Empowering Gender-Based Violence victims in Malawi

Girls and young women in Malawi are under continuous threat of abuse, rape, child labour and gender based violence etc..

It is my passion to “break the chain” where traditional culture and poverty enable the oppression and abuse of women, starting with young girls being forced into childhood marriage, prostitution, teenage pregnancies or simply a dependency on men who take advantage of the situation.

I want to go into schools and communities, raise awareness amongst girls and young women, empower and give them self-confidence to face these challenges. This will be done through half-day interactive programs with a mixture of discussions, sharing experiences and creative sessions to express the desire to live a free and happy life.

My name is Lucy Gondwe a.k.a. “NyaGo” and I am a well-known singer from the rural areas of North-Malawi, a GBV-activist and a single mother of 2 daughters. I have personally experienced child-labour, rape and gender-based violence and know the resulting trauma that has an enormous impact on my life . I have channeled my experiences and my vision on the problem into my music and this is part of my personal healing process.