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Meeting a young person whose academic future is on the brink of collapse breaks my heart. I've been in their shoes, and I understand the pain and despair that comes with the possibility of an interrupted education.
But before I share my story, let me introduce you to my motherland—Malawi.
My name is Samuel, and I come from Malawi, a small, landlocked country in Southeastern Africa. Fondly called "The Warm Heart of Africa", Malawi is renowned for its kind and hospitable people. It is also home to Lake Malawi, Africa's third-largest freshwater lake, celebrated for its breathtaking beauty and rich biodiversity.
Yet, beneath our people's warmth and contagious smiles lie daunting challenges.
According to the International Monetary Fund and UNICEF, Malawi ranks among the world's ten poorest countries. Poverty, low educational attainment, and limited opportunities for girls paint a stark reality:
• 40% of children under five are stunted due to malnutrition.
• 40% of girls are married by the age of 18.
• Only 4% of students graduate from high school.
• Diseases like HIV (with a prevalence of 7.7%, according to UNAIDS ), malaria, and tuberculosis remain rampant.
• Over 80% of Malawians live in rural areas, relying on subsistence farming. Climate change worsens this struggle, as unpredictable weather leads to droughts and crop failures.
This is the reality I grew up in, and I aim to change it.
Amid these challenges, my own journey reflects the struggles and resilience of many Malawian youth.
Here's my story.
In 2007, I was selected to Msalura Community Day Secondary School, a local public school in the lakeshore district of Salima, my home district. Then, tuition fees stood at K2,500 (approximately €2 per term) with my two elder brothers already in Form Four, nearing the completion of their secondary education, and supported solely by my mother's earnings from a small business selling second-hand clothes, it became evident that she couldn't afford to pay tuition for all three of us. Consequently, we agreed that I would postpone my schooling for a year and commence in 2008 after my brothers had completed their studies.
Even though I understood my mother's limited resources and harboured no resentment, it was disheartening to watch my intense desire to learn slowly fade under such circumstances. I vividly remember the humiliation of being the only student sent out of class by the school bursar for unpaid tuition. The shame and anger I felt in those moments were overwhelming.
My dreams were shattered when my mother's business collapsed, leaving our family in financial turmoil. This happened before my two brothers could even sit for their secondary school final exams.
Without the help of a nonprofit in my neighbourhood, I would have likely been trapped in a cycle of poverty—and my education would have ended there.
Even though I completed secondary school in 2010 with grades that would have allowed me to get into a university, I could not continue my education because of ongoing financial difficulties.
Two years later, thanks to my proficiency in English, I had the opportunity to volunteer through the UK government's International Citizen Service. This program paired young British volunteers with our Malawian team. For six months, we worked with a local NGO, helping rural communities adopt climate-smart agriculture techniques to address the impacts of climate change.
When they returned to the UK, their combined efforts raised money to pay for my university tuition. I am happy to have graduated from the University of Malawi in 2016 with a diploma in journalism.
In late 2016, after returning to my hometown of Salima, I continued volunteering with another organisation, as jobs were scarce. At this point, I saw many young people facing the same challenges that once threatened my own future—particularly the lack of funds for tuition.
My struggles inspired me to do what I could to help others. I began sharing the stories of needy students on my blog and Facebook page, appealing for donations to cover their tuition fees.
That first year, my call for help supported four students. It was a small start, but it reinforced my resolve to make a difference.
After receiving my diploma in 2016, I returned to the University of Malawi for a bachelor’s degree in communication, which I graduated from in 2019.
I am currently pursuing a master's degree in public affairs and political communication at Technological University Dublin, Ireland, as an Ireland Fellows Program scholar. This prestigious scholarship by the Irish Government recruits early-career professionals with demonstrated leadership potential, equipping them with advanced knowledge to drive social, economic, and developmental priorities in their home countries.
My own experience has fueled my determination to ensure that financial struggles do not hold young people back from their future.
Towards the end of 2017, friends and I decided to continue raising money for deserving young people by founding the Youth Empowerment and Support Initiative (YESI).
Since its inception, over two hundred students from Salima have received scholarships to help with tuition and other educational expenses.
More than twenty of these students have gone on to attend teachers' training institutes, technical colleges, and universities. They are now paving their own paths to success and inspiring others in their communities—just as I have inspired them.
Each student in our partner schools requires between K55,000 (€30) and K155,00 (€100) per term to cover tuition fees, depending on whether they attend Community Day Secondary schools or boarding schools.
I am deeply committed to ensuring these young people stay in school. It is painful to hear their aspirations fade as I talk to them, knowing how difficult it is for them to continue their education.
Join us in making a real impact on their futures. Your donation can make a tangible difference in their lives and keep their dreams alive.
You can learn more about our Initiative and contribute by visiting our website.
Follow us on Facebook:
Instagram: yesinitiativemw
Twitter (X): YESInitiativemw
I also encourage you to read this, my very first blog post that launched the Initiative in 2017:
Thank you for supporting education for Malawi's future. Your contribution is helping create lasting change for young people in our community.
Organizer
Samuel Malasa Banda
Organizer
County Dublin