Ngwira who is the founder of Extra Mile Development foundation organized the essay writing competition in order to encourage the students improve their writing skills as they prepare to sit for Primary Schools Leaving Certificate Examination  (PSLCE).

“We decided to indulge these students in this competition to increase awareness on importance of education and personal hygiene as they are growing up,” Ngwira said.

Since the school is in the remote area in Mzuzu, Ngwira explained that there is an increase in dropping out in the area. In addition, most students do not work hard enough to be selected into government school.

As a University student, Ngwira thought of encouraging the students by giving them various tests to motivate them.

The learners, who passed the written essay, were given various gifts in form of money and other school items.

She later encouraged the girls to further their studies and not rush into early marriages as it is currently the case in this area.

Only two students were selected to the Community Day Secondary School in the 2018 academic year, some just passed, while the rest either got married or dropped out.

Co-founder of the group, a third year student at Chancellor College, Joshua Nkhata said, the group also encouraged the learners to persevere despite challenges they are facing at home.

“We learnt from them the challenges they are facing pertaining to learning and studies at home. We tried to help them solve these problems by indulging the school authorities on the possible ways, “Nkhata explained.

This is an ongoing process for the learners because the University students plan to monitor their performance in order to encourage them from time to time.