Life Concern

Based in the rural north of Malawi, Life Concern's (LICO) work focuses on mothers-to-be and young women to help prevent the occurrence of mother to child HIV transmission, which currently accounts for 10% of new infections in the district. Cultural practices, low literacy levels due to high school dropouts, and early marriages put young women and girls particularly at risk of HIV in this region.

In its current Egmont-funded project, LICO is training pupils as peer mentors in schools in the Bumba zone to educate their fellow pupils on sexual and reproductive health and HIV and sexual abuse prevention. Clubs for pupils to further address these issues are also being set up in while suggestions boxes are also being installed to enable pupils to easily and confidentially report issues. To further strengthen this provision, schools' governing bodies are being trained to handle CSA (child sexual abuse) cases including child marriage and teen pregnancy.

The project is additionally strengthening the provision of HIV and sexual violence support services at both the community and district level by engaging and collaborating with influential leaders from local civil, faith and community organisations. Self testing for HIV is being integrated into local health facilities and outreach clinics and support provided to monthly teen clubs for adolescents and children living with HIV in addition to quarterly guidance meetings for their caregivers.