Come live in the Mountains of Livingstonia, Northern Malawi

Details

• 

  Description

  Welcome! Here's our home. Explore it. Make friends and we'll help you find your way through!
  
  My name is Kondwani, and I am the founder of a small community-led organisation based in the Livingstonia area of Rumphi District. This is my home, I live here with my wife and we have three kids. The work we do comes from a simple belief: communities already have ideas, skills and resources to improve their own lives sometimes they just need connections, encouragement and a little extra support.
  
  Our organisation grew from my experience of living and working with communities around the Phoka and Livingstonia mountains. We work with local people on practical projects such as education, elderly companionship, girl's menstruatrual hygiene, community development, environmental conservation, youth activities and small community initiatives like picking trash in the streets, painting schools etc.
  
  Our work is very hands-on. We spend time in villages, visit schools, meet community groups, support local projects and help communities connect with resources and opportunities. We also believe that volunteers should not just come to Malawi to “help poor people”. We want people to come, learn from each other, share their skills, experience everyday community life and become part of something meaningful.
  
  Life here is simple and very different from city life. You will experience beautiful mountain landscapes, villages, local food, traditional culture and the warmth of Malawian communities. Livingstonia and the surrounding mountains are also close to some beautiful natural areas such as the waterfalls, lake Malawi, Nyika National park, Chombe plateau; so there is plenty to discover when you are not working.
  
  We are a small team, so you will get to know us personally rather than feeling like you are working for a large organisation. Depending on your interests and the timing of your visit, you may get involved in community projects, education activities, environmental work, communication, fundraising ideas, farming, youth activities or simply sharing your own skills with us.
  
  Most importantly, we hope Workawayers leave with more than just photographs. We want it to be a genuine exchange — you bring your experience, curiosity and skills, and we share our community, culture, stories and way of life with you.
  
  If you are looking for a polished tourist experience, this probably isn't it. If you are curious about rural Malawi, enjoy meeting people, don't mind simple living and would like to experience community development from the inside, you may feel very much at home here.

• 

  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Charity Work

  Art Projects

  Language practice

  Help with Eco Projects

  Elderly Companionship

  Teaching

  Creative DIY projects

  Farmstay help

  Creating/ Cooking family meals

  Help around the house

  Hospitality/Tourism

  Help with Computers/ Internet
• 

  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
• 

  UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

  ...

  ...

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  What's this?
• 

  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  Staying with us is an opportunity to experience Malawi from the inside — not just as someone passing through, but as someone sharing everyday life with a local family and community.
  
  You will have the chance to learn about life in the Livingstonia mountains, our traditions, food, languages, music, stories and the way communities organise themselves.
  
  You may find yourself learning a few words of Chitumbuka, learning how to cook a local meal, sharing food with neighbours or making friends with people in the communities you visit. You might attend a community meeting, visit a local school, join a village activity, or simply sit with people and talk about life.
  Community life here is about sharing both the ordinary and the important moments. Depending on when you visit, you may find yourself welcomed into a local celebration, cultural event or other community gathering. And, as in any close community, sometimes life also brings difficult moments, such as the loss of a community member. We believe that experiencing community life means understanding both its joyful and challenging moments, always with respect and sensitivity.
  
  You will also learn about how communities organise themselves and take responsibility for their own development. Through our community-led organization, you will see how local people contribute ideas, labour, skills, land and resources to projects that matter to them.
  
  But this exchange goes both ways.
  We want to learn from you too. Tell us about your country, your family, your culture and your experiences. Share your skills, ideas, recipes, music, stories or whatever you feel comfortable bringing into the exchange.
  
  You may leave with a better understanding of rural Malawi, but hopefully you will also leave with friendships, new perspectives and memories that stay with you long after you return home.
  
  For us, cultural exchange is simple: you come to experience our way of life, and we get the privilege of experiencing yours.

• 

  Registered charity

  This host is a registered charity in their country and is looking for volunteers to help with their project(s).

• 

  Projects involving children

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

• 

  Help

  We are not looking for people to come and “save” our community. We are looking for people who are willing to share a little of what they know, learn from the people here and become part of our everyday work.
  
  Because we are a small, community-led organisation, the kind of help we need changes from time to time. You might spend a day visiting a village with us, helping with a school or community activity, working on our environmental projects, taking photographs, making videos, helping us tell our story online, or simply sharing ideas with young people.
  
  If you have skills in communication, social media, photography, videography, fundraising, education, farming, construction, environmental conservation, business, IT or project management, we would be happy to learn from you. But you don't need to arrive with a special professional skill. Sometimes an extra pair of hands, a good conversation, curiosity and a willingness to learn are just as valuable.
  
  Some days may be busy and practical. Other days may simply involve walking through the villages, meeting community members, visiting a school, sitting under a tree talking with elderly people to ease their pains or exploring the mountains together.
  
  We also welcome Workawayers who have their own ideas. Maybe you have something you would love to teach, a small activity you would like to organise, or an idea that could work in our community. Tell us about it. We are open to learning from you too.
  
  Our approach is simple: you are not coming here as a donor, a tourist looking for something to fix, or someone above the community. You are coming as a guest, a learner, a friend and a contributor.
  
  What matters most to us is respect, flexibility, a good attitude and genuine interest in people.
  
  You will probably teach us something. We hope Malawi teaches you something too.

• 

  Languages

  Languages spoken
  English: Fluent
  Chichewa, Chewa, Nyanja: Fluent
  Swahili (Kiswahili): Intermediate

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

  Accommodation

  You will stay in the same house as your host, giving you a chance to experience everyday life in the community rather than staying somewhere separate.
  
  You will have your own private room with a bed, mattress and mosquito net. If you are travelling as a couple, you are welcome to share the room.
  
  The house has a basic but clean and tidy bathroom with a flush toilet and shower. It is not luxury accommodation, but we take cleanliness and comfort seriously.
  
  Living with your host also means there is plenty of opportunity to share meals, stories, conversations and everyday experiences. We hope you will feel less like a guest staying in a house and more like a friend who has come to spend some time with us.
  
  This is rural Malawi, so please come with an open mind and an appreciation for simple living. The mountains, the people and the experience are a big part of what makes staying here special.

• 

  What else ...

  There is plenty to discover when you are not helping with the project.
  
  We are based in the beautiful Livingstonia mountains, so if you enjoy walking and nature, you can spend your free time hiking, exploring the surrounding villages and enjoying the mountain scenery. There are also opportunities to visit nearby natural attractions and, when arrangements allow, make a trip towards Lake Malawi.
  
  Livingstonia also has a university, which adds quite a bit of life to this small mountain community. Depending on what is happening during your stay, you may be able to attend activities, events or social gatherings around the university, meet students and experience another side of life in Livingstonia.
  
  And if you simply want somewhere to relax, have a good cup of coffee and chat, there are local places where you can do exactly that. Sometimes a quiet coffee, a good conversation and a beautiful mountain view are all you need.
  
  You can also enjoy being part of the community. The friendships you make here may become one of the most memorable parts of your stay. You might visit a friend you met in one of the villages, share a meal with a local family, watch or play football with young people, join a community celebration or simply sit and talk with people.
  
  For those who enjoy football, local matches can be a great way to meet people and experience everyday community life. You are also welcome to introduce us to games, activities or hobbies from your own country.
  
  If you would like a change of scenery, you can travel to a nearby town or, depending on the length of your stay and available transport, arrange a longer trip to explore more of Malawi. We can help you understand the local transport options and plan your journeys, although public transport in rural Malawi can be slower and less predictable than you may be used to.
  
  The mountains are also a good place to slow down. You can read, take photographs, write, enjoy the views, learn some Chitumbuka, spend time with your host family or simply have a quiet day.
  
  You won't necessarily have a planned activity every day. Sometimes the best part of being here is having the freedom to explore, make friends and experience life at a different pace.
  
  Come with curiosity, and there will be plenty to discover.

• 

  A little more information

  • 

    Internet access

  • 

    Limited internet access

  • 

    We have pets

  • 

    We are smokers

  • 

    Can host families

• 

  Can host digital nomads

  We have Unlimited Wi-Fi

• 

  Space for parking camper vans

  This host can provide space for campervans.

• 

  How many Workawayers can stay?

  More than two

• 

  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.

  $8 per day contribution for food

Website Safety

Chat with Workawayers who've visited this host

+10

Feedback (16)