Educate | Equip | Empower
OUR INSPIRATION
The inspiration for Malawi Matters sprang from the large concentration of warm, hard-working, and humble Malawians who made South Bend, Indiana — and the surrounding communities — their home. They are our friends and neighbors and have become our family … now their families in Malawi are our families, too. Their stories changed our lives and in 2004, our Malawian family — and God’s call — compelled us to get involved to help stem the destructive tide of HIV and AIDS decimating that country… and so, Malawi Matters was created to answer the call.
OUR APPROACH
We set out to design a culturally appropriate training program using indigenous methods to educate about HIV and AIDS, and in 2005, were invited by the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian Nkhoma Synod to begin pilot programs. After field-testing the courses, figuring out how to make the volunteer-powered training model work, and developing ways to evaluate the program, Malawi Matters was incorporated as a 501(c)3 not-for-profit charitable foundation in the U.S. in 2008.
OUR GROWTH
Since then, we have facilitated the Creative Methods of HIV and AIDS Education program, — equipping 2,256 key leaders — provided continuing education for our certified trainers, and designated an in-country coordinator and nine regional representatives to oversee the program. In 2014, we launched the Equipping Women|Empowering Girls and the Culture & HIV and AIDS programs, and have now expanded to a community-based model to extend our reach more broadly.
AND TODAY
We’re happy to report that we have successfully registered as an official NGO in Malawi! We are an organization that has answered the call and is committed to continue facilitating the necessary education and training needed in Malawi to change lives and bring an end to the HIV and AIDS crises.
”``MMI lessons have transformed all ages of people in the village — kids, adolescents and elders. This helps to prevent the further spread of HIV infections.``