19-year-old Eliza Patrick, a form 2 leaner at Mbirira Community day secondary school in Salima, Traditional authority Mwanza is back in school after spending 2 years in marriage. At the age of 17 and while in standard 8, Eliza entered into marriage with a man 4 years older her age.  It was peer pressure that got her into marriage. 

‘I lacked life skills and role models in my life. When he proposed to me, I felt I will fit in with my friends’ said Eliza.

She says her marriage ended because the mother group supported by Malawi Girl Guides Association encouraged her to quit marriage for a better future through school. She also recalls a lot of abuse she was facing from her husband. Eliza is not alone in this unique and interesting turn of events. There are several girls who dropped out of school to get married in her area but are now back to school.   With support from the mother groups and the school authority Kachindamoto, there is an enabling environment to allow for the young mothers to tend to the children as they continue with education.   

‘The mentorship program by MAGGA and UNWOMEN has also assisted me to gain the life skills I need to continue with my education. I now have my fees paid at the school, I have received a bicycle and all basic school necessities’ explained Eliza.

Using the safe space model, MAGGA with support from UNW is implementing a keeping girl in school project in T/A Mwanza and Kachindamoto in Dedza with the aim of giving second chances to teen mothers and elimination of child marriages and prevention of teen pregnancies.