With support from Grand Challenges Canada, the Young Women Christian Association of Malawi (YWCA) in collaboration with the Regional Psychosocial Support Initiative (REPSSI) and the World Young Women Christian Association are working on a joint project titled “Community Model for Fostering Health and Wellbeing for Adolescent Mothers and their children.”
The goal of the project is to improve early child development and well being of marginalized married adolescent pregnant girls and young mothers in Malawi. It aims to strengthen self- awareness, self-care and provision of psychosocial support to own children by adolescent mothers.
The project provides a safe and inclusive community spaces for married girls and adolescent mothers. YWCA coordinators and champions hold two dialogue sessions in a month at YWCA safe spaces in Mulanje, Blantyre and Machinga. REPSSI Psychosocial Support (PSS) programs are used to build resilience and self-esteem and build mutual support among girls. The project seeks to empower girls to prioritize their own and their children’s health and wellbeing.