GIRLS' EDUCATION
The Challenge
In Malawi, primary education is compulsory for the first eight years (Standard 1–8), starting at age six. Yet, as of 2022, only 33% of students completed primary school, with urban areas showing much higher completion rates than rural areas.
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Secondary education (Form 1–4, equivalent to grades 9-12 in the US) requires tuition and fees, which many families cannot afford. This financial barrier leads to a significant dropout rate: only 23% of students complete the first two years of secondary school, and a mere 15% finish the final two years.
When funds are limited, families often prioritize the education of male children. Girls are relied upon to help with more of the household chores, including walking long distances to fetch water from the nearest water sources. This gender disparity in education is further exacerbated by period poverty.
Period Poverty
Period poverty—the inability to afford menstrual products—affects women globally. In Malawi, it leads to widening gender inequality as girls fall behind in school. Without access to period products and sanitary facilities, girls face health issues, such as infections from using unhygienic cloths or reusing products before they are fully dry. This can lead to a variety of infections that have both short-term and long-term health effects.
Fear of staining their clothes or being teased by boys forces many girls to stay home during their periods. Without sanitary wash and change rooms at school, girls often have to return home to change and clean their reusable pads, causing them to miss significant class time. By secondary school, more than 50% of girls do not complete their education.
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The Consequences
Girls who leave school early are more vulnerable to teenage pregnancy, prostitution, and child marriage. Among those who drop out after primary school, 10% marry before age 15, and 41% marry between ages 15 and 18. Those who turn to prostitution to support their families risk contracting HIV and other diseases, perpetuating the cycle of poverty.
Our Response
To address these challenges, the Girls Education Malawi (GEM) Committee was established in partnership with the DSM Partnership Committee of the Anglican Diocese of Southern Malawi. After numerous discussions with our friends in Malawi, we recognized the urgent need to support girls in completing their education. Our focus is on providing scholarships, access to period products, and maintaining new sanitary wash and change rooms.
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Scholarships
GEM is partnering with the DSM Partnership Committee to offer scholarships to at-risk girls in the final three years of primary school and throughout secondary school. Girls who have recently left school or are at risk of dropping out will be prioritized based on need, with special consideration given to those from child-headed households, those with chronically ill parents or guardians, and orphans.
The scholarships will cover:
• Tuition
• Room and board (if a boarding secondary school)
• Reusable sanitary products
• Exam fees
• School supplies
• Groceries
• Additional fees​
Sanitary Rooms
Schools lack facilities for girls to manage their personal hygiene needs. The existing VIP pit latrine toilets do not provide a space for girls to clean and wash their reusable period products.
We built sanitary changing rooms at six Anglican primary schools to create necessary space for the girls.
These blocks will have three rooms. Two washing rooms are equipped with a drainage system and 50-liter plastic buckets. The third room will is a changing room, that has hooks for drying. School management and the Mother’s Group will ensure water is available.
These sanitary rooms will provide girls with a place to clean themselves, wash and dry menstrual materials, and return to class with dignity and confidence.
Join Us in Making a Difference
Your support can transform the lives of girls in Malawi. By contributing to the GEM Committee’s initiatives, you are helping to break the cycle of poverty and empower the next generation of women leaders. Together, we can ensure that girls have the opportunity to complete their education and build a brighter future.
Click the Donate button today and select Girls Eduction to be part of this life-changing mission. Your generosity will provide scholarships, maintain sanitary rooms, and give girls the chance to thrive academically and personally.
​Costs
Primary School
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$300 for one year
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$900 for three years (Standard years 6–8)
Boarding Secondary School
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$1800 per year
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$7200 for four years (Form years 1–4)
Undesignated Funds & Other School Fees
You can designate the full or partial use of your donation. The use of undesignated funds will be determined according to the needs and priorities of the DSM Partnership Committee, this may include:
• Partial scholarships
• Fees that families are unable to afford
• Making or purchasing reusable period products
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Program Monitoring
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The Education Academic Committee, composed of professional teachers from both primary and secondary schools in Malawi, will oversee the program. This Malawian committee, associated with the Diocese of Southern Malawi, will be responsible for:
• Monitoring and evaluating student academic performance
• Advising the girls in their subject areas
• Counseling the girls on academic and personal issues
• Submitting student academic performance reports to the DSM Partnership Committee
• Recommending the continuity of the scholarship awards based on student performance
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Past Education Projects
Rural Classrooms - Desks, eraser boards, and books
Trinity Anglican Secondary School - Computer Labs
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Women's Literacy - Teaching reading, writing, and basic math to women in rural areas