By Silaji Sandali
Mzimba District Social Welfare Officer, Bernard Nangwale, has commended Ujamaa Pamodzi project for empowering learners with special needs through trainings in Mzimba district.
Nangwale made the commendation on Thursday during a meeting organized by Ujamaa Pamodzi Africa that was aimed at reviewing progress of the project in the district.
“The project by Ujamaa Pamodzi Africa on prevention and response to violence against learners with special needs is registering results such that most of the learners who experience violence in schools are now being supported accordingly.
“We are happy that the project is specifically targeting learners with disabilities in schools and it has increased the students’ inclusion in various activities” he said.
Nangwale hailed the project for putting much effort on preventing gender-based violence by conducting awareness campaigns and training learners on the matter in various schools in the district.
“We cannot be talking of response while we are doing nothing on prevention. The project has done much of the community awareness, sensitizing parents and guardians to support children with disabilities so that they are able to achieve the right to education,” he added.
District Coordinator for Ujamaa Pamodzi Africa in Mzimba, George Neba expressed the organization’s commitment to promoting the welfare of learners with special needs.
“Ujamaa Pamodzi project has so far registered 6,135 learners in Empowerment Transformation Trainings, promoting self-awareness and personal development, while a total of 699 learners with disabilities were equipped with empowerment skills, enhancing their confidence and participation in school and community activities,” said Neba.
He added that the learners are able to understand the meaning of gender-based violence and actions to be taken when they encounter such experiences.
According Neba, with the figures at hand, the organization’s aim is to reach almost every school in Mzimba, and he asked for collaboration with various stakeholders in dealing with gender-based violence in the district.
Ujamaa Pamodzi Project has so far covered 70 schools across eight zones in Mzimba district.
