LIWE - Local Initiatives for Women Empowerment

Who We Are

Women Leading from Within

Our Story

LIWE is helmed by a dedicated team of women who live and work in the communities we serve throughout Malawi, including Dzaleka Refugee Camp. This geographic and cultural connection empowers us to understand the unique complexities of each community beyond mere statistics.

Our leadership model emphasizes proximity, accountability, empathy, and trust, rather than traditional hierarchical structures. As a women-led organization active in various communities, we engage daily with vulnerable populations, particularly focusing on children, women, and adolescent girls whose sexual, reproductive, maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent health needs are often overlooked.

Vision

A future where every child is safeguarded, every woman is empowered and supported, and every adolescent girl has the autonomy to make informed decisions regarding her body and life. We strive for a world where health services are not just available but accessible and culturally competent.

Mission

To transform sexual, reproductive, maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent health outcomes through strong community leadership, functional referral systems, and strategic partnerships that prioritize equity over convenience. By empowering community members, we can foster lasting change across all our operational areas.

Our Why

The Reality We Refuse to Accept

Displacement intensifies vulnerabilities, particularly in health contexts. In areas like Dzaleka, young girls face forced early motherhood, women struggle to receive adequate care during childbirth, and countless children miss essential health services that can mean the difference between life and death. While information about health exists, real barriers to accessing these resources prevail.

LIWE was formed to confront these disparities directly—not with temporary fixes, but with innovative, community-driven systems designed to ensure health, life, and dignity for all. Our efforts extend across multiple catchment areas to ensure that our impact reaches as many people as possible.

Our Guiding Principles

Values That Drive Our Work

Community Before Institution

We prioritize the needs and voices of the community over institutional bureaucracies.

Girls' Autonomy and Protection

We advocate for the rights of girls, ensuring they have the agency to make decisions about their bodies and futures.

Women's Leadership as a Solution

We acknowledge that women's leadership is vital to addressing community issues, recognizing their roles as changemakers.

Evidence with Empathy

Our programs are based on data and research, complemented by an understanding of the human experience behind the numbers.

Accountability to the People We Serve

We hold ourselves responsible for delivering results that reflect the actual needs and aspirations of the communities we work with.

Our Programs

Building Systems, Not Just Services

Community Health Frontlines

Trained peer educators and mobilizers provide early identification of health risks, disseminate life-saving information, and accompany women to health facilities.

Girl Child Education

Providing educational resources, scholarships, and mentorship programs to ensure girls can pursue their education and reach their full potential.

Ending Gender-Based Violence

Comprehensive support services including awareness campaigns, counseling, legal assistance, and medical care for survivors of GBV.

Early Childhood Development

Holistic ECD programs providing skill development, family support, and community involvement to set children on a trajectory of success.

Women's Entrepreneurship

Training programs that support women in establishing businesses, contributing to the sustainability of their families and communities.

Reproductive Health Access

Advocating for safe and accessible abortion care, providing accurate information, and ensuring necessary resources are available without stigma.

Our Impact

Change You Can Measure

1,500+

Young girls educated on Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR) through community-led programs

95%

Of pregnant women in our programs received antenatal care, compared to national average of 60%

75%

Of women completed both antenatal and postnatal check-ups, ensuring their health and the health of their newborns

98%

Of children in targeted communities received necessary immunizations, greatly reducing childhood illness rates

300+

Survivors of gender-based violence received specialized care and referrals to support services

1,000+

Girls received educational scholarships and resources to promote their academic growth and combat child marriages

200+

Women trained in entrepreneurship, resulting in over 50 new businesses launched in the community

100%

Commitment to safeguarding dignity and ensuring accountability in all engagements with children, women, and girls

"Before LIWE, I didn't know where to go when I was pregnant. The support I received changed my life. Now I help other girls like me find the assistance they need."
— Community Member

Our Work in Action

A Message from Our Executive Director

Christina Matengula

In a world where the struggles of women, children, and marginalized communities often go unnoticed, we have the power to make a meaningful difference. At Local Initiatives for Women Empowerment (LIWE), we believe that every woman has the right to health, dignity, and self-determination. Every girl deserves the chance to pursue her dreams and every child should have access to the essential services that ensure a bright future.

As a Malawian woman, I have witnessed firsthand the challenges our communities face, especially in refugee camps like Dzaleka. But I have also seen the resilience and strength of our people. It is this strength that fuels my passion and commitment to our mission at LIWE. Our organization is not merely an initiative; it is a movement built on the voices and experiences of those we serve.

Together, through grassroots engagement, education, and empowerment, we are dismantling the barriers that hinder access to health and opportunities. We are ending the cycle of generational poverty, educating girls to become leaders, and supporting survivors of gender-based violence.

The road ahead is not easy, but it is filled with hope and potential. I invite you to join us in this vital work. Your support—whether through partnerships, donations, or advocacy—can create lasting change in the lives of women and girls across Malawi. Together, we can ensure that their voices are heard, their rights are upheld, and their futures are bright.

Let us transform lives and communities. Let us lead together, empower one another, and shape a more equitable world. The journey toward a healthier, more dignified future starts with each of us taking a bold step forward.

With gratitude and hope,
— Christina Matengula
Executive Director, Local Initiatives for Women Empowerment (LIWE)

Get Involved

Stand with Women and Girls

Partner

Collaborate with us to co-create programs that reflect the real needs of our community.

Support

Your investment helps us build structures that endure.

Volunteer

Join our movement rooted in action and accountability.

Contact Information

Head Office:

Dowa District, Malawi

Phone:

+265 995 654 989

From Survival to Strength