CRECCOM helps Tadala bounce back from school dropout to pursue Public Health at Malamulo College

Tadala Chimberenga now at Malamulo College of Health Sciences.

When she first dropped out of school, Tadala Chimberenga from Kasupe Community Day Secondary School (CDSS) in Thyolo thought her dreams had ended forever. Today, she sits in a lecture hall at Malamulo College of Health Sciences, studying for a Diploma in Public Health, determined to build a better life for herself, her child, and her family.

Tadala first sat for her Malawi School Certificate of Education (MSCE) exams in 2019 at Thekerani CDSS, but she did not pass. In 2020, she transferred to Kasupe CDSS to repeat her studies and started Form 3 with new hope. But before the year ended, her life took a painful turn.

“I got pregnant during the first term. When the man heard about it, he denied responsibility. He never supported me or the baby. I stayed home for two years, struggling to raise my child alone. Many nights I cried, wondering what would become of my life,” Tadala recalls softly.

Like many girls in rural Malawi, Tadala’s story is familiar — one where early pregnancy, poverty, and social pressure push bright students out of school. According to UNICEF, one in three girls in Malawi marries before the age of 18, and many never return to school after giving birth.

In 2023, Tadala’s life began to change when the Kasupe Mother Group, trained under CRECCOM’s Let Girls Learn II Project, decided to visit her home. The Mother Group members had received training in counselling and psychosocial support, community engagement, life skills facilitation, gender-responsive education, and case management for school dropouts.

Mothergroup at Kasupe CDSS posing with Tadala, and other 2 readmitted girls and a boy they are supporting at the school.

One of them was Mrs. Sellina Kholiyo, the group’s secretary. She remembers that visit vividly. “When we found Tadala, she looked hopeless. She told us she had accepted that her life was going to end like that. We sat with her and encouraged her, telling her that being a mother doesn’t mean the end of education. We told her she could still go back, learn, and succeed”.

After several counselling sessions with her, and the father, Tadala return to school. The Mother Group also helped find a way to care for her baby.

The Kasupe Mother Group, with support from CRECCOM, runs a Community-Based Childcare Centre (CBCC) near the school. The centre was established to support young mothers like Tadala so they can return to class while their children are safely cared for.

“When Tadala re-enrolled in 2023, we made sure her child was admitted to the CBCC. That way, as she went to school, her baby also went to school. We wanted to remove any burden that could stop her from learning,” explains Regina Goliati, the Mother Group Chairperson.

“It gave me peace of mind knowing that my child was safe. I focused on my studies, and the teachers encouraged me a lot. Sometimes I thought maybe I should become a teacher because of how they supported me. But my heart told me to work in health so I can help others,” Tadala said.

Through CRECCOM’s Youth Forums and Study Circles, Tadala began to rebuild her confidence. She joined her classmates in group discussions that focused on difficult subjects like mathematics and science.

“I was never good at maths,” she admits with a laugh. “But during the youth forums, CRECCOM facilitators encouraged us to form study circles. We helped each other understand topics I once thought were impossible.”

In 2024, Tadala sat for her MSCE exams and earned strong grades — 3 in Mathematics, 3 in Chemistry, 4 in Physics, 4 in Chichewa, 5 in English, 5 in Agriculture, and 5 in Biology, giving her a total of 24 points.

“When I saw my results, I knew I had done it. I applied to Malamulo College of Health Sciences to study Public Health, and I was selected. I am so thankful to CRECCOM, the Mother Group, and my teachers. Without their support, I would still be in the village, suffering,” she said.

TA Mbawera of the area congratulates her.

Tadala’s story is one of hundreds shaped by the Let Girls Learn II Project, a three-year initiative by CRECCOM with funding from Echidna Giving. The project operates in 36 Community Day Secondary Schools across Thyolo, Mulanje, Ntchisi, and Chitipa, empowering schools and communities to support girls’ education.

To date, the project has trained over 504 Mother Group members in counseling, gender-responsive education, and mentorship; supported 216 learners directly, providing mentorship and learning materials; reached over 4,500 youths with life skills education, study circles, and youth forums, linked CDSSs to TEVETA to promote technical and vocational skills, ensuring that young people not only pursue formal jobs but also develop lifelong skills for self-reliance.