The Girls Get Equal – Zotheka project is one of the child protection projects implemented by Point of Progress. By addressing the underlying causes of teen pregnancy and child marriage, the project helps to advance equality for females. Children, especially girls, parents, local leaders, initiators, and religious leaders are some of the primary targets of this project as they are all involved in it. The project has good working relationship with important stakeholders involved in child protection, including the social welfare, police, health, and education sectors.
In order to achieve long-term and sustainable solutions to ending child marriages and supporting girls to deter teen pregnancies, Point of Progress facilitates the revamping and strengthening of Community Child Protection Committees, as well as the establishment of school-based Champion of Change (CoC) clubs and Parenting Circles as community-based child protection mechanisms.
Furthermore, the project engages target communities on various legal and policy tools to take an active role in tackling issues related to Child Early and Forced Marriages (CEFM). With support from NORAD through Plan International, the project is currently being carried out in three districts of Malawi, namely Mulanje, Phalombe, and Lilongwe.