Youth-led community projects in the mountains of Livingstonia, Malawi

Details

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  Description

  Welcome!
  
  We are a youth-led community foundation based in the rural Livingstonia Mountains of Rumphi district, northern Malawi, near the eastern border of Nyika National Park. Founded on November 19, 2020, we are dedicated to empowering local communities through sustainable development and grassroots-driven initiatives.
  
  Our work is deeply rooted in community engagement, sustainable agriculture, and social impact projects. We believe in local solutions for local challenges, ensuring that all our efforts uplift and strengthen rural communities in a way that is both sustainable and impactful.
  
  What is a Community Foundation?
  A community foundation is a locally-driven organization that pools resources—both financial and in-kind—to support community-led development projects. Through collaboration with local stakeholders, we mobilize resources, invest in sustainable initiatives, and empower communities to drive long-term social change.
  
  How Volunteers Can Contribute
  As we expand our youth-led community foundation, volunteers play a key role in helping us grow and strengthen our initiatives. You can contribute in various ways, including:
  ✅ Community Engagement – Working closely with residents to understand their needs and priorities.
  ✅ Capacity Building – Assisting in governance, strategic planning, and fundraising efforts.
  ✅ Project Implementation – Helping design and execute impactful programs.
  ✅ Partnership Development – Collaborating with local organizations and stakeholders.
  ✅ Storytelling & Documentation – Capturing our journey through photography, videography, and reporting.
  
  Our Key Projects
  1. Elderly Companionship Program
  Support and engage with elderly community members through:
  ✔️ Home visits & social interactions
  ✔️ Assisting with daily household tasks
  ✔️ Organizing recreational activities
  
  2. Menstrual Hygiene Support for Adolescent Girls
  Empower girls in schools by:
  ✔️ Conducting workshops on menstrual health
  ✔️ Distributing reusable sanitary pads and hygiene kits
  ✔️ Promoting reproductive health education
  
  3. Sustainable Agriculture & Food Security
  Help us promote eco-friendly and sustainable farming practices:
  ✔️ Establishing and maintaining community gardens
  ✔️ Training locals in organic farming, agroforestry & permaculture
  ✔️ Supporting crop diversification and conservation agriculture
  ✔️ Assisting with animal farming initiatives
  
  4. Office Work, Data Collection & Analysis
  Support our administrative and research efforts by:
  ✔️ Assisting with project planning and coordination
  ✔️ Collecting and analyzing data for community programs
  ✔️ Helping with report writing & impact documentation
  
  5. Community Education & Skills Development
  Help us empower youth and adults through education:
  ✔️ Organizing workshops on health, entrepreneurship & life skills
  ✔️ Providing vocational training (e.g., financial literacy, business management)
  ✔️ Hosting awareness campaigns on social and environmental issues
  
  6. Youth & Women Empowerment for Poverty Reduction
  Work with us to create economic opportunities by:
  ✔️ Establishing small businesses for youth & women
  ✔️ Providing entrepreneurship & financial training
  ✔️ Supporting income-generating activities (e.g., farming, handicrafts, micro-enterprises)
  ✔️ Facilitating access to microfinance and savings groups
  
  Our Core Values
  🌟 Determination | ❤️ Passion | 💪 Hard Work | 🎯 Results | 🔥 Self-Motivation | 🤝 Team Spirit | 🔄 Reciprocity | ✅ Transparency | 📊 Accountability
  
  Strategic Goals & Focus Areas
  🎯 Sustainable Development Goals (Agenda 2030)
  🎯 Malawi Vision 2063
  🎯 Malawi Growth and Development Strategies (MGDS III)
  
  Our Key Strategies
  🌱 Climate Action & Sustainable Agriculture – Training communities in environmentally friendly farming and biodiversity conservation.
  💧 Water, Sanitation & Health – Improving access to clean water and sanitation while strengthening local health services.
  👩‍👩‍👧‍👦 Youth & Women Empowerment – Promoting education, business skills, and gender equality to combat poverty and early marriages.
  
  Fundraising & Volunteer Support
  As a growing community foundation, we rely on both local and international partnerships to sustain and expand our impact. Volunteers help us by:
  💰 Organizing local & international fundraising campaigns
  📑 Writing grant proposals
  📢 Mobilizing resources & awareness
  
  Become an Ambassador! 🌍
  Would you like to support our work beyond volunteering? You can become an ambassador for our mission by:
  🔹 Spreading awareness about our initiatives
  🔹 Engaging with your network to rally support
  🔹 Helping us connect with donors and like-minded organizations
  
  Join Us! 🌟
  Are you ready to make a meaningful impact while experiencing the beauty of rural Malawi? Apply now and be part of a transformational journey with Rise for Phoka!
  
  We look forward to welcoming you! 😊🌿

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Charity Work

  Art Projects

  Language practice

  Help with Eco Projects

  Elderly Companionship

  Teaching

  Gardening

  DIY and building projects

  Animal Care

  Farmstay help

  Babysitting and creative play

  Creating/ Cooking family meals

  Help around the house

  Hospitality/Tourism

  General Maintenance

  Help with Computers/ Internet
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  Interests

  

  Movies & TV

  

  Self development

  

  Events & social

  

  Politics / Social justice

  

  Technology

  

  Videography

  

  Sustainability

  

  Culture

  

  Farming

  

  Charity work

  

  Plant care

  

  DIY & crafts

  

  Books

  

  Blogging

  

  Cooking & food

  

  Gardening

  

  Photography

  

  Animals

  

  Nature

  

  Team sports

  

  Yoga / Wellness

  

  Outdoor activities

  

  Mountain

  

  Dancing

  

  Beach

  

  Camping

  

  Fitness

  

  Hiking
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  UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

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  What's this?
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  It will be an unforgettable experience - you will get to engage in Malawian life, learn more about the culture, share your knowledge and have meaningful interactions with the locals.
  You will be assisting a small grassroots organisation which is run entirely by volunteers, sources funds from internal contributions, tree nursery sales and receives no international funding. Your time and help will make a difference to some of the poorest people in Malawi.
  Volunteering can be a great way to build confidence, develop personally, learn new skills or even just develop old ones. It looks good on your CV (resume) and may give you something interesting to talk about in a job interview.
  
  VOLUNTEER PROGRAMMES
  When you apply to volunteer with our project we will do our best to tailor a program which is suitable to your skills and the needs of the organization. Please let us know before you arrive if you have any specific skills or areas of interest so we can plan activities accordingly.
  When you arrive in Livingstonia, Rumphi, you will be met by a member of the our project team and taken to your accommodation to get settled. We can also help you with other tasks such as buying a local SIM (for internet data, texts and calls) or any other essentials you may need.
  The next (weekday) morning, you will be taken to our project’s office where you will be able to meet other members and volunteers. You will be given a chance to learn more about our project and to introduce yourself to the team. Together we will create a programme which can make best use of your skills, interests and time.
  Volunteers generally work five days a week and have their weekends off, although this timetable is flexible (sometimes there will be an activity planned at the weekend.) Every Monday morning there will be a team meeting at the projects office for us to share ideas and plan the activities for the week ahead. All volunteers are expected to attend this meeting weekly to enable us to collaborate effectively as a group. All volunteers will also be invited to the our projects Whatsapp group, where we share photos and information about our activities with other members.
  For those who have a laptop or who would like to help with grant writing, blogs and other administrative work, we generally spend the mornings in the office (from approximately 8:00 until 12:00) before going home for lunch. The afternoon activities can vary depending on the day and the program of the volunteers.
  Volunteers with specific skills and experience can request to work with one of our local partners outside of our project. For example, we can help doctors or those with a medical background to be placed in a local hospital or arrange for teachers to assist in a school. Volunteers are encouraged to come forward with creative concepts for new projects which can help the community. While we welcome all ideas, we do request that you continue to involve our project in your plans during your stay through continued communication with other members, and by attending the weekly meetings.
  
  WEEKENDS
  During weekends volunteers might chose to visit places of tourist attractions around Livingstonia such as the Mantchewe falls, Ancestral caves, farm eco-lodge, the old Livingstonia missionary church, Stone house museum, hiking at the Chombe plateau, hiking to the Nyika National Park.. Workawayers might also chose to visit the beaches at the fresh water lake Malawi which is 15km from Livingstonia. We have a motorbike at the office, which you could rent for your travels to help us raise income for our office works.

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  Projects involving children

  This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.

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  Help

  How You Can Help & Make a Difference:
  
  We welcome passionate and motivated Workawayers to contribute their time, skills, and energy to our community projects in Livingstonia, Malawi. Your support will be invaluable in the following ways:
  
  🔹 Community Engagement & Project Implementation
  
  Assist in planning and executing project activities.
  Represent our organization in meetings with local stakeholders.
  Join companionship visits to support elderly community members and deliver donated items.
  
  🔹 Creative & Digital Support
  
  Capture and share impactful stories through photography and videography.
  Manage our social media platforms and schedule posts during your stay.
  
  🔹 Administrative & Strategic Support
  
  Help develop key project documents such as concept notes, reports, meeting minutes, business plans, activity plans, and budgets.
  Assist in organizing fundraising initiatives for local and international audiences.
  Share your expertise to strengthen our programs and operational strategies.
  
  Thematic Areas Where You Can Contribute:
  
  🌱 Climate Change & Sustainable Agriculture
  
  Participate in tree-planting activities to combat deforestation.
  Promote and build energy-efficient firewood cooking stoves.
  Help fabricate eco-friendly briquettes from market waste and maize husks.
  Support organic farming initiatives and sustainable agricultural practices.
  Raise awareness about environmental conservation.
  
  🚰 Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH)
  
  Educate villagers on hygiene and sanitation practices.
  Lead waste collection activities to promote a clean environment.
  Support the construction of public toilets to improve sanitation.
  Raise awareness on menstrual hygiene in schools and communities.
  
  👩‍👧‍👦 Women & Youth Empowerment
  
  Provide training in income-generating activities to promote self-reliance.
  Encourage youth and women’s participation in decision-making processes.
  Facilitate access to education for underprivileged girls and boys.
  Organize pen-pal exchanges to enhance communication and cultural awareness.
  Raise awareness on HIV/AIDS prevention and the importance of nutrition.
  
  By joining us, you will not only contribute to impactful projects but also immerse yourself in the rich culture of rural Malawi. Your skills, passion, and willingness to help will create lasting change in our community.
  
  Are you ready to embark on this meaningful journey? Join us today! 🌍✨

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  Languages

  Languages spoken
  English: Fluent
  Chichewa, Chewa, Nyanja: Fluent

  This host offers a language exchange
  We're interested to learn your mother language.
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  Accommodation

  We encourage volunteers to opt for our homestay accommodation option, where you will be hosted by one of our project’s members or friends in their family home. This is a great opportunity to experience the unique culture of Malawi and to interact and make friends with a local family. You will have your own room and private space for sleeping or relaxing in the evenings. We will do our best to ensure that you are comfortable and well looked after during your stay, however please be aware that facilities are basic, some hosts and you must be comfortable using local drop toilets and bucket showers.
  
  Your food will be prepared by the family and you will receive 3 meals a day. The food mainly consists of tea/coffee and some bread/cake/porridge or potatoes for breakfast. For lunch and dinner we generally eat rice or nsima (a local dish made from maize flour) with some vegetables, beans, meat or fish. Sometimes, fruit or salad will also be served. This is the staple food here and we hope you learn to love it! Volunteers will also be able to help their host family with preparing the food and even cook a dish from their own country if they wish.
  
  We do not limit volunteers the right to contribute towards groceries and accommodation costs. Please let us know if you have any dietary requirements before arriving - Vegetarian, vegan and other diets can be catered for. If volunteers require any other snacks beside the three main meals these can easily be purchased in the local market. Bottled water is not included but is also available at the local market.
  
  For those who prefer to cook for themselves and have more privacy, the option of renting a small private apartment can be discussed with us. There is the a lodge available and we can assist you in finding an affordable option if required.

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  What else ...

  The Livingstonia mountains being at the foot of the famous Nyika National PARK, provides a great playing grounds for people who love-- hiking, rock climbing, mountain biking, photographing.
  
  The fresh water lake is 15km down the mountains. With nice beaches to spend your free time. You will enjoy walking on foot in the path of GORODI, looking at a the amazing scenery beauty and beyond the lake to Mozambique and Tanzania. The closest city is Mzuzu, about 3 hours away on public transport.

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  A little more information

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    Internet access

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    Limited internet access

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    We have pets

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    We are smokers

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    Can host families

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  Can host digital nomads

  We have Unlimited Wi-Fi

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  Space for parking camper vans

  This host can provide space for campervans.

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  Two

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  This host charges a fee

  read more

  Why does Workaway allow some hosts to charge a fee?

  
  

  Workaway provides opportunities for non-monetary cultural exchanges where hosts provide food and accommodation in return for help from Workawayers. In some exceptional cases, a small fee/ donation request (typically no more than 5 dollars per day) may be approved for hosts such as registered charities with a history of positive volunteer feedback. Any fee must directly go to the charity and can only be used to cover the volunteers' food costs. This will be clearly marked on the host's listing.
  

  Listings by agents, "middle-men" or projects that appear to profit from a volunteer's stay are strictly prohibited. Any fees must be discussed and approved in advance by the Workaway team.

  $6 per day contribution for food and the project

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