Over 500 girls retrieved from early marriages in Chama

Government has retrieved over 500 girls from early marriages in Chama District in Muchinga Province. Minister of Gender Elizabeth Phiri said the child marriage survivors from various villages of Chama District have since been integrated into school under the India, Brazil, and South Africa (IBSA) project. Ms Phiri explained that the IBSA project, an initiative supported by the United Nations Women and her ministry, is focusing on empowering girls with education opportunities. She observed that child marriage is a serious challenge which needs to be addressed as it is one of the things that hinders the attainment of gender equality. “Girls should be encouraged to be in school and not be used to make a fortune for parents,” she said. The Minister said this when she handed over a scholarship fund of over K1.8 million and 106 bicycles to girls from 18 schools in Chama District. And Chama District Commissioner Leonard Ngoma has thanked the UN women and government for incorporating the IBSA project in the district. Mr Ngoma said the rate of child marriages in the district was disheartening and needed urgent attention. He however appealed for more girls to be brought on board to help address the challenge of early marriage in the area. “As Chama District, we will be happy to see more girls taken back to school because we have too many girls who are in early marriages,” Mr Ngoma said. Meanwhile, Irene Nguni a child marriage survivor and a beneficiary of the project assured government and its partners that the girls will use the opportunity to better their lives. Nguni narrated that the integration of girls into schools will also give encouragement to other girls who are into early marriages to go back to school. The United Nations -Women with support from government is implementing the India, Brazil and South Africa (IBSA) project aimed at ending child marriages in Chama and Mpulungu districts The Sun