The Catholic University of Malawi has expressed a strong interest in partnering with the Forum for African Women Educationalists in Malawi (FAWEMA) under the FAWE/Mastercard Foundation initiative titled “Second Chance Pathways for Increased Access to Tertiary Education for Marginalized Young Women and Men.” Speaking during a meeting held on Tuesday, the Vice Chancellor of the Catholic University of Malawi, Professor Francis Moto, said the University is committed to supporting the implementation of the initiative, which aims to expand access to higher education for vulnerable students across the country. “As a university, this is a great opportunity to contribute to this important initiative by ensuring that vulnerable students gain access to tertiary education and become productive citizens,” said Moto. FAWEMA Executive Director, Wesley Chabwera, explained that the initiative seeks to bridge marginalized students into Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) programmes across six public universities and two private universities, namely the Catholic University of Malawi and the University of Livingstonia. “This initiative is not entirely new. We have implemented a similar programme in Uganda and have seen positive results, with graduates contributing meaningfully to national development. We believe the same model will succeed in Malawi,” said Chabwera. He further noted that selected students will receive comprehensive support, including transport from their homes to their respective universities, a monthly stipend, and a laptop, among other benefits. In addition, the programme will offer mentorship opportunities, exposure to the job market, and support for entrepreneurship to help graduates transition successfully into the workforce. Overall, the initiative aims to support 750 marginalized youth aged between 15 and 25, with an enrolment ratio of 80 percent female and 20 percent male, across the eight selected universities in Malawi.