Adolescent girls and young women are at the highest risk of new HIV infections globally. Keeping girls in school is a proven protective factor against HIV. When girls stay in school, they have lower rates of early marriage, pregnancy and HIV.

In southern Africa, 80% of young women have not completed secondary school and in the rural, remote southern district of Mulanje in Malawi, educational attainment is even lower. Mawa Girls, the word ‘mawa’ meaning ‘tomorrow’ in Chichewa, builds upon GAIA’s existing secondary school bursary programme, by incorporating Sentebale’s model of psychosocial support through clubs and camps. Trained secondary school teachers from local communities called ‘Mawa Mentors’ will deliver the clubs and camps supporting 360 girls in this pilot year. The project is consistent with GAIA’s mission to support communities impacted by HIV and other communicable diseases, and Sentebale’s mission to provide psychosocial support to young people affected by HIV.