Life Skills Class for Girls

Malawi Africa Life Skills Class

The Life Skills Class supplements the regular curriculum with special classes specifically designed for girls.  Unlike most of the classes taught at the Nanthomba Full Primary School, these classes are open to all girls who wish to attend, not just students of Nanthomba. Once a week girls are educated about their rights, the importance of their education, sexual reproductive issues including the prevention of HIV/AIDS, and the prevention of sexual abuse.

Educating girls is one of the most effective ways to invest in development.  Their education creates a ripple effect that impacts the household, the community, the economy and politics. Since the start of the program in October of 2008, we have noticed that more girls are staying in school longer and more graduate each year.  Furthermore, HELP is proud to provide twenty girls with scholarships to secondary school.

The effects of educating girls on development*:

  • Lower Fertility Rates: Malawi has the 12th highest fertility rate in the world at 5.43 children born per woman†.  The result is a rapidly growing population that adds pressure to social, economic and natural resources.  However, the longer a girl stays in school the more likely she is to delay in having children.  It is estimated that each year of school lowers fertility by ten percent.  Educated girls are more likely to use family planning techniques resulting in smaller and healthier families.
  • Lower Infant Mortality Rates:  Infants of educated women have a higher survival rate and are more likely to be well nourished and healthy.  This is because educated women seek better medical care and practice better parenting skills. In addition, by increasing the chances of delaying childbirth, their bodies have more time to develop, better preparing them for the reproductive process.
  • Lower Maternal Mortality Rates: Educated women and girls are more likely to survive childbirth for many of the same reasons as their babies.  They too benefit from better medical treatment, improved sanitation practices, a lower likelihood of becoming pregnant at a young age and a better understanding of nutrition.
  • Reduced Spread of HIV/AIDS: Women are the fastest growing demographic of people contracting HIV/AIDS, and educating women is one of the most effective means of prevention.  Educated women better understand the disease and how to prevent it. They also more likely to be financially independent and aware of their rights, making them less vulnerable to high-risk situations.
  • Increased Women’s Participation in the Work Force: Having more qualified workers means a more productive economy and more income per household.
  • Intergenerational Educational Benefits:  Nobody can teach a child more than his or her parent. Educated mothers can help teach their children valuable lessons about life and their schoolwork. Having benefited from it personally they tend to place a high value on education and are more likely to keep their children enrolled in school
* Unless otherwise noted, the data above is provided by The World Bank:  www.worldbank.org/education/girls

† CIA World Factbook: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/mi.html