A section of attendees at St. Joseph TTC
The Legal Aid Bureau (LAB), Malawi Human Rights Commission (MHRC), and the Office of the Ombudsman (OoO) this week held sensitization meetings with students at Lilongwe Teachers’ Training College (TTC) and St. Joseph’s TTC in Dedza, equipping future teachers with vital knowledge on human rights, legal processes, and public accountability.
On Monday, the three constitutional bodies met students at Lilongwe TTC, explaining their mandates, services, and how Malawians can access support when facing legal or human rights challenges. On Tuesday, the institutions held a similar session at St. Joseph’s TTC, where hundreds of enthusiastic female students engaged actively with the facilitators.
The meetings were designed to ensure that trainee teachers, who will soon be responsible for thousands of learners, understand how key governance and justice institutions operate and how they can guide the public in accessing these services.
Speaking at both institutions, Principal Legal Aid Advocate Chikondi Kambuwa emphasized that LAB was established to assist vulnerable people who cannot afford private legal representation.
“When you are suspected of committing a crime, you have the right to tell the Court that you need a lawyer. Proceedings cannot continue until legal representation is available. If you cannot afford to hire a lawyer, you can apply for legal aid,” she explained.
Kambuwa also highlighted that LAB provides assistance in both criminal and civil cases, offers legal advice, conducts public legal education, and has offices in nearly every district in the country.
The sessions were well received by the training colleges, as Deputy Principal of St. Joseph’s TTC, Collen Chilikutali, described the initiative as timely and impactful.
“We teach our students about inclusive education and the rights of vulnerable people. This meeting reinforces what they learn in class because it touches on the same themes,” he said.
Students had the opportunity to ask questions on the roles of LAB, MHRC, and OoO, leading to lively discussions that connected the institutions’ mandates to everyday community issues.
One Lilongwe TTC student, Innocent Nyirenda, highlighted that the interactions were insightful and beneficial, noting that he intends to share the information further using flyers and notes provided during the session.
LAB was represented by Principal Legal Aid Advocate Chikondi Kambuwa, Public Relations Officer John Namalenga Jnr, Legal Aid Officer Rhea Kalua, and Assistant Legal Aid Officer Jean Sharon Banda.
The sessions, which reached more than 1,000 students, were supported through the European Union’s Chilungamo Programme 2 Awareness Pool Fund.
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