Reported by Brenard Mwanza and Titus Jata Phiri
Lilongwe, Malawi – The Catholic Church in Malawi has reaffirmed its commitment to ending child marriage, saying it will strengthen pastoral programmes, advocacy and community engagement to protect children’s rights and keep more girls and boys in school.
The pledge came on Thursday, 25 June 2026, during the launch of Protecting Girls, Transforming Futures: A Partnership to End Child Marriage in Africa, a five-year initiative led by the Government of Malawi, the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF), UNICEF and other partners to accelerate efforts to end child marriage and expand opportunities for girls.
Speaking in an interview on the sidelines of the launch in Traditional Authority Chimutu, Lilongwe Rural, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Lilongwe, His Lordship Vincent Mwakhwawa, described the programme as a timely intervention that would complement efforts by the government, the Church and development partners.
He said the funding would help organisations expand public awareness campaigns, respond more effectively to cases of child marriage and support children returning to school.
“The programme has come at the right time,” Bishop Mwakhwawa said, describing the initiative as “highly commendable.”
He said the Catholic Church considers the protection of children an integral part of its evangelising mission and promotes children’s rights through catechesis, the sacraments, Sunday School, Holy Childhood programmes and youth ministries.
“These pastoral programmes help children grow in faith while equipping families and communities to protect their rights and reject harmful practices such as child marriage,” he said.
“As a bishop, wherever I meet young people, I speak about the importance of remaining in school and rejecting child marriage.”
Bishop Mwakhwawa said the Church also faces financial constraints in sustaining programmes that promote children’s rights and welfare, noting that advocacy, community awareness and support for vulnerable children all require adequate resources.
“Advocacy requires resources. Community awareness requires resources. Supporting girls and boys to return to school also requires resources,” he said.
The bishop said the recently concluded Synod of the Archdiocese of Lilongwe identified child protection as a pastoral priority, urging parishes, catechists and lay leaders to strengthen awareness among parents, accompany young people in their faith and encourage children to remain in school.
He said ending child marriage would require sustained collaboration between government institutions, faith communities, civil society organisations and families.
The five-year programme will be implemented in 10 districts: Lilongwe, Dedza, Mzimba, Mzuzu, Mangochi, Machinga, Thyolo, Mulanje, Chikwawa and Nsanje, with partners aiming to protect girls’ rights, keep children in school and empower girls to reach their full potential.
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