Art & Global Health Center Africa

Art & Global Health Center Africa ArtGlo fosters creative leadership and implements innovative initiatives in public health, leadership, arts, and human rights

ArtGlo focuses on solving the big challenges that Malawi is facing through social behaviour change by using the participatory arts. To that aim, ArtGlo has three main programming areas, each tackling a different challenge. Make Art for Sustainable Actions uses theatre for development techniques that are grounded in Augusto Boal's Theatre for the Oppressed pedagogy. Small groups from a variety of c

ommunities, such as colleges, secondary schools, and rural villages, learn about the technical aspects of the challenge they face, such as HIV, s*xual and reproductive health and rights, or food security. These groups also learn participatory arts techniques in order to create some kind of performance that integrates and shows the challenges they face in a creative way. The community is then invited to the performance and their ideas and solutions that come from taking part in the performance are used to make community action plans. Students with Dreams fills the gap of creative problem solving and leadership skills left in youth by the Malawian education system. College students apply to the programme with an idea for a project that will create social change. Once accepted, the students then receive training and mentorship on a variety of topics, such as collaboration, project management, and financial management. With a small amount of seed funding, the students then implement their project, and tackle all of the challenges that come along with it. Umunthu aims to end discrimination and stigma of marginalised groups, most particularly LGBTI people. The programme draws on the local philosophy of "umunthu," or of a shared humanity. Over the course of a three-day workshop, participants explore what kinds of discrimination they see in their lives and how to reconcile that with the belief in "umunthu." Umunthu has targeted higher education and healthcare workers.

Creativity, Community and Health Across Borders ArtGlo's Executive Director recently co-facilitated a dynamic Creative P...
03/06/2026

Creativity, Community and Health Across Borders

ArtGlo's Executive Director recently co-facilitated a dynamic Creative Participatory Workshop alongside Dr. Sharifa Abdulla and Albert Dube in Mumbai, India, as part of the GRACE-Epi Research Programme.

The workshop, that was part and parcel of Mumbai Arts and Health Festival brought together community members from the vibrant Dharavi community, creating a space for dialogue, reflection, storytelling, and creative expression. Through participatory arts-based methods, participants explored their lived experiences, health, wellbeing, and the role that arts and cultural engagement play in shaping health ageing.

This engagement forms part of the GRACE-Epi research programme, a seven-year initiative funded by a Wellcome Discovery Award and led by University College of London in partnership with University of Glasgow and Malawi Epidemiological Research and Intervention Unit. The programme collaborates closely with Art and Global Health Centre Africa, Global South Arts and Health Network, and Global Cultural Districts Network to investigate how arts and cultural engagement influence health and ageing across diverse contexts.

Hosted by Rima Basu from Acorn Foundation, Devika Mehta, Natasha Sharma and Mahek Shringhey from Mumbai Arts and Health festival, the workshop demonstrated the power of creative participation in generating community knowledge, strengthening social connections, and contributing to innovative approaches to health research.

At ArtGlo, we remain committed to advancing participatory arts-based approaches that place communities at the centre of social transformation and knowledge creation.

Academic institutions have a critical role in shaping how societies understand and respond to refugee experiences. Throu...
25/05/2026

Academic institutions have a critical role in shaping how societies understand and respond to refugee experiences. Through education, research and storytelling, academia can challenge stereotypes, inform policy and cultivate compassionate citizenship.

ArtGlo has been engaging tertiary institutions across Malawi using the film We Name Ourselves as a catalyst for dialogue on refugee rights and systemic barriers. Most recently, students from Mzuzu University's Communications Department and Mzuzu Technical College joined these conversations, reflecting critically on human-centred narratives and their own responsibilities as emerging communicators and advocates.

The engagements at Mzuzu University and Mzuzu technical college are part of a growing national conversation. Through We Name Ourselves, ArtGlo has now engaged tertiary institutions across Blantyre, Lilongwe, Zomba, Chiradzulu, and Ntcheu districts including the University of Malawi, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences and Malawi Adventist University among others.

Today we join all Malawians in honoring the legacy of Malawi's first President. Happy Kamuzu Day.
14/05/2026

Today we join all Malawians in honoring the legacy of Malawi's first President. Happy Kamuzu Day.



We are delighted to welcome Christina Jim to Art & Global Health Center Africa. Christina recently completed her studies...
12/05/2026

We are delighted to welcome Christina Jim to Art & Global Health Center Africa. Christina recently completed her studies in Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Extension and is currently awaiting graduation. She brings with her a passion for creativity, learning and community engagement.

Christina is excited about collaborative work and values a peaceful working environment where people can share ideas and work together toward positive change. She is particularly inspired by the arts approach being implemented at ArtGlo, where participatory arts methodologies are used to facilitate difficult conversations and address community challenges in engaging and meaningful ways.

As she joins the team, we look forward to the energy and creativity she will bring to the organization. We warmly welcome Christina and wish her a fulfilling and impactful journey with ArtGlo.

A powerful start to Zomba City Festival 2026. The opening day has started with a parade from Zomba town heading towards...
01/05/2026

A powerful start to Zomba City Festival 2026. The opening day has started with a parade from Zomba town heading towards University of Malawi where the opening ceremony is scheduled.

We continue to cherish our long partnership with Zomba City Festival and we are bringing the ArtGlo energy again this year!.


Today we join the world in honoring the dedication, resilience and creativity of workers as we aim to build a future of...
01/05/2026

Today we join the world in honoring the dedication, resilience and creativity of workers as we aim to build a future of safe and fair work. Happy Labour day!

We successfully conducted a validation workshop following Phase 1 of data collection under the S*x for Fish research pro...
29/04/2026

We successfully conducted a validation workshop following Phase 1 of data collection under the S*x for Fish research project. This is a significant milestone in our collaborative research exploring the intersectionality of the s*x for fish practice and climate change along the shores of Lake Chilwa.

The session brought together project team members and key stakeholders at Villa Kupa to review and reflect on the initial findings from the field. This important research is being conducted in collaboration with Nilanjana Ganguli, a PhD candidate at the University of York, and focuses on the communities of Kachulu and Chisi Island, two communities whose livelihoods and vulnerabilities are deeply shaped by the changing face of Lake Chilwa.

Next steps include convergence workshops and dissemination as we move closer to amplifying the voices and realities of the communities at the heart of this research

ArtGlo is coming to Zomba City Festival!We are excited to be part of the Zomba City Festival from 1st to 3rd May 2026. C...
22/04/2026

ArtGlo is coming to Zomba City Festival!

We are excited to be part of the Zomba City Festival from 1st to 3rd May 2026. Come and find us, experience the power of arts for social change. See you there!



ArtGlo’s recent engagement in Mulanje District revealed a serious cross-border child protection issue affecting communit...
17/04/2026

ArtGlo’s recent engagement in Mulanje District revealed a serious cross-border child protection issue affecting communities near Muloza boarder. Through the Tiyambe Theatre for Development (TFD) performance held in Likhanyaule Village, under T/A Njema on 12 April 2026, it was brought to light that in a nearby area across the Malawi-Mozambique border known as Villa, some children particularly girls are being coerced into relationships in exchange for money. This practice is contributing to rising cases of early pregnancies and school dropouts.

The issue sparked strong reactions among community members and stakeholders who called for increased vigilance and stronger collaboration between families and authorities to safeguard children.

Mukhoza Magistrate Court Clerk Paul Kachingwe emphasized the legal implications and the role of parents:

“Parents must be vigilant in protecting their children. The law will not spare those who are involved in or allow such behavior to continue,” he warned.

The engagement reinforced the importance of parental responsibility and coordinated action in addressing cross-border child exploitation and gender-based violence.

GROWN FROM WITHIN: MEET THE MASTER TRAINERS POWERING TIYAMBE PROJECTBehind every powerful TFD performance under the Tiya...
14/04/2026

GROWN FROM WITHIN: MEET THE MASTER TRAINERS POWERING TIYAMBE PROJECT

Behind every powerful TFD performance under the Tiyambe Project are dedicated individuals who have walked the journey from community drama club members to skilled master trainers facilitating dialogue and championing gender equality in the tea and macadamia estates of Mulanje and Thyolo. Two such individuals are Brian Manyamba from Mulanje and Mathews Kuluwe from Thyolo whose stories reflect the transformative potential of the Tiyambe Project not only for the communities it serves but for the people who make it happen.

Brian Manyamba joined the project in 2022 as a drama club member from Ruo Estate. Through dedication and passion, he grew into a Master Trainer in 2023. Today Brian plays a key role in building the capacity of community members equipping them with skills to facilitate dialogue and drive development in their own communities.

“What I enjoy most is strengthening the capacity of community members to lead change and support development where they live,” Brian shares.

Similarly, Mathews Kuluwe began his journey in 2022 as a member of the Naasonia Drama Club at Naasonia Estate. In 2023, he stepped into the role of Master Trainer for Thyolo. Through his work, Mathews engages with diverse stakeholders creating connections that extend beyond his immediate community.

“This role has given me the opportunity to meet and interact with different stakeholders, something that would have been difficult without the project,” says Mathews.

Together, Brian and Mathews represent the impact of the Tiyambe Project transforming young people from performers into facilitators of change. Their journeys highlight how ArtGlo is empowering individuals to take leadership roles and inspire collective action in Tea and Macadamia estates of Mulanje and Thyolo.

Address

Kalimbuka
Zomba

Opening Hours

Monday 08:00 - 17:00
Tuesday 08:00 - 17:00
Wednesday 08:00 - 17:00
Thursday 08:00 - 17:00
Friday 08:00 - 13:00

Telephone

+265883377495

Website

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