Advancing Girls’ Education in Africa (Age Africa) has launched a programme to equip girls with essential financial management skills to change their mindsets about money and promote self-reliance.

Speaking on Saturday in Blantyre when at least 50 girls from the Southern Region underwent the training, Age Africa chief executive officer Concepcion Gaxiola said the initiative forms part of the organisation’s broader mission to empower girls beyond the classroom.

“We want to create a pathway for the girls not just in education but in every aspect of life so that they are better prepared to make sound financial decisions for themselves and their families,” she said.

Gaxiola said Age Africa will expand the programme to other parts of the country and integrate financial literacy into its community radio programmes to reach more girls across the country.

An Australian mentor and executive coach Cathy Dimarchos, who facilitated the session, trained the girls on budgeting, cash flow management and developing saving habits.

In an interview, she stressed the importance of shifting mindsets about women and money, encouraging participants to believe in their financial capability.

“We are showing them that once they change their mindset about what society has told them about money, they can gain freedom and achieve their goals,” said Dimarchos, who is also Age Africa board director.

She said the goal is to build a generation of financially independent women who can contribute meaningfully to their communities and the nation’s development.

One of the participants, Olivia Shumba from University of Malawi (Unima), said the training opened her eyes on how to save money.

The participants were drawn from Unima, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences and Phalombe Secondary School.

Age Africa supports girls in secondary schools and universities.