Back to School
Malawi | Ntcheu District Shifters - Back to School | 2024
Moni!
We are the Ntcheu District Shifters, a network of six youth groups working to reduce school dropouts and end child marriages. In 2024, we launched the Back to School Campaign, a movement to educate parents, re-enroll children, and advocate for policies that keep kids in school. Our mission? To empower communities to prioritize education, hold parents accountable, and create lasting change for future generations.
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12 to 35 years old
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The Right-Sized Problem
Across Ntcheu district, children drop out of school due to parental negligence, child labor, early marriages, and financial struggles. Many parents fail to prioritize education, leaving children vulnerable to exploitation and poverty. Without awareness, community laws, and strong advocacy, thousands of children risk missing out on their right to education.
What did we do?
Through community-wide engagement, sports events, role modeling, and advocacy, we directly targeted children, parents, and local leaders to address this crisis.
Offline Impact
⚽ Football Bonanzas & Sports Events – Used sports to attract youth, engaging them in education and career conversations.
📢 Community Rallies & Stakeholder Meetings – Held sensitization meetings with chiefs, parents, and local leaders to advocate for school retention policies.
🚪 Door-to-Door Advocacy – Reached families directly, educating them on the importance of education and the consequences of school neglect.
🎤 Role Model Sessions – Invited successful community members to inspire children about the value of education.
📜 Community Laws & Fines Introduced – Chiefs, police, and local councils implemented penalties for parents failing to send their children to school.
🛑 Ending Child Marriages – Worked with local authorities to nullify 10 child marriages, bringing affected children back to school.
Online & Media Impact
📻 Zodiak Radio, Times Radio & Dzimwe FM – Reached over 4 million listeners across Malawi with discussions on education rights and child protection.
📱 Social Media Awareness – Reached over 2 million people through Facebook & WhatsApp campaigns.
Impact in Numbers
12,113 people engaged through in-person events (children, parents, and community members).
4,000,000+ reached via radio broadcasts.
2,000,000+ reached via social media campaigns.
267 children re-enrolled in school (including 50 girls & 67 boys from Mgwirizano Youth Group alone).
25 new youth members joined local Shifter groups after being inspired by the campaign.
10 child marriages ended, with all affected children returning to school.
Community laws established to fine parents who fail to send their children to school.
Campaign Impact
One of the biggest successes was the shift in mindset among community leaders. Chiefs, who were initially hesitant, became champions of the campaign, helping to draft and enforce local policies ensuring every child has access to education.
Another powerful moment was the police joining the campaign, educating parents on child rights and legal consequences of school neglect, reinforcing community accountability.
What’s Next?
We are scaling up our impact by:
📌 Expanding school advocacy programs to more villages.
📌 Ensuring that community laws enforcing school attendance are followed.
📌 Working with education authorities to provide scholarships for vulnerable children.
