On 31 October 2026, the Access to Justice team formed a Youth Peace-Building Club at Mzuzu Prison, using discussions and learning materials to help young people reduce crime through conflict management and legal awareness.
The club was born out of a simple conviction: that young people who understand the causes of violence are better equipped to avoid it. It will serve as a platform for education, dialogue and advocacy, and it forms part of wider efforts in Malawi to strengthen youth participation in conflict prevention, mediation and reconciliation. Beyond equipping its members, the club aims to turn them into peace advocates, first within the prison community and, in time, in their wider communities.
To begin the visit, the organisers gathered the young people and explained the purpose of the initiative. The discussion centred on how conflict, violence, gender-based conflict, trauma and lack of knowledge of the law can each contribute to crime. This set the stage for a deeper look at how such problems can be prevented before they escalate.
Access to Justice Coordinator of Ungweru Organisation, Michelle Scot, emphasised that many conflicts can be avoided when young people understand what causes violence and learn non-violent ways of settling disagreements. In other words, crime is often the end of a chain of unresolved conflict, and breaking that chain early is the surest way to stop it.
“Most violence does not start as a crime. It starts as a disagreement that nobody knew how to resolve peacefully. When we learn to manage conflict, we close the door to crime before it opens,” said Scot.
Michelle Scot addressing young people at Mzuzu Prison as the peace-building initiative was introduced.
Building on this message, the organisers introduced the learning materials the club will use in its future sessions. The books and topics cover conflict and violence prevention, gender-based conflict and violence, reconciliation and the journey towards it, trauma awareness and management, making peace with people with disabilities, and basic legal awareness and responsible decision-making. Together, they give members both the knowledge and the practical skills to handle disagreements peacefully.
The role of young people in this work was highlighted by Misheck Msokwa from the Ministry of Youth and Sports, who urged members to share what they learn with their fellow youth so that peaceful values spread beyond the club. His message was that peace-building does not end in the meeting room, and that trained young people can become accessible peace ambassadors to those around them.
“What you learn here should not stay here. Each of you can become a voice for peace among your peers, because young people listen to one another,” said Msokwa.
Encouraged by these discussions, the young people agreed to form the Peace-Building Club. It will provide a safe and structured space where members can learn, share experiences, discuss challenges and support one another as they grow into advocates for peace.
For the prison community, the club is a chance to turn time inside into time for growth. Rose Chitowe of Mzuzu Prison welcomed the initiative, noting that responsible decision-making and awareness of the law can help young people rebuild their lives and make better choices in the future.
“Every young person here can still choose a different path. With knowledge of the law and the skills to resolve conflict peacefully, that choice becomes possible,” said Chitowe.
Rose Chitowe of Mzuzu Prison sharing her perspective as the young people committed to forming the club
This peer-to-peer approach is central to the club’s expected impact. Organisers anticipate that members will become more aware of conflict, violence, trauma and the law, and more capable of managing disputes without violence. They also expect a better understanding of gender-based conflict and greater respect for people with disabilities. Over time, these changes should reduce involvement in crime and violent behaviour, strengthen peer support and positive leadership, and produce youth advocates who promote peace inside and beyond the prison.
To sustain this momentum, the club will hold regular meetings and work through the selected books and topics, while also developing practical advocacy activities. Ungweru Organisation and Mzuzu Prison will follow up to monitor progress, support the club’s leadership and keep members actively engaged, recognising that continued youth involvement in dialogue, mediation and reconciliation is key to building peaceful and resilient communities in Malawi.
The Access to Justice project is funded by St. Patrick’s Missionary Society and is run by Ungweru Organisation in conjunction with Mzuzu Prison.