Apply to Volunteer

Volunteer in Malawi. Change Lives.
Be Changed.

Join Othakarhaka Foundation (OTK) in empowering communities to break barriers to education, health, and opportunity all from the Warm Heart of Africa, Malawi.

Explore Volunteer Opportunities

Our Programs

Where You Can Make a Difference

At OTK, our programs create opportunities for individuals and communities to thrive. As an international volunteer, you’ll work alongside our passionate local volunteers and see firsthand how kindness changes lives.

Health Care

OTK partners with local clinics, hospitals, and community health workers to expand access to essential medical care and strengthen clinical capacity in rural Malawi. Volunteers support direct patient care, training, health education, and system-level improvement.
Possible roles:
  • Medical doctors (general practice + specialties)
  • Nurses + midwives
  • Medical / nursing students (clinical rotations)
  • Public health professionals
  • Maternal & child health specialists
  • Pharmacists / pharmacy techs
  • Lab technicians
  • Global health researchers

Oral Care

Oral health remains one of the most underserved needs in Mulanje. Volunteers help OTK run dental outreach days, screenings, hygiene education, and clinic-based care while supporting long-term prevention programs.
Possible roles:
  • Dentists
  • Dental hygienists
  • Dental assistants / techs
  • Dental students
  • Oral health educators
  • Mobile dental clinic specialists

Education

OTK supports students across Mulanje through tutoring, library access, exam preparation, and girls’ education programs. Volunteers help strengthen classroom learning, mentor students, and build skills in high-need subjects like English, math, and science.

Possible roles:
  • Primary or secondary teachers
  • Special education / inclusive education specialists
  • Teacher trainers / education researchers
  • Early childhood development educators
  • Literacy program designers
  • STEM tutors or coding instructors
  • University interns doing fieldwork in education

Information Technology (IT)

OTK is launching new digital learning spaces and ICT programs to equip youth with employable tech skills. Volunteers help build digital curriculum, train instructors, and support hardware, connectivity, and systems setup
Possible roles:
  • IT instructors / trainers
  • Computer science students
  • Network & systems setup specialists
  • Web developers / UI/UX designers
  • Digital literacy educators
  • Data / MIS consultants
  • IT support for OTK staff + school partners

Sustainable Agriculture

OTK supports food security through sustainable farming village projects, tree nursery programs, and climate-smart agriculture. Volunteers strengthen training, farm management, crop diversification, and community sustainability efforts.

Possible roles:
  • Agronomists
  • Sustainable farming educators
  • Soil, irrigation, or crop specialists
  • Livestock and poultry trainers
  • Forestry & nursery management
  • Agricultural economics / value-chain researchers
  • Permaculture / regenerative agriculture trainers

Engineering

OTK regularly receives requests related to water access, infrastructure, solar power, wells, and low-cost rural technology. Engineering volunteers help with assessments, prototyping, implementation, and skills transfer
Possible roles:
  • Civil engineers
  • Civil engineersWater & sanitation (WASH) engineers
  • Mechanical or electrical engineers
  • Renewable energy / solar technicians
  • Construction design + site assessment
  • Appropriate-technology specialists (e.g., low-cost innovations)

Skilled Trades / Vocational Training

OTK is expanding vocational training programs for the community in carpentry, tailoring, construction, mechanics, and entrepreneurship. Volunteers provide hands-on teaching, curriculum design, and mentorship.
Possible roles:
  • Carpenters & builders
  • Tailoring / fashion design instructors
  • Electricians / solar installation trainers
  • Automotive repair & welding
  • Entrepreneurship / business skills trainers
  • Plumbing, masonry, and other skilled trades
  • TVET educators or curriculum designers

Born from a story of courage and kindness, Othakarhaka Foundation (meaning “passing on the kindness” in Chichewa) is a community-driven organization founded by Ida Puliwa in Mulanje, Malawi.

Ida’s journey from walking barefoot for hours to school, to becoming the first girl in her village to graduate secondary school inspired her to ensure other girls would not have to walk alone.

Today, Othakarhaka Foundation empowers communities to educate girls, promote health, restore the environment, and fight poverty through volunteerism and kindness.

About OTK

Passing On The Kindness

Challanges

The Challenges Facing Malawi

OTK is dismantling barriers and empowering communities Through the motto passing on the kindness.

Education

  • OTK is dismantling barriers and empowering communities Through the motto passing on the kindness.
  • Just 8% of Malawian girls complete secondary school.
  • 1 in 3 girls is married before the age of 18, often ending her education.

Health

  • Highest cervical cancer death rate globally
  • 80% of cervical cancer screening coverage still unmet
  • 1 doctor per 50,000 people in rural communities

Development

  • 93% of rural women subsistence farm
  • 2/3 of rural workers face seasonal underemployment

Why OTK

Make an Impact. Gain a Family.

Volunteering with Othakarhaka is not just about giving your time it’s about joining a community that lives kindness every day. You’ll work hand-in-hand with people who are changing lives through small, powerful acts of compassion and you’ll leave with more than memories; you’ll leave with purpose.

Authentic Impact

Work directly with communities, not from a distance.

Cultural Immersion

Experience Malawi’s warmth, traditions, and hospitality

Personal Growth

Build leadership, empathy, and lifelong global connections

Memorable Experience

Create stories that stay with you forever.

Why OTK

Make an Impact. Gain a Family.

Volunteering with Othakarhaka is not just about giving your time it’s about joining a community that lives kindness every day. You’ll work hand-in-hand with people who are changing lives through small, powerful acts of compassion and you’ll leave with more than memories; you’ll leave with purpose.

Authentic Impact

Work directly with communities, not from a distance.

Cultural Immersion

Experience Malawi’s warmth, traditions, and hospitality

Personal Growth

Build leadership, empathy, and lifelong global connections

Memorable Experience

Create stories that stay with you forever.

Discover

The Warm Heart of Africa

Known as The Warm Heart of Africa, Malawi welcomes every visitor with open arms, smiles, and stories. Nestled between rolling tea estates and the majestic Mulanje Mountain, OTK’s home is a perfect blend of nature, peace, and purpose.

Travel & Logistics

Plan Your Journey with Ease

Othakarhaka Foundation has years of experience hosting international guests — especially students and volunteers from the University of Michigan, who visit annually to contribute to life-changing community projects.

Accommodation

OTK has long-standing partnerships with some of Mulanje’s best accommodation providers. Our international volunteers and guests, including UMICH students, have found comfort, safety

Travel

OTK has long-standing partnerships with some of Mulanje’s best accommodation providers. Our international volunteers and guests, including UMICH students, have found comfort, safety

Meals & Transportation

OTK has long-standing partnerships with some of Mulanje’s best accommodation providers. Our international volunteers and guests, including UMICH students, have found comfort, safety

Safety & Support

OTK has long-standing partnerships with some of Mulanje’s best accommodation providers. Our international volunteers and guests, including UMICH students, have found comfort, safety

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can apply to volunteer with OTK?
OTK accepts volunteers age 18+ from any country. You can join as a student, professional, researcher, retiree, or career-shifter. Both skilled and general volunteer roles are available
No – experience is helpful but not required. What matters most is respect for community-led work, cultural humility, and a willingness to learn. Certain skilled roles (ex: medical, engineering, IT) may require credentials.

Opportunities range from short-term (1-2 weeks) to long-term (3-6+ months), depending on your skills and availability. Remote and part-time roles are also available year-round.

OTK does not charge program fees. Volunteers are responsible for all travel and housing expenses, including flights, visas, insurance, meals, and accommodation. However, our partner organizations assist with coordinating and booking housing, local transport, and in-country logistics to ensure safe and affordable arrangements.

Yes. We welcome remote roles in areas like digital skills training, fundraising, communications, and research. Remote volunteers work directly with OTK teams in Malawi via WhatsApp, Zoom, and email.

Every volunteer receives a structured onboarding guide, cultural orientation, safety briefing, and ongoing support from OTK staff. Housing and in-country coordination may be arranged through our partner organization depending on your placement type.

All volunteers are placed within existing OTK programs and paired with local staff or community leaders. OTK does not place volunteers in isolated, unsupervised roles.

No. English is widely spoken in schools, hospitals, and OTK offices. Basic Chichewa phrases are included in the pre-arrival guide to help you connect with the community.

Yes. OTK welcomes partnerships with universities for internships, research projects, clinical rotations, alternative breaks, and service-learning programs. Group inquiries can be made through the same form.

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Who Can Volunteer

Whether you’re a student, professional, or lifelong learner, there’s a place for you at Othakarhaka.

  • Open to individuals aged 18 years and above from anywhere in the world.
  • No specific qualifications required — only kindness, adaptability, and curiosity.
  • Professionals in education, healthcare, social work, agriculture, or arts are especially encouraged to apply.
Volunteer Program
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