Click on each scholar’s name below to learn more of their story.
Olivia Banda, 21, is We4Malawi’s founding scholar. After attending the elite Ntcheu Secondary school with We4Malawi’s support, she enrolled at the nation’s top institution, the University of Malawi. She is currently a junior, majoring in communications and cultural studies. She is most likely the first person from her village to attend university and her dream is to become a lawyer.
Olivia’s Story:
“I am deeply grateful for your kind support and unwavering belief in me. Your encouragement has been a great source of inspiration, and I am thankful for your presence in my life. I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to Thom Khanje’s family who introduced me to the Nelson family and paved the way for this life-changing opportunity.
Coming from a humble background, my family relied on farming for sustenance, and my parents couldn’t afford to send me to secondary school. But thanks to Mr. Khanje’s intervention, I got the chance to join the Nelson family, who have been instrumental in my education, from Ntcheu secondary school to university. Their continued support means the world to me.
Although I am currently studying Communication and Culture Studies, my true passion and everyday dream is to become a lawyer. Your support and guidance mean everything to me, and I would be honored if you would continue to support me on this journey. Thank you for your kindness, belief in me, and for being a constant source of encouragement.”
Nelson Matemba, Nelson Matemba, 19, is from Liphava village in Manjawira in Ntcheu District. He was the only person in his family to attend high school. Nelson was a four-year scholarship student, sponsored by We4Malawi, at Ntcheu Secondary where he was named “Student of the Year” in 2023 for his high test scores and grades. We4Malawi now sponsors Nelson at the University of Malawi, where he studies economics. His village had a feast in his honor when Nelson was accepted into the university, which is considered the best in Malawi.
Nelson’s Story:
My name is Nelson Matemba of Liphava, a small village of about 200 homes without running water or electricity. When I completed my Malawi School Certificate of Education Examinations (MSCE) at Ntcheu Secondary School, I scored 12 points – the best score at my school. My school honored me as “Student of the Year.” Thankfully, this high score guaranteed me enrollment into one of Malawi’s elite public universities.
Back in 2020, I was selected by the Malawi Ministry of Education to go to Ntcheu Secondary School, but my parents couldn’t afford the fees. My family of four children, with me as the last born and the only boy, survives on my mother’s meager income from selling tomatoes at a nearby market.
My father used to sell goat meat at the same market, but his business went under several years ago. He currently earns money from occasional work as a gardener. Although neither my parents nor siblings went further than primary school, I have always wanted to excel and have worked hard in school. My dream is to become an economist.
So the prospect of failing to make it to secondary school due to a lack of school fees really broke my heart. Thankfully, We4Malawi accepted a desperate request from my parents to give me a secondary school scholarship, even though the organization was only sponsoring girls at that time.
I am very proud to be the first boy sponsored by We4Malawi. My entire high school education was fully sponsored by We4Malawi. Without that support, I wouldn’t be about to start my university education.
My school life at Ntcheu Secondary School was so easy. I never had to worry about school fees or any other expenses. I only had to concentrate on schoolwork, which made it possible for me to often be at the top of my class. My grades have been so impressive, I’m now about to realize my dream: Attending the University of Malawi to study economics and, perhaps, contribute to my country’s public policy development.
Thanks to We4Malawi, I went from not being able to attend secondary to, four years later, graduating with the best score and the honor, “Student of the Year.” I will be the first boy from my village to attend university.
When my village heard of my outstanding examination score, my friends and neighbors gathered together to celebrate. The village headsman (chief) said, “This is the is first time we have had a feast in honor of education.”
Grace James, 21, is currently finishing technical college. In 2018, when Grace James was a first-year student at Ntcheu Secondary School, she was almost sent home. Her parents could not afford her tuition. We4Malawi stepped up and took Grace on as a scholarship student for all four secondary school years. After graduation, We4Malawi found a technical college where Grace is learning to be a handy-person. She will be a well-paid and self-supporting young woman when she completes her program this spring. Grace plans to “pay it forward” by educating her younger sister.
Grace’s Story:
In 2018, when Grace James, now 21, was a first-year student at Ntcheu Secondary School she was almost sent home. Her parents could not afford her tuition. We4Malawi stepped up and took Grace on as a scholarship student for all four secondary school years. After graduation, We4Malawi found a technical college where Grace is learning to be a handy-person. She will be a well-paid and self-supporting young woman when she completes her program this spring. Grace plans to “pay it forward” by educating her younger sister.
Tiyamike Walawa is a sophomore in the elite Ntcheu Secondary School. Tiyamike is from Liphava Village and is currently in Form 4 at Nachitheme Secondary School. She is the first in her family to attend high school.
Tiyamike‘s Story:
Tiyamike is the child of rural subsistence farmers in the Ntcheu district of Malawi. Without We4Malawi donors’ support, Tiyamike would either be attending her local village high school or would have already dropped out to help her parents farm or to start a household of her own. With her secondary school tuition paid for, Tiyamike is on the right path to college acceptance.
We4Malawi 