​Our successes in 2024

Campaign Against Child Marriage

This year, we were able to protect 38 girls aged 12 to 14 from child and forced marriages and offer them new perspectives. Through seven campaigns and three discussion rounds, each attended by 35 girls, we carried out intensive educational work. The girls learned to understand their rights and to see alternative paths for their futures. However, the challenge remains great: due to two tropical cyclones and an extreme drought last year, many families still see child marriage as a survival strategy.

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To address this crisis, we distributed 21 start-up packages for small businesses to affected families, aiming to provide them with an economic foundation. In this way, we hope to prevent girls from being married off due to financial hardship. Our work shows that targeted action can lead to real change, but ongoing support is crucial to tackling the root causes of child marriage in the long term.

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School Project

Thanks to our support, several young people have already made it to university. For example, one student is currently studying biostatistics, another is studying education, and a future nurse is completing her training. These successes show how education can open up new perspectives for young people. However, there are recurring challenges, such as shortages of school materials like notebooks and pens. Foreign currency shortages make it difficult for suppliers to import these goods into Malawi.

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In total, 77 children were able to attend primary school and 107 young people attended secondary school. For this project, CHF 10,949 was allocated to make education — the key to a better future — more accessible.

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Prison Project

Our prison project has shown remarkable results: of the 64 inmates who took part in our training sessions and received a business starter package, only one reoffended — a recidivism rate of just 1.5%. By comparison, according to Chikwawa Prison Statistics 2024, the recidivism rate for prisoners without our support is 48%. Despite this success, we are reaching our capacity limits. Many inmates want to participate in our life skills training, but not all can be accommodated.

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This year, two classes were held in the prison and 64 business starter packages were distributed. Of the 35 visited projects, 22 are running successfully, 10 still need support, and 3 have failed. In addition, 30 boxes of soap and 24 sacks of soy products were provided for graduation celebrations to ease the prisoners' reintegration.

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Matsukambiya Village

Matsukambiya Village is celebrating a successful year: thanks to the permaculture farm, there is now enough food for the villagers, and hunger is no longer an issue. However, extreme heat remains a challenge, resulting in only two-thirds of the newly planted trees surviving. The harsh climatic conditions are hindering growth and sustainable greening.

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In 2024, 50 new houses were built and 44 roofs were thatched with high-quality grass. The harvest will begin shortly and is expected to be completed by mid-December — a promising start toward a better future for the village.

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Orphan Project

The orphan project has achieved important successes: all 53 orphans are healthy, and many attend school. Four children are now in secondary school, and 28 in primary school. Thanks to adequate reserves, food supplies are secured until April 2025. However, some orphans are displaying behaviors that negatively influence other children in their foster families. These behaviors are being closely monitored so that appropriate measures can be taken.

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In 2024, 20 orphans were placed in foster families. Since January, each child received four 50-kg sacks of maize — a total of 212 sacks. Of the 53 foster families that received support to start a business, 28 were successful, while 25 struggled due to flooding and drought.

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Emergency Relief Project

In 2024, an emergency system was set up to ensure rapid response to flooding. Food supplies for the coming year have already been stockpiled so that we can respond immediately in case of emergency. In addition, we are informing the public about expected floods, as forecasted by the Malawian Meteorological Service, using mobile loudspeakers.

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With the loudspeakers, we plan to reach around 10,000 people, raising awareness about potential dangers and protective measures. The stored maize donations are intended for up to 240 people who may be affected by flooding.