During her time in the United States, Ida Puliwa Mwango has been expanding Othakarhaka Foundation’s reach by building meaningful partnerships, sharing the foundation’s community-led model in academic spaces, and strengthening collaborations that support education, health, and youth programmes in Malawi.
She has lectured at several universities, including Stanford University, Virginia Tech, California State University Northridge, and the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business. In these sessions, Ida presented Othakarhaka’s approach to community mobilisation, the role of volunteers in delivering services, and the impact of grassroots organisation in rural Malawi. Her lectures provide students and faculty with practical insights into development work shaped by lived experience and community leadership.
At the University of Michigan, she is currently engaging with ongoing classes in courses such as Business Strategies for the Base of the Pyramid and Business Innovation and Social Impact, which will continue until the end of the semester.
Ida also engaged with teachers and student groups at Flintridge Preparatory School in California, a long-standing partner of the Othakarhaka Girls’ Art and Empowerment Camp. She met with staff and the Malawi Partnership Team to strengthen collaboration and support for girls’ education initiatives.
Her visit to the Glendale Adventist Health Centre created an important link with medical professionals and resident doctors. She shared the foundation’s plans to welcome volunteer doctors to the free community clinic in Mulanje, opening a path for future medical exchanges.
Ida participated in the Gratitude Network Summit hosted at LinkedIn’s offices in San Francisco, joining global leaders who focus on improving the lives of children and young people. She contributed Malawi’s community-led perspective to discussions on leadership, collaboration, and scaling impact.
She also served as the guest speaker at the “Kindness is Power” Gala hosted by I Demand Access in Pasadena, California. The event brought together supporters of girls’ education, and Ida highlighted the progress made through community partnerships and the ongoing needs in rural Malawi.
Throughout her engagements, Ida consistently represents Othakarhaka’s values and model. Her work in the United States continues to strengthen the foundation’s global collaborations, expand its visibility, and build partnerships that support programmes back home.
