Ending Violence Against Children Campaign Lives On.

Every culture is defined by its traditions. Children learn these traditions from a young age and they ensure that they are passed down through generations and help to unify communities and drive the development agenda.

While cultural practices strengthen identity and promote unity, some traditions in Malawi have put children at risk. These harmful practices have led to school dropouts, the spread of disease, child marriages, and the violation of children's rights.

One culture where this has been a major challenge is among the Maseko Ngoni people in Ntcheu district. Although some negative practices have faded in modern times, certain risky initiation rites have persisted. This has been the case because these rites have been performed inconsistently without a standardized curriculum to teach safe and positive values.

To create a unified and safer approach to these initiation ceremonies, World Vision Malawi partnered with Paramount Chief Inkosi Ya Makosi Gomani V in 2023. Their mission was to review the practices of the Maseko Ngoni and ensure the rites that protect children from harm, promote education, end child marriages, and preserve the positive aspects of Ngoni culture are the only ones that are passed from generation to generations.

Speaking at the launch of the new guidebook, The New Chinamwali Curriculum Initiation Rites of the Ngoni People, Paramount Chief Gomani V stated that cultural practices, especially initiation rites, must safeguard children.

“A major challenge we face is that many girls and boys drop out of school to get married. Knowing that a person goes through different phases in life, we saw that the initiation phase needed review and establish a standardized syllabus for these rites,” Says Inkosi Yamakosi Gomani V.

Inkosi Ya Makosi Gomani V, who also served as an ambassador for World Vision’s "It Takes Malawi to End Child Marriages Campaign," in 2018 added that the time has come for complete transparency in what is taught during these ceremonies.

In his remarks, World Vision Malawi National Director Francis Dube expressed his delight that the New Chinamwali curriculum had been successfully developed and adopted by the Maseko Ngoni. Dube further thanked the Ministry of Gender and Social Protection and Inkosi Ya Makosi Gomani V for their commitment to establishing this new standard.

“This new initiation rites curriculum is a bridge that will help us celebrate our culture and heritage while simultaneously protecting the rights of children. It has been proven that culture is not static and that it can grow and reform, and promote positive development.” Says Dube.

The development of the new curriculum, which began in 2023, involved extensive consultation with stakeholders like traditional leaders, community members, Ntcheu District Council, District Education Office, District Health Office, Judiciary, District Social Welfare Office, Police ,  Gender Office and other Non-Governmental Organisations such as Youth Net and Counselling (YONECO).The newly launched standard for initiation rites of Maseko Ngoni People is expected to be adopted by all Maseko Ngoni communities and be taught  when children undergo initiation , and all rite leaders are expected to follow it closely.

The official launch of the initiation curriculum, which was graced by the President of the Republic of Malawi, Dr. Lazarus Chakwera, and the First Lady, Madame Monica Chakwera, took place in Ntcheu during the 2025 Umhlangano Cultural Festival, an annual celebration for the Maseko Ngoni.