Malawi
Projects in Malawi
Education
In order to better prepare youth for the global work, high school classes in Malawi are taught in English. Thus, the stronger a student's command of English is, the better chance they have to succeed academically in any subject.
Peace Corps Volunteers in Malawi work at rural high schools and collaborate with local colleagues to strengthen their students’ competency in the English language through classes that incorporate innovative teaching techniques and interactive facilitation. They challenge their students to think critically and creatively and also share teaching practices with fellow teachers to foster a student-centered learning environment school-wide.
After class, our Peace Corps Volunteers and their Malawian counterparts support clubs and implement extracurricular initiatives that foster community support for education, academic achievement, and social-emotional learning skills.
Environment
A healthy and productive Earth is a vital component to a healthy society. Like many parts of the world, Malawi faces environmental threats due to climate change and natural resource management challenges.
Peace Corps Volunteers in Malawi work at agricultural extension offices, collaborating with staff and local counterparts to teach environmental education youth groups foster a knowledge of, and value for, environmental conservation and dietary diversity. They also establish communal gardens that exemplify sustainable agricultural techniques, such as composting, intercropping, bio-intensive planting, and organic pest management.
Additionally, Peace Corps Volunteers collaborate with local partners to support mothers on nutrition and dietary diversity by promoting production and consumption of nutrient rich foods. They create demonstration gardens with nutritious foods and support households to plant trees that can provide fruits, firewood, and timber. And, to better protect Malawi’s natural resources, Volunteers and their Malawian colleagues encourage the use of less firewood by working with women to build fuel-efficient cook stoves with locally found materials.
Health
Being healthy and disease-free is a critical component to a stable and productive life. Like many countries in the world, children and youth in Malawi face health threats from malnutrition, diarrheal diseases, malaria, HIV/AIDs, and COVID-19.
Peace Corps Volunteers in Malawi work at a rural health centers on a variety of activities that support the health and well-being of children and youth. They work alongside local counterparts to engage youth on HIV prevention and sexual and reproductive health programs that are creative, fun, and provide a safe space for youth to discuss ways to keep themselves healthy and gain the confidence to seek HIV tests and access other health services. Volunteers also work with people who are HIV+, especially youth, on health strategies through support groups and teen clubs.
Additionally, Peace Corps Volunteers and their Malawian colleagues work directly with pregnant women and parents of young children to promote essential practices that can protect their children from various health threats. They often co-conduct home visits to help implement and monitor these health measures.