In 2025, twelve students from the Othakarhaka Foundation’s Education Sponsorship Program including five young women were selected to pursue higher education at public universities across Malawi. This remarkable achievement marks a historic milestone not only for the students but also for their families and rural communities, many of whom are witnessing university enrollment for the first time.
These students come from remote villages across Mulanje and Phalombe districts, where access to education beyond secondary school remains a significant challenge due to poverty, gender barriers, and long-standing structural inequalities. Through the continued support of our sponsors, volunteers, and community mentors, these young scholars were able to overcome those challenges and achieve academic success.
For many, university acceptance represents more than a personal victory, it is the beginning of generational transformation. Several of these students come from families that rely on small-scale farming, and some were raised by single mothers or grandparents. Yet, despite these hardships, their resilience and dedication have brought them to the doorsteps of institutions such as the Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR), Mzuzu University, the Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, and the University of Malawi (UNIMA).
These twelve young people represent the future not only of their families, but of Malawi. Their success is a testament to the power of community-driven support, education equity, and youth empowerment.
