Yodep-Malawi

27/08/2026

20/08/2026

Today, Children’s Parliamentarians in Ntcheu engaged duty bearers in a powerful one-day interface meeting to review progress on commitments made in 2024 and push for action on issues affecting children, including education, roads, water and health, child protection, child marriage and teenage pregnancy. The meeting was facilitated by YODEP in partnership with Save the Children Malawi under the Abwenzi A Ana Program.

The children highlighted challenges that continue to affect their lives and communities, including shortages of learning materials and female teachers, inadequate school infrastructure, lack of changing rooms for girls, long distances to schools, limited early childhood development services, school dropouts, child labour, drug abuse, child marriage and teenage pregnancy.

Ntcheu Child Parliament Speaker Favour Chindimba said the children are hopeful that their concerns had reached the right people. She emphasized that children must take the first step if they want to see meaningful change.

Ntcheu District Council Chair and Guest of Honour Mambo Jumbe acknowledged the issues raised by the children, noting that while progress had been made on some previous commitments, others remained outstanding. He also highlighted concerns about Ntcheu’s education performance and said the council would introduce additional initiatives to improve learning outcomes.

Save the Children’s Abwenzi A Ana Program Manager, Esther Gama, emphasized that children must be supported to participate meaningfully in decisions affecting their lives. She called for stronger child participation at Village Development Committee and Area Development Committee levels, ensuring that children’s priorities are reflected in local development planning and budgeting.

YODEP Executive Director Mcblessings Buda described the meeting as fruitful and pledged that YODEP would continue following up on commitments made by duty bearers and provide feedback to the children.

20/08/2026

Interface Meeting Between Child Parliamentarians and Ntcheu District Council Duty Bearers. 20th August 2026

20/08/2026

Giving children a platform to speak and be heard is essential to ensuring that decisions affecting their lives reflect their voices and experiences.

Today, Child Parliamentarians from Ntcheu District are holding an interface meeting with duty bearers from the Ntcheu District Council. The meeting has been facilitated by the Abwenzi A Ana program in partnership with Yodep-Malawi and Future4All Malawi.

Look out for the livestream and witness children's voices taking centre stage.

19/08/2026

With support from Save the Children Malawi under the Abwenzi A Ana Program, Youth for Development and Productivity (YODEP) yesterday kicked off a five-day training for community facilitators in Upper Makwangwala, Ntcheu District, to strengthen their capacity to deliver the Safe Families Common Approach.

Running from Tuesday 18th to Saturday 22nd August 2026, the training is equipping participants with the knowledge, practical skills, and tools to facilitate structured sessions for parents, children aged 10–13, and adolescents aged 14–17. The training is being jointly facilitated by a Safe Families District Trainer of Trainers from Ntcheu, with technical support and oversight from YODEP and Save the Children Malawi.

Through group discussions, role plays, practical exercises, and case studies, participants are exploring positive parenting, nonviolent discipline, child participation, family communication, child development, and family resilience.

The facilitators will use these skills to deliver age-appropriate sessions to families in their communities, helping parents, children, and adolescents strengthen relationships and promote safer, more supportive home environments. The sessions also aim to reduce risks of child abuse, neglect, violence, family separation, and sexual exploitation.

17/08/2026

Meet the women of Tiyanjane Village Savings and Loan (VSL) from Traditional Authority Chowe, Mangochi, who are saving, investing, and building stronger livelihoods together. With support from Youth for Development and Productivity (YODEP) and funding from Malawi Community Hubs (MCH), the group is advancing financial inclusion, entrepreneurship, and community resilience.

Watch, share, and be inspired by the journey of Tiyanjane VSL

16/08/2026

Youth for Development and Productivity (YODEP) recently welcomed the Ben Hofnung family, travelling from France with African Outback Adventures, for a two-day cultural exchange and community visit in Nteche Village, T/A Mwambo, Zomba District. The family’s visit aimed to learn about YODEP’s community development work and experience local Malawian culture.

During their stay, they toured YODEP’s main center, exploring the organization’s history and impact since 1998. At a beneficiary’s home, they helped mud the floor and prepare traditional food. They also engaged with the Tithandizane Women’s Group, gaining insight into how the village savings and loan system empowers women to save, access credit, and grow their small businesses.

On the second day, the visitors joined children at the Children’s Corner, where they took part in youth activities and a mentorship session on positive behavior, life choices, and leadership. The visit concluded with traditional dances and cultural performances, offering a meaningful opportunity for visitors and community members to share experiences, learn from each other, and strengthen their connections.

13/08/2026

Today, Youth for Development and Productivity (YODEP), in partnership with the Ministry of Gender and Social Welfare, concluded a three-day Psychological First Aid (PFA) training for child protection workers, case workers, and Children’s Corner facilitators in GVH Masaula, Traditional Authority Nkapita, Zomba District.

Funded by Save the Children Italy under the Anticipatory Action Project, the training equipped 24 participants with practical skills to recognize signs of distress, provide immediate emotional and practical support, and strengthen referral pathways for children and caregivers affected by climate-related shocks.

The training introduced the child-friendly Take 5 approach, recently adopted by the Ministry. The approach is designed for facilitators working with young people aged 10–18 in high-stress settings and uses breathing exercises, structured play, check-ins, and other engaging activities to help children manage stress, build coping skills, and strengthen resilience.

The training combined presentations, practical sessions, games, reflections, and discussions. Participants also practised facilitating play-based activities at a nearby Children’s Corner, receiving observation, coaching, and feedback to improve their facilitation skills.

13/08/2026

Youth for Development and Productivity (YODEP), through the Chabwino Project, is working with traditional leaders and parents under Group Village Head Mindano in Traditional Authority Mwambo, Zomba, to cultivate a field for Tikondane Community-Based Childcare Centre (CBCC) while helping households strengthen their resilience to climate shocks.

The initiative seeks to generate sustainable income for the centre by cultivating maize, tomatoes and vegetables, while equipping parents with practical agricultural skills to prepare for Super El Niño weather patterns predicted by the Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services.

Led by Village Head Chabwera, parents are preparing the land and receiving hands-on training from agriculture experts from the Department of Agriculture in Zomba on climate-smart farming, including the use of early-maturing crops. The activity is also strengthening community participation and ownership of the CBCC while helping households improve food production.

YODEP Project Coordinator Kayondo Silumbu said the initiative would provide the CBCC with a sustainable source of income while helping parents adapt their farming practices to changing weather conditions.

Parents welcomed the initiative, saying their involvement would enable them to contribute to the sustainability of the CBCC while improving food production at the household level.

06/08/2026

Mobile courts are bringing justice closer to communities in Ntcheu District, ensuring that vulnerable children and families who would otherwise struggle to access legal services can receive justice closer to where they live.

Through the Abwenzi A Ana Program, Youth for Development and Productivity (YODEP) in partnership with Save the Children Malawi is supporting mobile court sessions that strengthen child protection and reduce barriers to justice, particularly for girls in hard-to-reach communities.

During a session held at Mvimbo in Senior Chief Makwangwala, the court heard three cases involving sexual offences against children. Among the cases was that of a 47-year-old man from Makopola Village who was convicted of defilement and impregnating his 15-year-old daughter. The Ntcheu First Grade Magistrate’s Court sentenced him to 14 years’ imprisonment for defilement and an additional two years for threatening the survivor.

Speaking after the session, YODEP’s Program Manager said the convictions demonstrate the importance of ensuring perpetrators of violence against children are held accountable. He added that the program continues to conduct community awareness activities to promote reporting and prevent child abuse.

Beyond hearing cases, mobile court sessions provide a platform for civic education, helping community members understand the law, their rights, and available justice services. By bringing justice services closer and reducing barriers such as distance and transport costs, mobile courts are strengthening child protection systems and improving access to justice in remote communities.