Creative Centre for Community Mobilization (CRECCOM) has a mission to motivate, mobilize, and empower communities and stakeholders towards owning development initiatives through effective involvement and participation. In the last two years, the organization promoted girls’ access and retention in secondary school and equipped girls with social skills for improved well-being. The organization has reached more than 5,600 adolescents, leading to improved life skills, increased feelings of safety, a significant reduction in physical violence against girls, and enhanced knowledge of safety reporting mechanisms.
In Malawi, gender disparities exist in the educational system, particularly in the late and post-primary levels of school. Many Malawian girls marry before the age of 18 and do not complete secondary school. Poverty, pregnancy, and early marriage remain the highest reasons for dropout among girls. Such challenges and other life stressors can lead to mental health struggles and can impact performance at school.
With support from the Girls Opportunity Alliance Fund, CRECCOM will work with five schools to support the implementation of safe spaces for girls. These spaces will support peer education and discussion of topics including the importance of education, reproductive health, menstrual hygiene management, and gender-based violence. The organization will also engage community stakeholders such as mother support groups and child protection workers to create a school-based committee to support learners with mental health challenges and to provide psychosocial support.
This multifaceted project aims to support 4,000 adolescents in school and another 2,000 out-of-school adolescents. The organization hopes that this project will transform the lives of girls by promoting access and retention in secondary schools and equipping girls with social skills for improved well-being.
To learn more about CRECCOM, please visit the organization’s website and social media pages:
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