Chitetezo Malawi

The recent end of project dissemination event held by Chitetezo project at the Malawi University of Applied Sciences (MUBAS) on Wednesday, 2nd April, 2025 marks a significant step towards its commitment to reduce frequency of road traffic injuries and subsequent deaths and injuries among young people in Malawi.

The dissemination meeting was designed to share the initial and emerging findings with the public as the MRC/FCDO Funded project in collaboration with MUBAS, KUHES, University of Stirling, the Glasgow School of Art, University of Edinburgh and Jacaranda School of Orphans approaches its final implementation phases.

The event, which was facilitated by the project’s investigators, Lusizi Kambalame from MUBAS, Professor Edward Duncan from the University of Stirling, Scotland, focused on providing an insightful understanding of how the overall project was executed and also offering a profound glimpse of its preliminary findings to its stakeholders and the general public.

Among other things, the investigators highlighted more on how they induced multifaceted interventions such as right-based youth work, arts-mediated activities and intergenerational approaches to unveil community-led resolutions aimed at improving road safety behavior, minimizing traffic threats and road infrastructural renovations.

During the event, the investigators also hinted that strong enforcement of road safety laws, extension of roads, incorporation of pedestrian walk-ways, constant maintenance of road signs, re-alignment and proper placement of zebra crossings, road renovations especially those with potholes and administration of road safety enforcers are some of the key measures that can be put in place to spearhead an anticipated change and impact in a fight against traffic collisions and its subsequent deaths.

In Particular, the study has established that 11% of young people have the occurrence of road traffic accidents, 64 % have directly witnessed road traffic incidents and 11% have been involved in them. Nevertheless, the study has also revealed that poor road infrastructures, road environments and driver behavior play an imperative role in inducing fear, anxiety and stress in regards to road safety among the young people.

Aside from disseminating the emerging findings, the It investigators also highlighted how the study has successfully raised awareness of positive road safety behaviors among pupils, enlarged adolescent’s capability to engage in decision making with adults, raise local government awareness on road infrastructure problems and potential solutions so as to strengthen its resilience towards meaningful reduction of mortality rate in the country.

As part of strengthen its unwavering commitment and strides towards the improvement of adolescent road safety and reduction of road traffic collision, Chitetezo Project has also advocated for adaptation of multisectoral approaches and informed road safety policy changes if the escalation of road-safety related deaths are to minimized.

In attendance, stakeholders such the Malawi Police Services (MPS), The Department of Roads Traffics Safety Services (DRTSS), Malawi University of Science and Technology (MUST), District Youth Office (DYO), Education authorities and other members of the academia provided diverse insights on gaps, further considerations and key areas of focus if efforts on reduced road safety-related deaths are to be deliver desirable outputs that cements safer road usage in Malawi.

Jointly funded by UK’s Medical Research Centre (MRC) and the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), the project was implemented in Blantyre urban targeting young people from 10 primary schools of Bangwe Catholic, Nkolokoti, Maria Goretti, Kanjeza, CI, Namiwawa, Ndirande Makata, HHI, Jacaranda and Chichiri.

For further Info: Read more on https://saferoadsafrica.com/projects/chitetetzo-designed-to-decrease-the-frequency-of-road-traffic-collisions/

THE THIRD CHITETEZO STAKEHOLDER’S ENGAGEMENT MEETING.

As block three heads towards the end, the young people from Henry Henderson Institute (HHI), Makata, Namiwawa and Catholic institute (CI) primary schools presented their murals to the Mayor of Blantyre city, counsellors, the District education manager (DEM), representatives from the police and Road traffic directorate, the PEA, head teachers, teachers and several officials from non-governmental organisations who graced the event.

A Gallery walk took place where the invited guests had a chance to observe the murals at a closer range and engage with the young people. During the Gallery walk, observations were made and questions were asked, a process that created dialogue between the young people and the stakeholders.

The young people raised their issues and proposed a way forward. Those in authority were questioned and held accountable. When the question “what next?” in terms of Road safety, a call to community action was made. It was emphasized that everyone has a role to play when it comes to road safety. So much can come from a child’s perspective.

This research is jointly funded by the UK Medical Research Council (MRC) and the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) under the MRC/FCDO Concordat agreement, together with the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC)

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This research is jointly funded by the UK Medical Research Council (MRC) and the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) under the MRC/FCDO Concordat agreement, together with the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC)

We are excited about the 3rd Chitetezo stakeholder engagement session.

The young people are ready.
The murals are ready.
The facilitators are ready.
The team is ready.

Are the leaders ready to listen to the voices of the adolescents?

This research is jointly funded by the UK Medical Research Council (MRC) and the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) under the MRC/FCDO Concordat agreement, together with the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC)

Chitetezo Intervention is a collaborative initiative involving several universities, including the Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, the University of Stirling, the University of Edinburgh, and the Glasgow School of Art.

The intervention is delivered in three phases. The first phase included two schools: Jacaranda Foundation and Chichiri Primary School. The second phase expanded to four schools: Bangwe Catholic, Nkolokoti Primary School, St. Maria Goretti, and Kanjedza FP School. The third and current phase, now concluding, also involves four schools: Henry Henderson Institute (HHI) Primary School, Makata Primary School, Namiwawa Primary School – Dharap, and Catholic Institute (CI) Primary School.

At the end of each phase, participating students present their murals to stakeholders. The goal is to assess whether the Chitetezo model can empower young people to advocate for road safety infrastructure improvements in their communities.

This research is jointly funded by the UK Medical Research Council (MRC) and the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) under the MRC/FCDO Concordat agreement, together with the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC)

Chitetezo is a multifaceted intervention which aims to reduce the frequency of road traffic collisions and subsequent deaths and injuries among adolescents in Blantyre. Chitetezo was co-developed during the Safe Africa Research Partnership Award (funded by MRC-AHRC) collaboration between Scotland and Malawi between November 2018 and July 2019.

With the assistance of 5 peer facilitators, Chitetezo is working with 10 primary schools in Blantyre (8 young people in each school) to develop murals that depict road challenges and possible solutions through the child’s eyes.

The young people then use these large, but mobile, art works as an amplification mechanism to engage first with pupils in their own school to improve road safety behavior, and then with civic society (Local and National Government agencies) to lobby for specific local road infrastructural improvements.