Sosten Gwengwe and his wife at Alice Gwengwe Foundation Girls’ Secondary School

LILONGWE, Malawi - Sept. 4, 2014 - PRLog -- Give a girl an education and introduce her properly into the world, and ten to one but she has the means of settling well, without further expense to anybody. – Jane Austen

I spent the better part of today at Alice Gwengwe Foundation Girls’ Secondary School on invitation from Honorable Sosten Gwengwe, former MP and Cabinet Minister, and his lovely wife.

It was a great day.
Juliana Lunguzi


I did not prepare a speech beforehand, I was confident that having gone through these steps (many graduations since my secondary school one); just looking at the girls would make me re-live my own graduations and hence find something useful to share. And I was right – the girls’ enthusiasm and positive outlook was all I needed.

In the end, mine was not a speech per se, but rather a girl-to-girl down-to-earth talk, sharing notes, so to speak.

I encouraged the girls, now going into the world as adults, to set high standards for themselves and aim big.  I reminded them that life is a promise, they must fulfill it.

I dared the girls that their limit is only their imagination.  Just like Bill Gates they should think of attaining and inventing what today is said (and believed) to be impossible. I have trust they can do it and this is what Malawi needs today. Innovation, innovation and more innovation.

I thanked parents for sacrificing, so that the girls could go to a good school, I reinvigorated them to continue doing so and always give the girls a chance.

Dedza, just like most districts in Malawi, has many, too many in my view, negative socio-economic indicators.

In this regard, I advised the girls that it is our collective duty to turn the negative socio-economic indicators around. No-one but else us (Malawians) will do it for Malawi. I also advised the girls to resist and refuse the temptations of today for a better and prosperous tomorrow.

And I concluded by promising the girls that I will always available to advise or to provide guidance to them should they need advice or help.

I also acknowledged Honourable Sosten and Mrs. Gwengwe for honouring me as the Guest of Honour on the occasion of the Form Four girls’ graduation. This co-existence, despite differing in political persuasions, is the enduring gift we can give to the youths of Malawi.

I was humbled to hear Honourable Gwengwe say:

   As for Honourable Juliana Lunguzi, all I can say is ‘Watch this space, she is going places!’

This is all about me and the girls!
Now it is your turn!

I want to use this opportunity to URGE you to do EVEN more for the girl child:

   1) IF you have sisters, nieces, or whatever; please support them like my lovely brothers supported and urged me and my sisters towards our goals. You know what? To date, my brothers are still my mentors and I am 100% sure that late Dad is proud, very proud of them.

   2) IF you have daughters, nieces etc. please give them the same encouragement (or even more) like you give to your sons, nephews etc. I can assure you that Jane Austen was right in saying: Give a girl an education and introduce her properly into the world, and ten to one but she has the means of settling well, without further expense to anybody.

   3) IF you have female workmates or friends or neighbours or relatives, urge them – too – to set high goals and help them to achieve those ambitious goals.

The point is: 52% of Malawians are women.  Now, if in our development endeavours, we leave out women or leave them behind, we are ignoring the majority – the 52%.

And IF we do this, can we really expect Malawi to develop?

I have grave doubts because no country, no society and no community ever developed by marginalizing the majority.

Please ponder this and make uplifting womenfolk one of your life’s objective. I can assure you that the outcome will be a win-win story for both Malawi and the whole wide world.