BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)-Malawi’s First Lady, Madam Monica Chakwera, is emphasizing the need for communities to change their mindset towards people with disabilities, highlighting the negative impact it has on families.
She also stressed the importance of collaboration between the government and private sector to ensure every Malawian, especially those in remote areas, has access to essential healthcare services.
Madam Chakwera urged companies and organizations to complement the government’s efforts in providing healthcare in remote areas.
This call to action aligns with her ongoing advocacy for improved healthcare and social welfare in Malawi.
As the wife of President Lazarus Chakwera, Madam Monica Chakwera continues to play a significant role in promoting the welfare of Malawians through her Shaping Our Future Foundation.
BLANTYRE-(MANA)-First Lady, Monica Chakwera has reaffirmed her commitment to advancing efforts to promote girls’ education and empower women with infertility conditions.
In her keynote address during the inauguration of the 11th edition of the Merck Foundation Africa – Asia Luminary held in Tanzania on Tuesday, Chakwera said since Malawi, through her office, partnered with the Merck Foundation in 2020, a great impact has been registered in the areas of education, health and the overall well-being of people.
“Under the Education Linda Initiative, we have provided scholarships to 79 high-achieving girls in secondary schools. Additionally, we have provided 48 scholarships to young medical doctors to specialize in crucial medical areas,” she added.
Chakwera, who is also the Merck Foundation’s “More Than a Bride” Ambassador, added that Malawi has also moved steadily and quickly in sensitizing women with infertility conditions through various educational programmes and empowering them with income-generating activities to become self-reliant.
“We will continue to advocate for a cultural shift regarding a wide range of social and health issues, including breaking the stigma around infertility, supporting girls’ education and ending child marriage,” she said.
Speaking earlier, the chairperson of the Merck Foundation Board of Trustees, Prof. Frank Stangenberg-Haverkamp said the foundation will continue to work with the First Ladies from African countries and Asia to build healthcare capacity through the provision of scholarships in underserved medical specialties such as oncology, diabetes, cardiology and sexual and reproductive medicine.
He said this intervention would help to address the substantial challenges faced by medical specialists in countries in Africa and Asia.
The Merck Foundation is a United States-based charitable organization that aims to improve the health and well-being of people and advance their lives through science and technology.
This year, the Merck Foundation Africa-Asia Luminary has attracted keynote speakers and the First Ladies of Burundi, Cape Verde, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, The Maldives, Malawi, Mozambique, Zanzibar and Zimbabwe.
In a move set to revolutionize the mobility of Shaping Our Future Foundation (SOFF) field officers, Luthando Holdings has donated two Yamaha YBR 125G motorcycles worth K19 million.
The donation, presented at Kamuzu Palace in Lilongwe on Wednesday, October 9, aims to enhance the foundation’s outreach to rural communities.
First Lady Madame Monica Chakwera, founder of SOFF, commended Luthando Holdings for their generosity, highlighting the challenges faced by field officers due to unreliable transportation.
“The current bicycles being used are not in good shape, often breaking down and putting lives at risk,” she said. “These motorcycles will significantly improve our ability to reach more girls and women in rural areas.”
Chakwera emphasized SOFF’s commitment to empowering women and girls, citing the organization’s focus on education, economic empowerment, and health initiatives. “We appreciate the support from partners like Luthando Holdings, which enables us to improve the livelihoods of needy individuals.”
Hendrix Laher, Managing Director of Luthando Holdings, explained the motivation behind the donation.
“We recognized the challenges SOFF field officers face and wanted to contribute to improving their outreach and efficiency. No distance should be too great to support lives in these communities.
Dr. Michael Mkandawire, SOFF Executive Director, welcomed the timely donation, acknowledging the foundation’s mobility struggles.
“These motorcycles have come at the right moment, and we’re grateful for Luthando Holdings’ support”
The Yamaha YBR 125G motorcycles, valued at K19 million, come with a two-year warranty and free servicing.
This partnership between Luthando Holdings and SOFF demonstrates the power of corporate social responsibility in driving positive change in Malawi.
This collaboration is a testament to the impact of private sector involvement in addressing social challenges.
As SOFF continues to empower women and girls, Luthando Holdings’ donation serves as a catalyst for expanded reach and effectiveness.
Open your mouth for the speechless, In the cause of all who are appointed to die. 9Open your mouth, judge righteously, And plead the cause of the poor and needy. Proverbs 31:8-9
Although I did not go to the Fourth UN Women’s Conference in Beijing, because my funding was stolen by Women’s World Banking Chair, Nyandovi-Kerr (God rest her soul), I will never forget Beijing. The Conference and its 12 principles have impacted the world, the African region, Malawi, me, and a host of gender activists. It is heart-warming that Malawi is truly living the Beijing dream: last weekend First Lady Monica Chakwera, Second Lady Mary Chilima, former President Dr. Joyce Banda, Minister of Gender Dr. Patricia Kaliati converged at a gender-based violence conference, hosted by the Joyce Banda Foundation International.
Many people frequently ask why there is still much hype about the Beijing Conference, because it is foreign, and has nothing to do with Malawi. Others berate the flurry of activities as feminists onslaught that only fight for violence against women, citing that violence against men must also be discussed. Firstly, the GBV campaign ceased being a battle against violence against women and transformed into gender-based violence. Although I hasten to add that violence against women forms a large part of gender-based violence. Within the campaign are men and women champion the cause to end the scourge in societies everywhere.
Secondly, the Beijing Conference output, the Beijing Platform for Action (BPfA), has become the blueprint for activities on gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls. Through its ethos, numerous outputs flourish, organizations established, laws introduced, amended, or repealed. Amidst it all, there is the steady rise in the number of women in decision-making positions including presidents, prime ministers, enhanced women’s health, girl’s education, human rights, and economic empowerment of women.
Thus listening to the First Lady Madame Monica Chakwera recount the magnanimous foresighted gamble her parent made when they sent her to school instead of her brother was enlightening. They could not afford to send both. She later won a scholarship due to her great math grades. Today she is a chartered accountant and First Lady. On her part, the Second Lady Madame Mary Chilima told the gathering about her trading business that spans travels to various parts of the world.
The media is replete with the recent doctorate conferment upon Kaliati, the result of four years of research and study. Last but not least, former President Dr. Joyce Banda, who in 2012 made history by becoming Malawi’s first female President, the second female African President, joining the growing number of world women leaders after Beijing.
Dr. Banda underscores repeatedly, that GBV could end in Malawi when women are economically independent, and girls are sent to and stay in school.
Recently, the African Union Heads of States Summit elected Dr. Asfour, the first woman to the chair of the AU Business Council. An Egyptian by nationality, Dr. Asfour aspires to move quickly to form triangles and work across borders to take advantage of the opportunity of the huge COMESA and Middle East markets.
Women’s networks like NABW (founded by former President Banda in 1991), and international organizations like the Action Aid are forging ahead in promoting the women’s businesses.
The term triangle formulation reminded me of establishing external trading links. I was guided by Dr. Banda to connect with a Dubai-based Malawian to explore what it would take to have Malawian businesswomen join the Dubai export gravy train.
The consultant, Ethel Ng’oma, informed me that the Dubai Chamber of Commerce has billions of dollars of untapped potential foreign direct investment into Africa. She said Malawian women could position themselves for Malawi to become a recipient of the FDI. Malawi only has one staff at its Dubai consulate. There is the untapped opportunity of the weekly Dubai airlines flight into Malawi, packed with returning residents and tourists; yet leaves the country to Dubai almost empty.
Ng’oma said Malawian women could export into Dubai a truckload of agriproducts that are aplenty in Malawi but in short supply or sought-after in Dubai and other Middle Eastern countries: these are tomatoes, corn, rice, watermelons, beans, eggplants, papayas, bananas, mangoes, guavas, and cassava.
The tête-à-tête with the First and Second Ladies, the former President, and Minister of Gender, fighting gender-based violence seems like a pipe dream, however the massive modeling of the lives of these eminent Malawians, re-educating society about GBV, incorporating men in the conversation, and energizing women and their networks to enter cash-generating activities are great avenues for preventing and eventually ending GBV.
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