoneco3

yoneco2.blogspot.com

Production Team


Executive Director’s Corner.................................................................................................4YFM Child Presenters Selected to the University of Malawi.............................................52020 World Day Against Child Labour................................................................................6YONECO Repatriates Man 15 Years after Illegal Detention..............................................7 YONECO Conducts Case Follow Up’s in The Eastern Region Of Malawi.......................8Human Rights Sessions at Mangochi District Hospital....................................................9YONECO Empowers PLWHIV with Human Rights Sessions in Zomba...........................9YONECO ED Leading by Example of FPE Day.................................................................10 YONECO Participates in GBV and Trafficking Case Supportive Visits..........................11 YONECO Conducts SRH Sessions Amid COVID-19.........................................................11Peer Educators Supported with PPEs amid COVID-19 Pandemic..................................12 Youth In Mchinji Equipped with Information On Drugs and Substance Abuse.............13 The Success Story of Young People who Volunteered to Fight HIV...............................14 YONECO Working Tirelessly In Fighting COVID-19.........................................................15YFM Radio Programme Empowers Divorced Mother of Three.......................................16YONECO Becomes a Member of SSCN.............................................................................17

TT hhee EE xxeeccuu tt iivvee DD ii rree cctt oorr ’’ss NNoo tt ee .. .. ..

WWii tthh MMaaccBBaaiinn MMkkaannddaawwii rreeMalawi clocks 56 years after attaining its independence on July 6 1964. One is able to tell the difference between thenand now. Questions we need to ponder on are whether after all these years Malawians have really been liberated.Where do we stand in terms of according equal opportunities of employment to the youth? What are we doing as acountry to protect rights of vulnerable groups, the Youth, Women and Children? Is it enough or we are still far behindand a lot needs to be done? However, as the country celebrates 56 years of independence, we might also look at themental, economic and social independence. Unless Malawians become mentally independent, we might be strugglingwith poverty. At 56, Malawi still remains among the bottom 10 poorest countries. This is food for thought.

July seems to be packed. The 23rd International Aids Conference runs from 6th- 10th July with the theme Resilienceto further strengthen policies and programs that have been put in place to respond to HIV and any other related spates,YONECO will be presenting its abstracts on how it has invested in equipping knowledge to young people and howthey can have access to information on HIV and AIDS using ICT. Our youth mobisite, www.letschill.yoceco.org providesinformation and answers questions one has on HIV and AIDS. Young people can also call 116 or 5600 or write to TheCounsellor, Tithandizane Helpline Services, P/Bag 116 or 5600, Zomba

Amid protecting ourselves from COVID -19, we still need to be cautious of many diseases that are taking many livesof people especially among our many Youths who are sexually active but are limited when it comes to accessing YouthFriendly Health services (YFHS) which is putting them at risk of contracting sexually transmitted Infections andunintended pregnancies. We are having reports of the boom in teenage pregnancies, child marriages and child defile-ments. With over 700 cases of child marriages and about 500 defilement cases reported on the child helpline andGBV Crisis Line, we need to refocus our strategies and really fifth the malpractices. The youth need to be protectedfrom such and this is the responsibility of everybody to ensure that they are accorded the much needed support.

Aside health issues, people still face many atrocities that impact their freedom and capabilities. Modern day slaveryfor instance which is popularly known as Human Trafficking is a menace in our society. It is quite unfortunate thatpeople who are in search of better life elsewhere fall prey to human Traffickers. It is everybody’s responsibility to ensurethat we protect the women and children across the country. Women and children are trafficked for sexual purposes,child labour and body parts. Report any suspicious people in our areas who we believe are capable of committingsuch a crime to the police for them to be investigated. Remember that 30th July is Word Day Against Trafficking inPersons; more effort should be put in raising awareness against human trafficking. With Covid19 issues, trafficking inpersons will be increased and let us all be vigilant.

Elections are now behind us, whether the outcome has come in our favour or not, there are so many issues at handthat we need to concentrate on in order to develop our country. Let us divert our effort in protecting the rights of thevulnerable, work on shielding ourselves from the pandemic and accord equal opportunities to all regardless of themany factors that one could be attached to.

Be blessed. Let us continue putting more effort in changing things for the better.


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Three of the 12 YFM’s Child presenters have beenselected to various prestigious schools of higherlearning in Malawi.

The three, all girls, joined YFM as child presenters in2015 and have been responsible for co-producing andpresenting child oriented radio programmes namely;Ife Ana and High Five.

The girls; Keziah Phiri (15), has been selected to studyBachelor of Arts in Journalism at the MalawiPolytechnic, Tamanda Mtoto (16) has been selected tostudy Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration atChancellor College and Gloria Nthanda (16) has beenselected to study Civil Engineering at the MalawiPolytechnic.

In his congratulatory message to the girls, theExecutive Director for YONECO MacBain Mkandawire,expressed his happiness and wished the girls all thebest as they would be taking a new level in theiracadamic lives

“I am very proud of the girls. Their success is also oursuccess. Apart from promoting their rights andengaging them in various issues concerning children,we have managed to mentor them and that is one greatachievement,” said Mkandawire.

Mkandawire added that he is optimistic that the girls willexcell in their designated fields of study.

In her remarks, one of the three girl, Keziah Phiri, saidthat she is very happy that she would be pursuing herdream career.

“I have always wanted to become a journalist and I amalso very thankful to YONECO for helpling me to gainself confidence and build my self-esteem,” she said.

YFM engages children in its programming as one way ofenhancing child participation in matters of public interest.Apart from the radio programmes, the child presenters arealso mentored in various aspects including school. Since2015, the child presenters have also been at the centreof YFMs live coverage of national commeration events forInternational Day of the Girl Child, International Youth Dayas well as the Day of the African Child.

YFM Child Presenters Selected to the University of Malawi

Enhancing Child Protection and Development

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Kezia Phiri Presenting a Radio Programme

YONECO ED posing with the Child presenters

Tamandani Mtoto, (Child Presenter) in YFM studios

Enhancing Child Protection and Development YONECO VOICE - Monthly Newsletter July 2020

2020 World Day Against Child Labour

YONECO has advised the citizenry not to take.advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic to engagechildren into child labour activities.

The Executive Director for YONECO MacBainMkandawire, said this in the sidelines of thecommemoration of the World Day against ChildLabor.

This year, the day was commemorated under thetheme ‘COVID-19: Protect Children from Child

Labour, now more than ever!’

In his remarks, Mkandawire stated that manychildren may end up in child labour practices dueto the closure of schools as well as economicshocks as a result of the covid-19 pandemic.

“Many children are likely to be victims of childlabour due to this pandemic as parents will try toforce their children to support them in bringing foodon the table in order to avert the economicproblems which have resulted from pandemic,” hesaid.

Mkandawire further said that parents and thegeneral public should not take advantage of thesituation to exploit children but rather protect themfrom all forms of abuses and ensure their safetyduring this period.

As part of the commemoration, YONECOconducted a social media campaign to raiseawareness about the day and the significance ofthis year’s theme. YONECO also used its nationalradio station (YFM) to broadcast specialprogrammes which also featured experts in labourlaws and child protection.

Currently, the country has a child labour prevalencerate of 38% in which children between the ages offive and 17 are involved in child labour activities.

Upcoming Events 6 July 2020: Malawi’s Independence Day 6 July- 10th July: The 23rd International AIDS Conference 30 July 2020: World Day Against Trafficking In Persons

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Children who formed part of the commemoration

YONECO Repatriates Man 15 Years after Illegal Detention

Songs, ululations and whistles could be heard from allcorners of Traditional Authority (T/A) Mwase’s area inKasungu district on 21st June 2020 as YONECOrepatriated back a 27 year-old man who was illegallydetained for 15 years at Chilwa Reformatory Center inZomba due to alleged failure by the Malawi PoliceService to locate his relatives.

The man, Mavuto Makala was arrested in 2005 whilehe was 12 years old for accidentally killing his friend asthey were playing.

Mavuto was later acquitted in November 2009 butsince then, he has been at the reformatory centerbecause no one cared and respected the court’sjudgment as the police claimed to have failed locatinghis parents.

Mavuto’s mother, Marita Banda, said she couldn’tbelieve her eyes when she set her eyes on her son after15 years.

“My son has been illegally detained for 15 yearsbecause of someone’s negligence. I am very delighted

that he is back. I just ask God Almighty to forgive thosepeople,” she said.

In his remarks, the Executive Director for YONECO,MacBain Mkandawire, said that repatriation is key andthanked the members of staff involved for theirdiligence.

However, Mkandawire questioned police’sprofessionalism in the matter because their excuse thatthey could not locate Mavuto’s parents was lame.

“We can’t buy an excuse that police failed to locate hisparents. It’s the same police which arrested him whenhe was 12, what are they trying to say when they saythey failed,” said Mkandawire.

Further to this, Mkandawire, cautioned duty bearersespecially the law enforcement and security agency,Malawi Police, for failing to support the man to getjustice.

“If we look at Mavuto’s case, it clearly indicates that asa nation, we do not have child-friendly justice systemsand this should serve as a wakeup call,” he said.

Every year on 16 June, the African Union and itsmembers states observe the Day of the African Child.This year, the Day was commemorated under thetheme access to a Child-friendly justice system inAfrica.

Mother and son sharing a happy moment afterreunited

Mavuto (L), his mother and other relatives on the day he was repatritated to his home village

Governance and Human Rights YONECO VOICE - Monthly Newsletter July 2020

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YONECO conducted a case follow up anddocumentation exercise in the Eastern Region ofMalawi with clients who called the TithandizaneHelpline Services to report Gender Based Violence(GBV) and other cases of abuse.

The exercise was an SOS after the rampantincrease of cases on child marriage and defilementthat were being reported through the toll-free GBVCrisis-line which is under the Tithandizane HelplineServices. Thus, teams of Counsellors and FieldOficers were sent to Machinga, Mulanje, Zombaand Phalombe districts which had highest numberof cases that were reported.

“The data that was compiled by the Tithandizane

Helpline Services was so alarming. Within a periodof two months, over 700 child marriage cases andabout 500 cases of defilement were reported.Something had to be done to unearth the rootcauses,” commented MacBainMkandawire,Executive Director for YONECO.

YONECO works hand in hand with the MalawiPolice Service, the Department of Social Welfareand other stakeholders in dealing with such cases.

Currently, YONECO has intensified commun ityawafrensess interventions on prevention ofviolence as well as publicizing various reportingmechanisms including the toll-free helpline numberfor child protection (116) and GBV Crisis Line (5600).

YONECO Conducts Case Follow Up’s in The Eastern Region Of Malawi

Yoneco Helpline Deputy Manager and Field officer (to the right) Interacting with a Client


Governance and Human Rights

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Governance and Human Rights

YONECO engaged a total of 30 People Living withHIV (PLWHIV) on human rights through a numberof sessions that were conducted at City Clinic inZomba.

Sometimes, People Living with HIV (PLWHIV) facevery serious human rights violations at the handsof their fellow community members as well asvarious service providers.

Stigma and discrimination have compelledPLWHIV to shun away from public spaces. Thus,a number of people have had serious healthproblems due to their failure to access healthservices.

YONECO’s District Manager for Zomba,Blessings Sabao explained that the interventionwill also reach other health facilities across thedistrict.

YONECO Empowers PLWHIV with Human Rights Information in Zomba

YONECO conducted a human rights session atMangochi District Hospital with guardians of patientswith an aim of making them aware of the role of healthservice providers at the facility and the responsibilitieswhich the rights holders have.

A total of 50 guardians were reached with messageson how they can protect themselves and their patientsfrom COVID-19 as well as other communicabledieases which are very common during this coldseason.

The guardians were also encouraged to report casesof Gender Based Violence (GBV) which they comeacross to any nearest YONECO office, directly call theTithandizane Helpline Services, police, Department ofSocial Welfare and other similar offices.

The Manager for YONECO in the district explained thather office will continue with the sessions due to anumber of rights violations that have been reported insuch places.

Human Rights Sessions at Mangochi District Hospital

YONECO Field Officer presenting during an awarenesssession

A human rights session in porogress at City Clinic in Zomba

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YONECO ED Leading by Example on FPE Day Soon after casting his vote, the ExecutiveDirector for YONECO,MacBain Mkandawire,encouraged all registred voters to do like wisethrough a social media post which depictedhim raising his index finger which he dipped inink to mark that he had voted.

As a Human rights activist, he has sinceencouraged citizens of Malawi to desist fromabdicating their duties and responsibilities ascitizens.

“I have done my part by voting for a Candidateof my choice. Do likewise,’’ read part ofMacBain Mkandawire’s statement.

Malawians went back to the polling stations onthe 23rd June 2020 to elect another Presidentafter the Constitutional Court Nullified thePresidential results of the May 2019 TripartiteElections.

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YONECO participated in a high-level meetingon Gender Based Violence and Trafficking inPersons that was organized by the MalawiNetwork against Trafficking (MNAT) incollaboration with Ministry of HomelandSecurity with support from Norwegian ChurchAid (NCA).

The meeting was held in Mchinji which is oneof the border districts of the country.

Malawi is both a transit and destination ofvictims of trafficking in persons hence the needto ensure that all critical stakeholders arediligent and proactive in fighting against the

vice.

During the meeting, it was noted that thedistrict stakeholders have scaled upawareness activities on trafficking and GBV.

It was further acknowledged that through anumber of collaborative efforts, a number ofperpetrators of human trafficking and GBV inthe district have been brought to book.

As a recommendation, YONECO incollaboration with Social Welfare Office vowedto intensify awareness sessions as a way ofcurbing the two vices in the district.

YONECO Participates in GBV and Trafficking in Persons Meeting

YONECO Conducts SRH& R Sessions amid COVID-19

YONECO organized a Sexual Reproductive Healthand Rights (SRH&R) session with an aim of impartingyoung people with necessary knowledge andinformation in Traditional Authority (T/A) Zulu’s areain Mchinji district.

The session, also targeted Peer Educators and YouthCommunity Based Distribution Agents (YCBDAs) toscale up door to door visits as one way of promoting

SRHR services among young people.

During the session, young people openlydiscussed various SRHR issues that affect youngpeople in their communities.

Paul Phiri, YONECO’s Field Officer, discouragedyoung people from engaging in unsafe sexpractices.

Hefurther reminded young people that the closure ofschools amid COVID-19 should not be an excuse forthem to indulge in promiscuous behaviours.

Phiri also called on YCBDAs to make sure that variousSRHR commodities are available for their fellow youngpeople who are avoiding Youth Friendly HealthServices (YFHS) delivery points due to fear ofcontracting COVID-19. The to avoid YFHS, he said,has led to an increase in the number unintendedpregnancies and the risk of contracting STI’s.

The session brought together 30 youths whoafterwards vowed to serve their peers in theirrespective communities.

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SRH&R session underway


Youth Development

Tackle Africa in partnership with YONECO,distributed Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)to 40 female coaches/Peer Educator who usefootball drills to promote Sexual ReproductiveHealth (SRH) among their peers.

The donation was made in the areas of TraditionalAuthority (T/A) Namabvi and Makanjira inMangochi as well as in T/A Zulu’s area in Mchinjidistrict.

The items which were distributed includefacemasks, hand sanitizers and soap.

Further to this, the Peer Educators were alsosupported with radio sets, plastic buckets with tapsand handwashing basins.

“Although football sessions were suspended dueto COVID-19, as Peer Educators, we are stillproviding one-to-one sessions and this donationhas come at a right time,” explained Lista Lungu,a Peer Educator from Mchinji.

In his remarks, the Programme Manager forTackle Africa in Malawi, Peter Diaz, explained thatapart from the PPEs, the girls will also be able toget critical SRH information and updates onCOVID-19.

Diaz further added that Tackle Africa has alsointroduced a new participatory radio programme inorder to reach out to young people withinformation. The radio programme will be airedevery Sunday on YONECO FM.

YONECO and Tackle Africa are implementing aProject called leveling the Field which is aimed atreducing the prevalence of unintended teen-agepregnancies and Sexually Transmitted Infections(STIs) including HIV.

Thus, the coaches who received the items weretrained under the project which commenced in2018 and will phase out in 2021.

Peer Educators Supported with PPEs amid COVID-19 Pandemic

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Peer Educators excited with the donation


Youth Development

Youth in Mchinji Equipped with Information on Drugs and Substance Abuse

A total of 147 young people from the area ofTraditional Authority (T/A) Mlonyeni in Mchinjidistrict have been equipped with information on thedangers of drug and substance abuse.

YONECO in conjunction with Mchinji Police Stationorganized an awareness session in the area afterit was established that a lot of young people arelacking information about the dangers of illicitdrugs and substance abuse.

“Drug abuse is a global problem that poses a greatdanger to the lives of individuals and the societyas a whole.

Most young people are engaged in the malpracticedue to peer pressure”, said Thomas Mvwala,YONECO’s Field Officer in Mchinji.

Mvwala further explained that some young peoplewho fail to deal with certain personal problemsseek refuge in alcoholism and drug abuse with ahope that they would escape reality.

However, Mvwala said, the young people end upbringing more problems into their lives.

In his remarks, Superintendent Chauluka fromMchinji Police concurred with Mvwala by addingthat drug and substance abuse lead to poorperformance in class, school drop-out, suicide,poor relationship with others, depression,abnormal appetite and delinquent behaviours suchas stealing.

YONECO has a toll-free Drug and SubstanceHotline 6600 which people, especially the youthcall to seek support.

Young participants and police officers after an awareness session on drug and substance abuse

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Youth Development

Ï am happy that Tackle Africa andYONECO have supported me and othercoaches /peer educators with theseitems. I will now be able to organizeSexual Reproductive Health (SRH)sessions with small groups of mypeers. With a recommeded socialdistance, soap, sanitizers andfacemasks; the girls will be able toprevent COVID-19 and at the same timeget consistent information about SRHwhich will eventually help them toprevent a number of SRHchallenges including unintended teenpregnancies as well as HIV and otherSexually Transmitted Infections(STIs)”- Batuli Shaibu- Apeer Educatorwho uses football drills to promoteSRH of young people in the area ofTraditional Authority (T/A) Namabviwhere YONECO and Tackle Africa areimplementing a project called Levellingthe Field Tackle Africa inpartnership with YONECO distributedfacemasks, plastic buckets, handwashing basins, soap and sanitizers to40 female coaches in Mchinji andMangochi.

Youth Development

The Success Story of Young People who Volunteered to Fight HIV


In 2006, YONECO supported an HIV Testing and Counseling (HTC) Training session for youngpeople from various parts of Machinga and Zombadistricts. The trained young people were laterattached to various health centres in theirdesignated districts where they operated as HTCCounsellors.

14 Years Later, the team is no longer volunteeringbut rather working as Hospital Attendants as wellas HIV Testing Servive (HTS) providers.The people have now become pillars of hope andsupport in their communities.

In her Remarks, Rose Banda, who is now workingas a hospital attendant at Ngokwe Health Centrestated that the training exposed her to a lot ofopportunities because she was further invited toother platforms where she gained more knowledgeon HTS and other key health issues.

“It is always an honour serving in my community.So far, I have also managed to mentor other youngpeople as well as support my fellow communitesmembers when they come to seek medicalattention,” said Banda who was at the time gettingready to attend to some clients who came for HIVTesting Services (HTS).

Raymond Mtambalika, is also one of thebeneficiaries and commends YONECO for thetraining.

“The training opened windows of employment, Ican comfortably say those that volunteered toattend the training are now able to serve theircommunities better while at the same time beingable to provide for theor families,” saidMtamabalika.

Man Sentenced to 7 Years IHL for Difilement

Young people attending a training sessionorganized by YONECO

Machinga Magistrate Court has sentenced VincentShabalala who hails from the area of TraditionalAuthority (T/A) Chikwewo, in Machinga District to

seven years imprisonment with Hard Labour (IHL) fordefiling his 5 year old niece.

The girls’ mother left the 5 Year old in the care of hisuncle as she headed out to buy fish at Lake Chirwawhich she normally does and the perpetrator took thisas an opportunity to do the malicious act.

Neighbors could not contain the strange cry of the childbut rushed to the scene and after questioning sherevealed what had happened. They reported the matterto YONECO offices that referred the case to the Police.

Currently, the survivor who is in standard 1 of herprimary school studies is getting psychosocial supportthrough a YONECO Office in the district.

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Promoting Good Health, Sanitation & Welbeing

YONECO Working Tirelessly In Fighting COVID-19 amongst thier Staff

YONECO is working tirelessly to prevent thespreading of deadly COVID-19 pandemic byproviding Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)to its staff members and clients in all its 14districts offices.Currently, YONECO has managed to distributevarious PPEs such as hand sanitizers, wipers,soap with pails and masks as one way ofprotecting staff members from the deadlypandemic as well as clients who come in and outseeking different services.In addition, YONECO Radio (YFM) presentershave also received microphone shields that willbe used when they are on duty. It is a must forevery presenter/producer on continuity shift touse his or her personal shields in the studio. It isalso expected that each, would cleanse themicrophones before use with the wipers andsanitizers. This applies to both production and onair studios.Speaking after distribution of the shields topresenters, the Deputy Station Manager for YFM,Rose Kamera, encouraged the presenters andreporters to follow and practice all preventivemeasures of COVID-19 pandemic.“First you have to protect yourself as presenters

and reporters from this pandemic and take aninitiative in informing and educating our targetaudience, youth, women and children, on thepreventive measures of COVID-19,” Kamerasaid.YONECO is using a number of initiativesand programmes to sensitize communitymembers on how they can take part in the fightagainst COVID-19.

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YONECO Helpline Counsellor workingcomfortably with a face mask on

YFM Chief Producer in a face mask

M&E Manager for YONECO working happily whileprotected from COVID-19


YFM Radio Programme Empowers Divorced Mother of Three

When a marriage ends, women suffer most as manyMalawian men refuse to take up responsibilities ofsupporting their children leaving the mother to fend forthe kids. Pilirani Chaduwala, a mother of three whowas divorced two years ago was also left to face thesame tune. Chaduwala explained in Tidzidalire Radio Programmeon YFM how her life has been transformed after beingdivorced a couple of years ago. In the programme,Chaduwala emphasized on the need for women tosupport each other. She also bemoaned the tendencyof some women who spend most of their timecomplaining after being divorced. Chaduwala statedthat this is what prevents the women from rising abovetheir issues. “I was divorced two years ago and by then my husbandleft a motorcycle, hence I thought it wise to venture intomotor taxi business. I then employed someone to manage the motorcycleup until when I realised that I could easily develop mybussiness by doing everything by myself,”saidChiduwala.

Curently, Chiduwala started realising more money fromThe business has since grown and she is able to paytuition fees for her children, buying farm inputs likefertilisers and seeds. Chaduwala further added thatshe manages to bring food on the table so much thather children are now having three meals per day. Chaduwala encouraged other women to be self-reliantand being solution providers to their problems thanbeing busy complaining day in and out. Ï also learnt very important lessons about self-reliancein nthis same radio programme (Tidzidalire). I heardother women explaining how they managed to turntables for the better and I challenged myself to dolike-wise,” she explained. Currently, Pilirani Chaduwala is still managing hermotorcycle taxi business at Six Miles in Zomba District.She is the only woman amongst 70 men who are alsointo the same busisness.

Promoting Women & Gender Equality

Women listening to YFM in a maize garden

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Media Advocacy & Networking

YONECO has been granted membership toSports for Social Change Network (SSCN)which champions and spearhead the deliveryof social impact through sport, active recreationand all forms of physical activity.

The network was founded in 1997 by Nike incollaboration with other organizations in various

countries including Kenya, Brazil and theUnited Kingdom. In Southern Africa, thesecretariat for SSCN is in Pretoria, Republic ofSouth Africa.

Sport as a tool for change optimizes theunderlying potential of the people in the societyespecially the younger generation to achievesuccess in their lives.

YONECO has been using sports for changeacross Malawi to promote mental health, Sex-ual Reproductive Health & Rights (SRH&R),ending child marriages and Gender BasedViolence (GBV).

YONECO has sponsored a number of sportstournaments across Malawi as well as providingrecreational materials to young people throughits Youth-Drop-In-Centres. Furthermore,YONECO, in partnership with TackleAfrica, hasbeen training male and female coaches to usefootball drills to promote behavior change.

YONECO Becomes a Member of SSCN

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Min. of Gender, Children, Disability & Social Welfare Malawi Police Service - Victim Support Unit Judiciary Trocaire Simavi WFPUNFPAUNICEF Tithetse Nkhanza Connect Malawi

Youth Net and Counselling (YONECO)

July 2020

yoneco monthly newsletter july 2020 vol.9. issue 7...yoneco monthly newsletter july 2020 vol.9....

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