TNM scholarships for needy girls

Mobile phone company, TNM, has launched a four -year scholarship fund for underprivileged secondary school girls in the country.

TNM head of Blantyre region, David Nyirenda, said the sponsorship was the fulfillment of TNM’s commitment to promote access to quality basic education in the country.

He said the mobile phone company will spend K7 million annually in scholarships to 20 students across the country and that the fund which will be administered by Advancing Girl’s Education in Africa (Age Africa), an organisations that works to help accelerate access to education for the underprivileged girls.

“Through the initiative, TNM is keeping its promises of contributing towards the girl child education. This will ensure that the girl child, irrespective of her background, is given access to education,” said Nyirenda.

He said being a Malawian company; TNM wants to see to it that girls’ access to basic quality education is achieved without impediment.

Nyirenda said lack of financial support has remained a great challenge for most girls to complete education, resulting into early marriages.

The scholarship covers school fees, uniforms, school supplies, books as well as other consumable needs at boarding schools.

Age Africa country director, Gertrude Kabwazi, commended TNM for showing passion in promoting education among girls.

“Age Africa’s vision is to see all girls in Africa having equal access to education. What TNM has done today is not providing Malawian girls with education but also empowering them economically and shaping them into responsible citizens who will contribute positively to the socio-economic development of the country,” she said.

Kabwazi said the support from TNM was the first for the organisation to receive locally.

TNM also supports 20 other students from 11 public secondary schools across Malawi and another 20 secondary school girls with visual disabilities through payment of tuition fees and upkeep allowances.