Empowering local communities—Chisinkha child protection committee's proactive approach against child labor in Mulanje district, Malawi

In many regions, communities often rely heavily on government interventions to tackle pressing issues like child labour. However, the Chisinkha Child Protection Committee (CPC) also known as Community Child Labour Committee (CCLC) in Mulanje District, under the leadership of Group Village Head (GVH) Chisinkha and Traditional Authority Mabuka, has chosen to take a more active role on fighting this phenomenon at the community level. This proactive approach aims to counter child labour practices prevalent in local tea estates and facilitate educational continuity for vulnerable children.

Formed under the Accelerating Action for the Elimination of Child Labour (ACCEL) project, the Chisinkha CPC comprises fifteen members from six villages under the jurisdiction of GVH Chisinkha. To empower these members, the Malawi Congress of Trade Unions (MCTU), conducted a specialized capacity-building seminar on the implementation of labour laws, policies and social dialogue. Equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills, the committee set out to identify and aid children vulnerable to labour exploitation.

A Case in Point: Charles Alick

Among those positively impacted by the committee's efforts is Charles Alick, an orphan who lost both parents while in standard eight. Faced with extreme poverty and living with his grandmother, who could scarcely provide for daily needs, let alone educational materials, Alick’s commitment to education waned until he eventually dropped out. Thanks to the diligence of the Chisinkha CPC, Alick's case was promptly addressed. His situation, along with that of six other children facing similar hardships, was discussed in one of the committee's regular fortnightly meetings.

To mobilize support, the committee established a social media group on WhatsApp, comprising successful individuals from the community who serve as role models for young people. Through this platform, financial and material contributions were collected to aid the less privileged children. As a result, Alick was able to resume his education and sat for the Malawi School Certificate of Education (MSCE) examinations at Misanjo Community Day Secondary School in 2023.

Apart from mobilizing resources to help needy students, we also use the page to reach out to the communities with messages about child labour prevention. We are doing this because nowadays most people are embracing technology and modern ways of communication such as WhatsApp."

Piringu, Committee Member

“We discussed the boy’s problem and agreed, as a committee, to help him out. This meant using our own resources to bring him back to school. As a committee, we don’t think government can solve every problem we face. We try to solve some problems by ourselves,” he said.
“Apart from mobilizing resources to help needy students, we also use the page to reach out to the communities with messages about child labour prevention. We are doing this because nowadays most people are embracing technology and modern ways of communication such as WhatsApp,” said Piringu.

Beyond Individual Cases

Besides attending to cases like Alick’s, the committee also undertakes broader community sensitization campaigns about the dangers of child labor in smallholder tea plantations. They are actively involved in tracking and readmitting children who have dropped out of school and providing them with financial support.

“We’ve representatives in the committee from all corners of our catchment area with adequate representation of women. Our members police and report on various initiatives being implemented in the six villages about fighting child labour in smallholder tea plantations,” Piringu, Committee Member explained.

Today, the Chisinkha CPC is an example to what community-driven initiatives can achieve. Their comprehensive approach includes not only rescuing children from immediate threats but also equipping the community with the knowledge and resources needed to sustain these efforts long-term.

Through collaboration between local communities, trade unions, and international organizations, the Chisinkha CPC exemplifies how collective responsibility can significantly improve the lives of vulnerable children. Their model serves as an example for other communities facing similar challenges, emphasizing the critical role that localized efforts can play in achieving broader social goals.