Winrock International, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), has donated 106 solar panels to primary schools, women groups and community-based childcare centres in Traditional Authority Chimutu in Lilongwe to enhance child education.
Speaking on Tuesday during the handover, the NGO’s programme manager NdamyoKabuye said they want children to go far with education; hence, the donation.
He said: “We think the solar panels will enable them to study at night.
“We also targeted women agribusiness groups because we believe children spend most of their time with their mothers, so they can study at home in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.”
Kabuye also said they want to build community leaders’ capacity to address child labour.
“We want to support government’s efforts in ending child labour,” he said.
Chiponde Primary School head teacher Abiut Gwazani commended the NGO for the donation.
“Pupils will now be able to study at night at the school once schools reopen,” he said.
Gwazani also said teachers will be able to conduct evening classes.
The donation was supported by JTI Leaf Malawi through its Achieving Reduction of Child Labour in Support of Education project.