Bigger Voices for Change - BVC

22/04/2026

At BVC, our work is impossible without the help of young volunteers who go to communities and meet with older persons in areas of Senior Chief Bwananyambi and Sub Traditional Authority Mpinganjira respectively.

These volunteers offer their time and other resources to support the older persons not because they have nothing to do nor because they have a lot, rather they do understand that older persons too, deserve better.

Some activities include household visits, attend monthly activities of OPAs, facilitate OPAs trainings in Mbeya fertilizer making, Wash, livelihoods, human rights education and elder abuse prevention.

Their commitment and effort are freely given and sometimes they use their own resources to carry out these activities. As we celebrate , we would like to call upon well wishers to support our initiatives. At the moment, we need the support of bicycles to ease mobility for our volunteers when going to communities to meet and interact with the older persons. You may support BVC by buying a bicycle for one volunteer or more today.

May God bless you as you plan to support our mission.

For more information, please contact 0889883201 or WhatsApp 0992012318.
You may also email [email protected].

Thank you as you for supporting our noble cause.

Malawi Network Of Older Persons' Organizations
HelpAge Africa
HelpAge International
Irish Aid
UNDP Malawi

22/04/2026

BVC join the global community in celebrating .

We appreciate the efforts, commitment, dedication and hardworking sprit of young people at our organization who are leading conversations and initiatives on elder abuse prevention, human rights, age-inclusive sexual reproductive health and rights, just to create a safe space and supportive environments for our seniors. Through your contributions, the older persons feel counted, seen, appriciated and you leave a smile on their faces. We don't take this for granted.

We celebrate you all....

15/03/2026

During our mapping assessment of households for older persons in Mpima village, we discovered some events that shocked us. It was revealed that most of the mistreatments that this vulnerable group receives come from their close relatives.

As we continue with our initiatives, we prioritize promoting and strengthening family ties instead of breaking them so that the older persons are supported by their close relatives.

We will continue empowering the voice of Older Persons so that they are not mistreated in their communities and live safe and dignified lives.

09/02/2026

We strongly condemn the increase in elder abuse and killing of an older woman in Thyolo, Eurita, 89. This heartless act must stop now

A local non governmental organisation advocating for the rights of older persons, Bigger Voices for Change (BVC), has expressed shock and sadness over the killing of Eurita Zunguza, 89, allegedly by her 19-year-old grandson Cosmas Kathumba in Thyolo District.

BVC Executive Director, Frank Tagoneke, said the incident stems from unfounded witchcraft allegations with Kathumba, who is now in police custody, suspecting the victim of causing his illness.

Tagoneke said the incident reflects continued violence, stigma and discrimination faced by older persons, particularly women, based on harmful beliefs.

Kathumba, a Form One student at Therekerani community day secondary school (CDSS) had been ill and unable to attend classes, before accusing his late grandmother of bewitching him.

By Francis Banda, Mangochi

30/12/2025

In 2025, BVC started an initiative called . This is a project which focuses on empowering young people to be the champions of elder rights. As we empower older persons to claim their own rights, we believe that it is also crucial to get the youth involved. This idea was also born after noting that most of the violences targeting the older persons, especially women, are perpetrated by young people. According to Malawi Network Of Older Persons' Organizations in 2025 alone, about 20 older persons, mainly women were killed over baseless witchcraft allegations. Hence, by civic educating the youth on the importance of defending elderly rights and elder abuse prevention, we are convinced that this is the best way to achieve a Malawi free from elder abuse.

We also understand that this work will not be possible without the support of various groups including developmental partners, CSOs, media, faith groups, traditional leaders and communities at large, as such, we ask for effective collaborations with all stakeholders interested in supporting older persons and ending elder abuse so that together, we can create a society that values, respects, and supports older persons.





HelpAge Africa
Malawi Network Of Older Persons' Organizations
Tilitonse Foundation
United Nations Malawi
UNHCR Malawi
Royal Norwegian Embassy in Lilongwe, Malawi
Ministry of Gender, Malawi
National Youth Council of Malawi
Development Network for Youth Empowerment - Deneye
U.S. Embassy Lilongwe
German Embassy Lilongwe
Trócaire.

14/12/2025

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BVC would like to condemn in strongest terms an increase in abuse of the older persons, especially women over baseless witchcraft accusations. There is no any justification for attacking or killing older persons on suspicions that one practices witchcraft.

In this past week alone, the country has registered one case in which an older woman was brutally murdered in Neno over witchcraft allegations and another case in Khotakota where the community was planning to mercilessly attack an older woman on suspicious that she is a witch. These are only two cases but there maybe more which go undocumented. We thank the police for quickly coming in to the rescue of the older woman in Khotakota. But our fear is on those who have no one to rescue them and are suffering in isolation without anyone to support them just like the case of Neno.

We cannot continue like this as a society. Before accusing anyone, especially the older persons of practicing witchcraft especially when misfortunes befall in our communities, Malawians should understand that there are many health conditions that affect older persons and can make them to lose memory. As a result, an older person can found herself/himself outside at night but that does not mean he or she was practicing witchcraft. Do not let ignorance lead us into harming our seniors, if anything, let's support and protect them.

We pledge the full support of implementation of the Older Persons Act in order to curb and prevent elder abuse in Malawi. We believe that with strong collaboration as a community, we can protect the older persons.

We demand justice for the older woman who was killed last week in Neno and the one in Khotakota where the community was planning to ruthlessly attack her. As for those suffering in silence, we will continue amplifying their voice until they can be heard, supported and protected.

15/11/2025

BVC's Mpima Project in pictures

Bigger Voices for Change-BVC started its work in Mpima village, TA Mponda, Mangochi district, in March this year, 2025. The first activity happ to be home visitation to older persons to assess their welfare. This activity is still in progress and BVC team visits older persons twice in a month although there was a break for some weeks due to logistic challenges as the activity is self-sponsored since BVC has no donor at the moment.

After starting home visitation, it also pleased the older persons in Mpima to form their own group; Older Persons Association (OPA). At the moment, the elderly are meeting on every Wednesdays to discuss issues that affect them, make some contributions which they use to visit their friends who are sick or in any kind of challenge that needs their support.

As BVC, we are glad to see older persons supporting each other in this way. This is the empowerment we have dreamt of and we hope it grows and never dies. Older persons are mostly neglected by our societies, and seeing them doing this, we see some communities being transformed.

We had a successful visit to this first ever OPA in Mpima village, TA Mponda, Mangochi district.

BVC: Empowering the voice of Older Persons!

Ending Ageism begins with you and me.


National Youth Council of Malawi
German Embassy Lilongwe
Malawi Human Rights Commission
Malawi Network Of Older Persons' Organizations
HelpAge Africa
HelpAge International

29/09/2025

24/06/2025

As BVC is working on advocating for the rights of older persons and elder abuse prevention in Mangochi district, the organization is deeply worried with an increase in elder abuse cases in some districts. Few days after the commemoration of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD2025) on 15th June, we are shocked to learn that an 85 years older woman, Ruth Lauzhi has been brutally killed in Nsanje. This is very saddening and disrespect to the efforts that BVC and other stakeholders are putting to curb the vice. Most importantly, the killing of gogo Lauzhi is a human rights violation and is against the Malawi constitution which provides protection to every human person regardless of age.

BVC is therefore appealing to those in authority, Malawi Police Service and other authorities to investigate the case and bring into books those responsible. We demand justice for gogo Ruth Lauzhi.

BVC is also calling upon all people, especially the youth to desist from violence against older persons and learn to respect and care for older persons who have given a lot to the development of our society in various ways.

19/06/2025

Learn about our recent initiative on Advancing the rights of older persons

https://www.facebook.com/100081330802581/posts/763394743048212/?mibextid=rS40aB7S9Ucbxw6v

25/04/2025

We are in Globe Intergenerational Week

We want to hear from you!

Tell us your views on the need to promote intergenerational collaboration.

What can be the challenges and opportunities?