"A YOUNG HERO IN MALAWI"

 

  BY MATILDA PHIRI

Africa has many victims who are denied equal rights in society. In some societies, girls also experience social exclusion when it comes to making important decisions. In my country, Malawian girls, street children, and albinos face numerous challenges every day. As a young writer and a woman, it is my responsibility to educate people about equality as human beings. Whatever a man can do, a woman can do as well. I focus my writing on the plight of street kids, young women, and albinos. I write short stories in newspapers about them. Additionally, I have published an award-winning novel about a young girl who was once a street child. She overcame her struggles and succeeded in life, empowering girls to love education, be independent, and contribute to the development of the country.

In Malawi, we have a significant problem where some people believe that killing albinos will make them wealthy. This issue requires extensive civic education, which I also write about. However, writing alone cannot change people's mindsets, especially for villagers who need personal visits to be educated on these issues. They need viable income-generating activities to survive and not rely on unscrupulous businesses. Tougher laws should also be in place to deter such inhumane behavior.

Having witnessed the impact of HIV/AIDS in our society, including the deaths of friends, neighbors, and relatives, I believe in telling stories that can change the lives of young girls still in school, encouraging them to abstain from premarital sexual intercourse. I have lost friends who died young due to AIDS. These friends were active and could have contributed to our country's development, but they are no longer with us. Girls need to be informed and take precautions to avoid contracting the disease. It is the duty of all of us reading this blog article to save lives every day for a better world.

There are numerous cases of school dropouts among girls, starting from primary and secondary school. Many girls drop out due to early marriages, unwanted pregnancies, and they become victims of HIV, which is highly unfortunate. Young people account for 50% of new HIV infections in Malawi, with higher prevalence among certain young populations, such as 15-17-year-olds. According to UNAIDS Data of 2017, 3.6% of young women and 2.5% of young men (aged 15-24) are living with HIV in Malawi. The survey also found that young people's knowledge of HIV prevention is low, with only 41% of women being aware. This is not a good sign, and as a country, we are heading towards destruction. We need proper civic education and HIV awareness campaigns. As a writer, I strive to influence and educate young people through my short stories and poems set in Malawi, teaching them how to prevent HIV and how education can transform their lives. It is crucial to create videos based on these stories for youths who cannot read or are not in school, allowing them to watch and understand. This is vital as it contributes to the development of healthy young people who will become productive contributors to the country's economic development.

Matilda Phiri

Furthermore, I consider myself a person of influence and inspiration among young girls by promoting storytelling through writing to help them achieve their goals. Girls can relate to my articles, and they aspire to be positive influences in society themselves. My books inspire young girls in primary schools to define their career goals from a young age and to embrace education. I love telling stories about other successful young people who have ventured into entrepreneurship and other profitable endeavors, becoming independent. Through this, I hope to contribute to breaking the cycle of dependence on men, which is deeply rooted in our society and has caused immeasurable suffering and abuse among young girls. Girls can be independent too. I make money through my writing, publishing stories in newspapers, selling books, operating an office stationery business, and participating in various writing competitions. This serves as an inspiration to my fellow girls to be independent like me.

In conclusion, I believe in the power of one individual to change the world. If anyone can be that one person, our world and country will develop. Malawi has seen a reduction in the killings of albinos due to contributions from various organizations addressing the issue. If more people, organizations, and youths like myself unite to fight against inequalities, abuses, and social exclusions faced by these victims, we will have a promising tomorrow. I also envision girls fighting against HIV through this unity, creating a lasting impact among them. Therefore, I nominate myself, Matilda Phiri, as a young hero in my country, Malawi. Writers have a great impact on society; we have a voice, and people believe in what is written in books. Writers are changing lives every day.

Matilda Phiri donating her books at Mbayani Primary school (New Library) in Blantyre, Malawi.