Ulalo

17/08/2026

As we prepare for the new school term in Northern Mzimba, our field officers are inspecting storerooms and handing over heavy-duty storage bags to partner communities.

Growing maize and soya is only half the work, proper storage ensures that no harvest is lost to pests or moisture. Under the CANARASI Project, funded by CdB and BMZ Germany, local families grow the food that keeps school kitchens running.

By solving storage challenges today, we are making sure every child has a hot meal and a reason to look forward to school.

Read more about how we're securing the harvest: https://www.ulalo.org/blog/securingtheharvest

A successful harvest is only as strong as its protection. Across Northern Mtwalo and Mpherembe, communities have grown the maize and soya needed to keep school kitchens running, but storage bottlenecks threaten that hard work. Discover how our field officers are stepping in with practical storage so

14/08/2026

If you ask anyone on our field teams, they will tell you: a great youth program is only as fast as the finance department behind it.

It takes a lot to run community projects, and without proper financial management, even the best ideas grind to a halt. That is why our Finance and Administration team is so vital to everything we build at Ulalo. They are the backbone that keeps our organization healthy, our partners confident, and our programs on schedule.

Leading the charge is Tina Mkandawire. She views financial management as a tool for youth empowerment, because when donors see complete transparency, they trust us with the resources needed to reach more children.

Handling the daily groundwork are our Finance Officers, Mphatso Morris and Anikisa Mwanyongo. Mphatso believes that staying audit-ready is a daily discipline, keeping every receipt and transaction accounted for as it happens. Anikisa focuses on removing bottlenecks, ensuring field teams get what they need on time so our work with young people never stalls. Meanwhile, Ezelina Kalua brings a fresh perspective to the team as our Assistant, proving that the next generation of leaders is already here, learning that integrity is the foundation of any project that lasts.

Under our theme Youth for Tomorrow for this month, we are honoring the people who protect our foundation. Thank you, team, for making sure our vision for young people is always backed by accountability and action!

12/08/2026

Happy International Youth Day! Today, we join the global community in celebrating the power and potential of young people everywhere.

This year’s theme, “Different Contexts; Common Aspirations,” reflects our core mission. No matter where they begin, young people share a universal drive to thrive.

At Ulalo, we are committed to helping young people fulfill their aspirations, crafting real pathways to success and building a brighter, self-reliant Malawi!

31/07/2026

Collaboration at the heart of sustainable education

Strong education systems are built through strong partnerships.

Our team is in Likoma District facilitating a Building Education Foundations through Innovation and Technology (BEFIT) quarterly review meeting with the District Implementation Team (DIT).

The meeting is reinforcing the importance of effective leadership, collaboration, and shared responsibility within existing government systems.

Every stakeholder has a role to play in ensuring the successful implementation of BEFIT and creating a sustainable future for the program.

BEFIT is a Government of Malawi led program that is improving foundational literacy and numeracy for learners in Standards 1 to 4 through evidence based, technology enabled learning.

At Ulalo, we remain committed to supporting this vision so that every child has the opportunity to build strong foundational skills and reach their full educational potential.

30/07/2026

Real change is rooted in local action.

When communities take the lead in managing their natural resources, conservation goes from a temporary project to a lasting habit. That’s why our approach is centered on building bridges through people, working hand-in-hand with those on the ground to ensure every initiative is sustainable for the long haul.

Through the CANARASI Project, Ulalo is supporting 11 Village Natural Resources Management Committees (VNRMCs) in T.A. Mpherembe and T.A. Mtwalo to protect forests while enhancing everyday livelihoods.

Right now, our field teams are active alongside six VNRMCs, including communities around Mabiri 1, Kasangani, Phala, and Magogo, constructing vital firebreaks. These firebreaks protect natural tree regeneration sites from harmful bushfires, safeguarding both the land and active income-generating projects like beekeeping.

The impact is already showing where it matters most. Group Village Headman Thembani Mkandawire put it best:

"At first we didn't know that we can benefit a lot of things from these forests if we manage them well. We are now able to get honey from the beehives mounted in our forest and that's why there is full support towards conserving our forests."

29/07/2026

Education should never be out of reach because of financial barriers.

Through the Kula Bursary Program, Ulalo is helping vulnerable learners stay in secondary school by ensuring that financial challenges do not stand in the way of their education and future.

Every learner deserves the opportunity to dream, learn, and succeed. Together, we can make that possible.

You can be part of this journey by supporting the Kula Bursary Program. Every contribution, partnership, and act of kindness helps keep a child in school.

For more information or to support the program, contact [email protected].

24/07/2026

Big achievements start with a commitment to the details.

Across all of Ulalo’s projects, our Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Officer, Vitumbiko Nyirenda, is leading from the front. We often get so caught up in the busy rush of doing the work that we forget to stop and evaluate the actual results of what we have done. That is why Vitumbiko is on the ground every single month, checking our progress and bringing teams together through the power of clear, honest data, because at the end of the day, the numbers never lie.

If you have ever sat in one of our review meetings, you have seen Vitumbiko in action, presenting clear findings to partners, stakeholders, and staff alike. He works hand-in-hand with every team monthly, checking in on targets and keeping us all aligned. When things are tough, he gently points out where we can do better; when a team is absolutely shining, he makes sure we all learn from them so we can grow together.

"Monitoring our progress monthly keeps us on track, but evaluating our results is where the real growth happens," Vitumbiko explains. "Evaluation does not only depict learning, it also informs our accountability to the people we serve. Sharing these numbers brings us together so we can celebrate who is succeeding and take ownership of what we need to improve."

True leadership is uniting people around a shared

24/07/2026

Building bridges starts with the people on the ground.

This week, our team- Hippo Honde , Nicholas Luhanga, Wales Mtawali, and Ben Kaluvi, are in Balaka representing Ulalo and the CANARASI Project at the 2026 Treasuring Trees Workshop, hosted by Action for Natural Medicine (Anamed-Malawi).

True community transformation happens when dedicated individuals gather to share knowledge and learn from one another.

Through this week-long training, our team is connecting with fellow conservation leaders to dive deep into sustainable livelihoods, natural medicine, and community-based tree management.

By investing in our people, we are strengthening the bridge between environmental conservation and community well-being. We look forward in bringing these insights back in the communities we serve in order to expand our Community Herbal Gardens and set up agroforestry demo gardens across our targeted SMP schools.

23/07/2026

Connection is one of the greatest catalysts for change.

This week, Ulalo is proud to be part of Segal 2026 – The Next Beat in Nairobi, Kenya, joining hundreds of visionary leaders, funders, and changemakers from across Africa and beyond to explore what comes next for locally led development.

Over the past few days, we have engaged in meaningful conversations, exchanged ideas with inspiring leaders, strengthened existing partnerships, and built new relationships rooted in a shared belief: the most sustainable solutions are created by communities themselves.

From thought-provoking plenaries to collaborative workshops and one-on-one conversations, every interaction has reinforced the importance of investing not only in projects, but in people, trust, and long-term partnerships.

At Ulalo, we leave each conversation encouraged that Africa’s future will be shaped by those closest to its challenges and empowered through collaboration with those who believe in their vision.

Thank you to the Segal Family Foundation for creating a space where relationships grow into partnerships, and partnerships grow into lasting impact.

The next beat is not just about what’s next. It’s about who we build it with.

19/07/2026

We are excited to share some wonderful news!

Ulalo is heading to Segal 2026 – The Next Beat in Nairobi, Kenya!

Our Executive Director, James Gondwe , will join an incredible community of African Visionaries, development practitioners, philanthropists, and partners from across the continent and beyond.

We are grateful to the Segal Family Foundation for believing in locally led organizations like Ulalo and for creating spaces where leaders can learn from one another, build meaningful partnerships, and shape the future together.

Over the coming days, we will be sharing highlights, reflections, and lessons from Nairobi. We hope you will follow the journey with us.