By: Asiyatu James
On Tuesday 6th October 2026, our team at Eye of the Child, together with our friends from Mponela Police Station, visited When The Saints Safe Home in Mponela, Dowa.
It was not just a courtesy call. It was a visit of hope.
At Eye of the Child, our job is clear: We rescue and provide emergency shelter. We rescue girls escaping child marriage, child labour, child abuse, sexual exploitation, trafficking and life on the street. We take them in, we counsel them, we heal them and we trace their families.
But after a girl is healed, she faces a difficult question: Where will she safely continue her education?
She cannot go back to her old school. It is not safe, and the stigma is too heavy. That is the gap we are determined to close.
A Safe Haven Full of Hope:
We were warmly welcomed by the team at When The Saints. What we saw touched our hearts - a safe, clean and loving environment where vulnerable girls are given a second chance through education and care.
We also saw their strong collaboration with Mponela Police Victim Support Unit, who rescue and refer girls in danger.
Our Dream:
During our meeting, we shared a dream close to our hearts: Can our rescued and rehabilitated girls access further education at When The Saints School as part of their reintegration?
We do not see When The Saints as just another shelter. We see them as a strong EDUCATION FACILITY that can partner with Eye of the Child on the most important stage of reintegration through education.
They listened and welcomed the idea and they gave us the next step. They have asked us to write a formal letter requesting partnership, identifying the key areas we want to collaborate on. Once they receive it, they will present it to their management for approval.
This is where we are now. We have not yet been given the opportunity, but we are taking the first step in faith. We are writing that letter.
In that letter we will commit to what we do best: We will continue to rescue. We will share each girl's story and vulnerability. And we will continue to walk with her by providing school fees, uniforms, learning materials, counseling, medical and family support.
What we are asking When The Saints to do is to come in as our Education Partner - to provide a safe boarding and learning environment where our girls can learn without fear.
Our vision is simple and powerful: Mponela Police for Protection. Eye of the Child for Rescue & Shelter. When The Saints for Education & Reintegration.
Together, we can close the gap between rescue and prevention in Dowa.
We sincerely thank the Officer In-Charge of Mponela Police and the Director and staff of When The Saints for their open doors and open hearts.
To our friends and donors - your support keeps our rescue shelter open. A rescue today is a girl in a classroom tomorrow. We will keep you updated once we receive feedback.
If you would like to support a rescued girl to stay in safe school, please inbox us or donate via: http://eyeofthechildmw.org