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Malawi

Compassion partnership began 2021

EST. 2021

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Bo! When you arrive in Malawi, you’ll see why it’s called ‘The Warm Heart of Africa’. You’ll meet people known for their friendliness and hospitality and enjoy their staple food nsima—a porridge made from corn. Malawi is home to spectacular landscapes, including rolling highlands, green valleys and the third-largest lake in Africa!

Population

21 M

Capital city

Lilongwe

Local time

Current Weather

, 0°C

Distance to Australia

11,340 km
Malawi has one of the highest poverty rates in the world. Children are the most vulnerable and 1 in 25 don’t survive early childhood. This heartbreaking reality is driven by poor nutrition and medical care in the first few years of life. And for children who do survive, the effects of not getting a good foundation are felt years, even generations, later.

Poverty in Malawi

70%
of people live in extreme poverty
4%
of children do not reach their fifth birthday
38%
of girls get married before they turn 18

Yet God's Church is on the move in Malawi. Compassion is partnering with local churches who are already driving transformation. Critical care during pregnancy, birth and the first year of life means children are getting the strong start they deserve. Opening education opportunities for youth is empowering them to build a future beyond poverty.

Compassion in Malawi

81
local church partners
17,271

children supported

894

babies and their mums supported

Impact in action

Eliza and Evidence

Change is happening across Malawi. Eliza’s heart used to break over not being able to feed her children, but the local church was her source of hope. There she learned how to farm using ashes and animal waste as fertiliser, and her dormant field began to flourish. Eliza is now teaching others, maize fields standing tall throughout the neighbourhood!

“My children cried because of hunger. I cried because I could not provide for them. Fanny [local church member] told me the church would support my son and empower me. That was the first encounter in years where someone reached out and spoke hope to my face. If you have food, you have peace, so everyone must have food in their home. With food, they can focus on other activities to build their lives.”
Eliza, mother of Evidence

Move with us in Malawi

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Help end poverty for a child

Pray for our Compassion Malawi staff who are training, supporting and encouraging newly established local church partners.

Pray that caregivers will find stable work so they can meet their children’s needs, especially amid a struggling economy.

Pray that children will have access to the food, clean water and medical care they need to be healthy.

Pray for peace and unity to prevail across the country.

Pray that local churches will continue to point people to God and the hope He holds for every household.

Pray for your neighbours

Join local churches in bringing these requests before God.

See the stories. Feel the impact. Move with compassion.

28 Feb 2025
International Women’s Day 2025: She Sees a Brighter Future
Some girls have all the supplies and support necessary to feel clean, safe, and protected, but this is not true for millions of young girls around the world who live in poverty. This global issue is known as period poverty.
10 May 2024
We Must Look After Our Own Backyard—But Can We Extend It?
We’re often told that we need to “look after our own backyard first”. But as our access to knowledge of what is going on around the world increases rapidly, is that possible? Or is it time to extend the boundaries of our yard and embrace our global neighbours?
13 Nov 2023
5 Teachers Changing Lives Around the World
You never forget a teacher who helped you believe in yourself. These five teachers are breaking barriers, defying odds and helping young people around the world see that education is key to a brighter future. These are their stories.

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Compassion Australia ABN 67 001 692 566. Authorised to fundraise in NSW (CFN/10658), VIC (FR0010734), QLD (CH1569), SA (CCP2632), TAS (F1A-208) and WA (20740). No authority to fundraise is required in the ACT or NT.