In a continued effort to promote meaningful youth engagement and strengthen community-based communication platforms, Ungweru Organisation, with support from AmplifyChange, carried out a field visit to Nkhata Bay from 22 to 24 April 2026 under the INSPIRE Project. The visit focused on engaging directly with school-based clubs through their patrons and matrons to better understand their operations, identify areas for improvement, and explore how these platforms can be effectively used to deliver Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) messages among young people.
Day One: Engagement at Kalowa Community Day Secondary School
The exercise began at Kalowa Community Day Secondary School, where the team held productive discussions with patrons and matrons from various school clubs, including Drama, Wildlife, Science, History, Young Christian Student (YCS), and Student Christian Organisation of Malawi (SCOM). The interaction created a space for open dialogue around both the strengths and challenges faced by these clubs. A recurring concern raised was the difficulty many students face in expressing themselves confidently, particularly in English, which often limits active participation. Other challenges included limited financial support for club activities, irregular attendance by members, insufficient learning materials especially for science-related activities, and difficulties in scheduling meetings due to students belonging to multiple clubs. Despite these setbacks, the Drama Club stood out as a strong example of impact, with its patron, Mr. Zaid, noting that the group consistently produces performances that reflect real-life experiences of young people in ways that are both engaging and thought-provoking.
Ungweru team in a discussion with the patrons and matrons of Kalowa school clubs
Day Two: Visit to Tukombo Private Secondary School
On 23 April, the team proceeded to Tukombo Private Secondary School, where similar engagements were conducted with club patrons and matrons. The discussions revealed that the challenges identified at Kalowa were not isolated, as patrons at Tukombo echoed many of the same concerns. This highlighted a broader pattern across schools and reinforced the importance of strengthening institutional and resource support for these clubs if they are to function effectively as platforms for youth engagement and learning.
Ungweru team poses with Tukombo school club patrons and matrons
Final Day: Tukombo Community Day Secondary School
The final day of the visit, that was on 24 April, 2026, involved a meeting with patrons and matrons at Tukombo Community Day Secondary School. The engagement was equally productive, with participants expressing a strong willingness to collaborate and improve the functioning of their respective clubs. The discussions also emphasized the need to integrate SRHR topics more deliberately into club activities, ensuring that students are equipped with accurate information and safe spaces for discussion.
Tukombo CDSS club patrons and matrons shares their experiences
Looking Ahead
Across all the schools visited, the team was warmly received, and the discussions showed just how committed teachers are to supporting their students beyond the classroom. There was a strong sense of teamwork and a shared goal of making sure young people have access to the right information and feel confident enough to talk about it. Through the INSPIRE Project, Ungweru Organisation will continue working closely with these schools to strengthen clubs and create spaces where important conversations about SRHR can grow naturally among young people.