A Club of Her Own

Auntie Profile: Edna Mwale

The [Project Luangwa] Girl’s Club was like my second home to me, and the Auntie who was coaching us was like a mother to me. The most important hero in my life is Auntie Fwilane, who has been always there for me whenever I want to talk to somebody, or I want to get advice from someone. Those who like to help others to prosper are my heroes.

O.K., to say the truth, the Girls Club has really contributed a lot to who I am today. I was one person who didn’t know how to cooperate with others, one person who was not open to talk about any issue that concerns me. But at the Girls Club, I learnt a lot. I am a free person to talk to; I can advise somebody; and I can share my experience in life because of the Girls Club.

I have just completed my secondary education. And the Girls Club has been always the thing that pushed me forward. It has been something that has always kept me busy. Because being in a society whereby you don’t have anything to do, you can end up doing something which is bad. And moreover, I come from a community whereby there are a lot of early marriages, teenage pregnancies, and people dropping out from school.

What inspired me to start up a Girl’s Club was the lesson we learned about giving back to the community. It is a great achievement for me to start up this Girls Club. I really feel like I have a long way to go, but at least I have started something that will contribute to the community and the world at large.

What I would like to see, I would say both professional and personal. In the personal field, I would like to have a strong Girls Club. And also the girls I am teaching to also have their own Girls Clubs, like in 5 years to come. And then professional, I would LOVE to see myself holding a degree in nursing, and also working, earning my own money so that I can also help the Girls Club—because it is just something which always gives me hope, always gives me strength to push forward in life whatever I want to do.

Thank you,

Edna Mwale