By Nandi Bwanali | Public Relations Coordinator - Abwenzi Pa Za Umo
Above: Students in Neno, Malawi show off their new shoes and school uniforms provided by POSER.
With school now in session, PIH/Abwenzi Pa Za Umo (APZU)'s Program for Social and Economic Rights (POSER) team is busy ensuring that the needs of the many students supported by the department are met. In addition to paying school fees, the team is rolling out the distribution of school shoes, uniforms, and other learning materials such as notebooks and pens.
The cost of a school uniform is now around $5, a hefty price for most in the parents and guardians living in Neno district in rural Malawi, where the average daily income is less than $1. Wearing a proper school uniform, however, is a prerequisite for attending classes and students without uniforms are sent home and denied a chance to an education.
Students like Happy George, an eleventh grade student who was identified by his classmates as the poorest in the class was referred to POSER by his school when his guardians were unable to continue to support his education.
Happy George, who is at top of his class, lost his parents when he was very young and has since been supported by his older sisters who dropped out of school to care for their family and work to make money to fund their brother’s education.
“This helps ease the burden on the parents and guardians as they cannot afford to send the children to school, let alone buy them school materials. We usually see cases where the lucky few manage to get one or two books which is still not sufficient for all their subjects,” shared Ivy Mwanaku, POSER assistant.
Happy George would one day like to become a scientist. This is one of many dreams and aspirations the department is supporting.
“We try our best to make sure that they learn just like the other students with their concern and concentration being solely on passing their exams,” said Mwanaku.
At the beginning of the year the department accounted for 2,000 children living in Neno District who are need of school aid. Most of these children are now receiving school support from POSER, and more children are being referred. The POSER team works diligently in its efforts to identify children in need of support and proceeding with their efforts to help them receive the education they deserve.
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