CCDO Executive Director (left), District Peace and Unity Committee Chairperson (right), and some of the trained girls.
Chipembere Community Development Organization (CCDO) has intensified efforts to promote peace and combat Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in rural Thyolo by training 78 adolescent girls under its ongoing peacebuilding initiative.
The training sessions, conducted in Traditional Authorities (TAs) Bvumbwe, Nchiramwela, Maggie and Changata, are part of the organization’s flagship project titled “Progressive Peace Building and Conflict Prevention Among Girls and Women in Rural Communities of Thyolo.
Funded by the Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund (WPHF) through UN Women Malawi, the project is empowering girls through leadership training, advocacy skills and GBV awareness to become change agents in their communities. The recent sessions included 58 girls from TAs Maggie, Nchiramwela, and Bvumbwe and an additional 20 girls from Tigwirizane Girls Club in TA Changata.
According to CCDO Executive Director Dalitso Chiwayula, the initiative is aimed at building a peaceful and inclusive society by supporting young women and girls to speak out and take up leadership roles.
“Ending GBV and promoting peace starts with empowering those most affected. Through this project, we are laying the foundation for inclusive leadership and sustainable conflict prevention,” Chiwayula said at the close of a two-day training held in TA Changata.
He expressed concern over the continued marginalization of women and girls in leadership and decision-making, which he noted hampers broader development goals.
“We must create spaces where girls can be heard and respected. These trainings are a crucial step in that direction,” he added.
The training sessions come at a critical time as Malawi approaches the September 2025 general elections—a period often marked by increased tensions.
Martin Kavalo, Chairperson of the Thyolo District Peace and Unity Committee, addressed participants during the training, urging them to play a proactive role in promoting peace.
“This is the time to encourage unity, not division. Conflict during elections has many negative impacts on our communities,” said Kavalo.
Thyolo District Youth Officer (DYO) Blessings Meja also applauded the initiative, emphasizing the importance of preparing girls to become peace ambassadors.
“The knowledge and confidence these girls are gaining will help them speak out against violence and actively contribute to peaceful electoral processes,” Meja noted.
Participants, too, shared their experiences. Aida Dan, a member of Bvumbwe Girls Club, revealed that many girls have suffered GBV in silence but now feel empowered.
“The training has opened our eyes and given us the strength to stand up for ourselves and others,” she said.
Sandrina Chaplain, CCDO’s Projects Officer, confirmed that the organization plans to reach a total of 100 girls by the end of July, with upcoming trainings targeting girls in TA Maganiza.
As the number of trained girls grows, the organization believes these community-based peace champions will significantly influence grassroots efforts to build safer, more equitable environments for women and girls in Thyolo.
Girls empowered to advocate for GBV prevention, peacebuilding, and women’s empowerment
Some of the facilitators during one of the training sessions.