Malawi

ActionAid has been active in Malawi since 1990. We now work in 14 districts to improve long-term access to food, water, healthcare and education.

Poverty is the root cause of almost all challenges facing the people of Malawi: small-scale farmers lack the initial investment to buy tools, seed and land; girls are often forced to abandon education and marry to support their families; women suffer because they are denied their economic rights.

Child sponsorship in Malawi

Mauledi Kataya (4 years old, pictured right) learns at the Ufulu Children's Centre in Beheria Village. The centre was built using ActionAid donations. Sponsoring children like Mauledi will help communities in getting clean water and transforming their lives.

ActionAid offers support and encouragement for girls to stay in education, working with local partners to provide mentors, houses for female teachers in rural areas and workshops for girls wishing to return to education. We work in adult literacy and partner with women’s forums to promote women’s rights within marriage.

Hunger and farming in Malawi

Financial stability has improved in recent years, with measures to tackle corruption being introduced, but the country remains one of the poorest in the world. Many families lack access to sufficient land and hunger is a widespread problem. Population growth and drought intensify this pressure.

ActionAid focuses on developing sustainable farming practices to help people – in particular women - build a brighter future. We support local savings loan groups and seed banks, and work with communities to lessen the impact of drought and flood.

We also support groups for people living with HIV and AIDS, fighting to improve access to anti-retroviral drugs and the nutrition necessary for these drugs to be effective.

How you can help

When you sponsor a child in Malawi, you'll be providing the resources for real, long-term change. You'll get two letters a year from the child you sponsor, and updates from the country programme to tell you how the money you are spending is changing the community your child lives in.