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Malawi

Transforming lives in The Warm Heart of Africa

Malawi – known as Nyasaland until independence in 1964 – is an African landlocked country with a growing population of 18 million. A fifth of its landmass is water, with Lake Malawi spanning 350 miles north-south. Chichewa is the national language and Kwacha the currency. Lilongwe, the capital, was founded as a trading post in 1906 and only recognised as a town in 1947. Malawi’s vibrant beat, open skies and welcoming people with a passion for music and dance all contribute to the country being affectionately known as The Warm Heart of Africa.

Making it happen | Ndizotheka!

Just as Bhubesi Pride Foundation made itself known on the world wide web, Malawian special needs coordinator, Wordsworth Rashid, sent the charity an email. He invited BPF’s founder, Richard Bennett, to stay with his family in Lilongwe and he showed Richard what was possible through sport and education. Fast-forward to today and Wordsworth is employed full-time by BPF Malawi, helping to realise a long-term plan to engage a rural Lilongwe community in meaningful activities, uplifting hundreds of lives. BPF Malawi now employs an executive director, finance & admin team, two development officers (one of whom is Wordsworth), a maintenance team and 44 part-time sports & life skills coaches. We’re bringing to life the 5-year construction project of a sports & education community centre.

In 2022, BPF started working with ChildFund Sport for Development (CFS4D) to deliver a youth rugby, netball and life skills program with over 900 children. 

Malawi is listed as one of the poorest countries in the world economically, with HIV/Aids, malaria, teenage pregnancies, sub-standard literacy and numeracy rates and school drop-outs presenting persistent social challenges. Through sport, education and promoting healthy life choices, BPF Malawi is enabling transformational change.

Mtema, where we work, is a 710 square kilometre rural village community an hour’s drive north-west of Lilongwe with a population of 59,000; 35,000 of which are below 18 years of age. Homes here are traditionally constructed of sticks, mud and burnt or unburnt bricks (made from a mixture of water and sand placed in moulds and dried in the open air). Cooking is done over the fire in a separate building with a smoke hole in the roof. People bathe outside. Water is carried manually, often over great distances, for cooking and bathing.

BPF’s strategic and operational focus in Malawi is to safeguard children and stakeholders in its programming, optimise the centre, progress S4D programming, develop and deliver supplementary education, enable access to appropriate program recourses, initiate CPD for staff and program participants, engage key stakeholders, implement policies effectively and ensure good governance.

Inspiring and engaging Africa and the international community

With trusted ‘friends of the Pride‘ in other African countries and an established network of global partners, we welcome the opportunity to utilise BPF Malawi’s community centre in Lilongwe as a safe place to foster local and international engagement and shared learning, contributing to BPF’s impact goal. Join us…

Inspiring change and development in Malawi

Meet Wordsworth, see the community centre going off-grid and BPF Malawi's 3-year strategy coming to life

Here, now and the future
Going off-grid
BPF Malawi 2025 | Ndizotheka
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Lilongwe
Lilongwe
Lilongwe

Community programs in Malawi

ChildFund S4D youth sports & life skills

Since early 2022, we've been working with ChildFund S4D to implement its effective 'Reconnect' curriculum in youth rugby, netball and life skills with 990 boys and girls, delivered by 44 trained male and female coaches. Daily sessions take place in local schools as well as on-site at BPF Malawi's community centre.

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BPF sports club development

BPF Malawi is further utilising its community centre to enable sports and personal development opportunities with over 100 young people.

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Achinyamata Tikambilane

'Let youth discuss' is a SRHR & HIV/Aids education and awareness program, led in partnership with a Lilongwe-based Malawian NGO and is reaching over 750 young people.

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Pride Stories: Malawi

Read about the impact we’re making with communities in rural Lilongwe and hear from participating stakeholders

Get Involved

You have two practical ways to help make an impact with Bhubesi Pride Foundation. Choose how you’d like to get involved.

Volunteering Options

Volunteer

Stay with us in Malawi as part of a managed group visit or join a scheduled departure trip as an individual

Volunteering options

Donate

Support the growth and sustainability of our work by making a charity donation today

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