Image: UN Women/Ryan Brown
Chief Theresa Kachindamoto is the leader of about 900,000 people in the Dedza district of Malawi. She is an advocate for the rights of little girls and boys, and has achieved a lot in the last three years, having annulled a total of 850 child marriages. She has also made incredible efforts to make sure these children get an education.
Kachindamoto told Reuters: “I said, well enough is enough but this time I want change. I do not like this. I want these children to be educated. Because if you educate a girl child, in future, they will take care of you,”
Malawi has recently adopted a bill last year to help lower the number of child marriages, by lifting the legal age of marriage to 18. The law protects girls by giving equal status to both parties in marriages.
However, there is still a loophole, as parents can give permission for their children to get married if they are under 18, and Malawi currently has one of the highest rates of child marriages in the world.
Kachindamoto is currently making efforts to get the legal marrying age lifted even higher – from 18 to 21. She is dedicated to providing access to education for every girl, and combatting the effects that poverty has on the state of child marriage.
Related stories
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
