15/05/2026
Meet female chief Katchera T/A Njewa, Filipina Felias a passionate female chief championing the protection of adolescent girls and young women in her community.
Through the Safe Space Mentorship Program under the TEENS Project, she has become a strong voice against child marriage, proving that meaningful change in rural Malawi begins when chiefs stand alongside girls. Her leadership is helping transform harmful norms into opportunities for girls to stay in school, speak out, and protect their futures. In many rural communities, chiefs remain the custodians of culture, beliefs, and community values, making their involvement essential in the fight to end child marriage.
Recognizing this, Girls Empowerment Network has intentionally worked to bridge the gap between adolescent girls and traditional leaders by creating safe platforms for dialogue, mentorship, advocacy, and collective action. This connection has strengthened trust within communities and empowered girls to confidently engage with leaders on issues affecting their lives, including child marriage, teen pregnancy, and gender-based violence.
GENET’s approach of working hand in hand with traditional leaders is helping build communities where girls are valued, safeguarded, and given the opportunity to thrive beyond harmful cultural practices.
