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1 Jan 2026
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Description
We are a community-rooted, youth-led Community Foundation based in the Livingstonia Mountains of Rumphi District, northern Malawi, near Nyika National Park. Founded in 2020, we exist to ensure that development in our communities is owned, led, and sustained by local people.
Born and raised in Livingstonia, we formed our Community Foundation from a simple observation: many projects fail once external organizations or support left; because communities were never truly in the driver’s seat. We was created to change that story.
Today, we work across 16 Village Development Committees (VDCs), strengthening local leadership, mobilizing local resources, and supporting communities to identify, fund, and implement solutions to their own challenges.
Our Model: Community Foundation & Local Giving
As a Community Foundation,
- Communities identify their priorities through Village Action Plans
- Local resources (cash, labor, materials, ideas) are mobilized first
- External support complements, not replaces, community effort
- We support implementation and make grants to communities
Our goal is to move communities from waiting to acting, and from dependency to ownership.
Youth at the Centre of Development:
Youth leadership is central to our work. Each VDC has youth representatives from existing youth clubs, trained as Community Ambassadors. These Ambassadors mobilize communities, support planning, and ensure accountability at village level. They are supported by Field Assistants and our Secretariat. This means volunteers work alongside strong local structures, not in isolation.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Charity Work
Art Projects
Language practice
Help with Eco Projects
Elderly Companionship
Teaching
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Farmstay help
Babysitting and creative play
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
Hospitality/Tourism
General Maintenance
Help with Computers/ Internet
House & pet sitting
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
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.
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
You are here to:
- Strengthen local capacity
- Share skills and global perspectives
- Support documentation, learning, and fundraising
- Walk with communities, not ahead of them
You are not expected to “fix” problems - you help local leaders do what they are already committed to doing.
How You Can Contribute
Depending on your skills and interests, you may support us in, but not limited to the following:
1. Community Engagement & Learning
- Supporting community meetings and workshops
- Assisting with Village Action Planning processes
- Help local women build their financial independence
2. Capacity Building & Systems Strengthening
- Fundraising strategy and grant writing
- Monitoring, evaluation, and learning tools
- Organisational systems and governance support
3. Documentation & Storytelling
- Photography, videography, and writing
- Capturing community stories and impact
- Supporting reports and online visibility
4. Sustainable Livelihoods & Agriculture
- Supporting our demonstration farm (maize, poultry, fish)
- Skills exchange in agribusiness, sustainability, or permaculture
5. Youth, Education & Social Programs
- Supporting menstrual hygiene initiatives
- Teaching French and or English, helping kids with reading, sports.
- Supporting schools, with teaching and learning materials, painting and renovations
- Elderly companionship activities - health wellness, exercises and chat
- Market clean-up and environmental awareness
What You Gain as a Volunteer
- A deep, authentic community experience
- Learning from grassroots development in action
- Opportunities to contribute meaningfully and ethically
- A chance to be part of a growing African Community Foundation model
Please note that we can tailor activities or initiatives based on your skills and interests.
Beyond Volunteering: Be Part of the Movement
Many of our volunteers continue supporting us as:
- Fundraising ambassadors
- Long-term partners
- Advocates for community-led development
Join Us Now!
If you are passionate about community ownership, youth leadership, and sustainable development — and willing to learn as much as you give — we welcome you.
Come walk with us as communities lead their own development.
Languages
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Chichewa, Chewa, Nyanja: Fluent
Swahili (Kiswahili): IntermediateThis host offers a language exchange
We're interested to learn your mother language.
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.
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.
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.
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
My animals / pets
Chat with Workawayers who've visited this host
Feedback (16)
At the Primary School, Pauline worked with children aged 9 to 12, supporting them mainly with English reading and basic… read more
They independently identified the urgency of completing an unfinished school building… read more
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Chat with Workawayers who've visited this host
Feedback
These are extra optional ratings when members leave feedback. The average rating left for each option is displayed.
Accuracy of profile:
(4.9)
Cultural exchange:
(5.0)
Communication:
(5.0)
At the Primary School, Pauline worked with children aged 9 to 12, supporting them mainly with English reading and basic… read more
They independently identified the urgency of completing an unfinished school building… read more
To be honest, I had no idea what I was getting into. I had never been to Africa before and had no clue what to expect. But from the very first moment, I landed in a warm bath of welcome. I was received very hospitably by my host family, and from the start, I was treated as a member of the family. Then, in the… read more
Bo played a crucial role in helping us capture and share our story. He… read more
I stayed with them almost a month and I was hosted by a local family which… read more
While his stay was shorter than expected, Lincoln made efforts to participate in the tasks at hand, and we hope he gains… read more
Thank you so much for your kind words and thoughtful feedback. We are truly humbled by your appreciation and deeply grateful for the time you spent with us in Livingstonia. Your involvement in the Elderly Companionship Program was invaluable, and your generosity in donating items and committing to raising funds has left a… read more
The team at the community project are really committed and inspiring. We were part of the elderly companionship… read more
I don’t know where to begin with but I would say that was the best tremendous and amazing experience I have ever had in my entire life.
To be honest, I was highly nervous about what would be going to happen to me as this was my first time to do volunteer… read more
Emily's involvement extended… read more
Millie primarily assisted with our elderly companionship project and farm work, showing incredible compassion and… read more
They were so welcoming and fully encourage you to become immersed in the local culture, and embrace all the new quirks of their daily lives! While it is a bit of a challenge to reach, Kondwani is very helpful with instructions and was kind enough… read more
During the 2,5 week we’re involved in visiting elderly people within the community and doing office tasks for the organisation.
I highly… read more
Thank you Floncy, Kondwani,… read more
Emma lived with the local community and interacted with everyone so well. She is very helpful around the house, always willing to put her time to good use.
Welcoming Emma to your place is the best choice any host can go for... She is very compassionate and… read more
They will never leave your place the same.
All the… read more
I felt very welcome in his family home, and we were cooked delicious food.
Livingstonia is beautiful and fresh and clean.
Would 100% recommend a stay here. You will be well looked… read more
It will never forget you... You were such a great help to us and the entire community of Livingstonia.; planting trees in the mountains, writing grant proposals, developing our website. and helping Floncy with cleaning plates - is all amazing and priceless. How I wished we lived with you forever.. May you also do the same or even… read more
We at the place, are very grateful for all your help which you rendered to us during your stay. The tireless help during; planting trees in the mountains, writing grant proposals, developing our website.. and most especially the humility to help our house with cleaning plates - is all amazing and priceless. May you also do the same… read more
We have been heartwarming welcomed and hospitalized. It is active in many different areas and we were helping with tree planting, teaching about menstrual cycles and diy reusable pads, bee keeping and hive build ups. We set up some business plan ideas for… read more
