Young Women’s Initiative
Making Leaders of Women
Empowering Malawi's Young Women
MCM created the Young Women's Initiative (YWI) in 2014 to address the needs of girls aged 12-23. YWI empowers young women to successfully face the disadvantages that are the norm for most vulnerable girls in Malawi. YWI seeks to impact local communities by equipping young women with life skills, knowledge and purpose.....to make a life of their choosing.
The Challenges They Face
Vulnerable and orphaned girls in Malawi average less than 7 years of school, in part due to high teen pregnancy rates. The Malawi Demographic & Health Survey shows that over 15% of girls between ages 15 and 19 become pregnant. Impoverished, many young girls are required to spend their time seeking enough money to survive. Few have access to proper hygiene. Orphaned girls lack a female role model and the skills needed to face the incredibly harsh social and economic conditions. There are few young women who escape this cycle.
How MCM Empowers Young Women
Building life skills and self-respect through mentorship and character development.
Mentoring
One-on-one and group mentoring enables young girls to interact with females who have faced and overcome life's difficulties. MCM has partnered with leaders to help serve as role models. The mentoring program includes counseling, lecture series and offsite visits intended to inspire young women.
Life Skills
Working as a team, young women are taught planning, managing and practicing a trade, such as making crafts, beaded necklaces and bracelets that can be sold or traded. The girls decide what to do with the proceeds. For their fellow students at the center, the group has purchased personal items, bicycles and paid tuition fees.
Character Development
The Young Women's Initiative seeks to create an open, safe environment in which girls can learn trust, self-respect and purpose. Our counselors work with each girl on physical, emotional and spiritual development. Our group and individual sessions are built on principles that help young women in seeing that they are valued and that they have a future.