Meet VSO expert – Charity Mwaba
Solving problems like child marriage and early pregnancy in rural communities around the world requires a very different approach. So, when her sister Regina was married at just 15, VSO expert Charity Mwaba was there to help her and all the young girls in her community.
She taught them about issues hidden by cultural taboos – family planning and the risks of childhood pregnancy. Charity trains girls on their rights as children and the illegality of child marriage. Girls receive accurate and factual information and parents are engaged to talk with their children on these issues.
Charity and other VSO experts train and mentor community leaders, parents, guardians, adolescents and youth, to improve young people's sexual and reproductive health. Training like this saves thousands of girls being forced into poverty with little control over their own lives.
About VSO Ireland
Sending aid to vulnerable communities is important, but lasting change is better. VSO Ireland builds skills, knowledge and know-how together with some of the world’s most marginalised people.
VSO experts give girls an equal chance
With these extra education and life skills, girls can build independent and dignified lives. This kind of long-lasting change shows why VSO Ireland does things differently, supporting education, health and livelihood experts like Charity in communities around the world.