Ending aid dependency in Malawi

The Capacity Foundation:
Working to improve lives in Malawi

Malenga Mzoma is a community in rural Malawi, East Africa, which is taking control of its own destiny by ending its dependency on foreign aid.

Discover how the Capacity Foundation is helping local people change their lives and community by building their own businesses using an innovative funding model.

developing the local economy

Economic growth in Malenga Mzoma is being driven by small loans to individuals and co-operatives.

Ending dependence on aid

An entry-level loan of 200,000 Malawi kwacha (£87) is repayable over 12 months; by repaying 120%, each loan-taker contributes to the community’s Social Action Fund.

improving farming techniques

Demonstration fields train lead farmers in modern organic techniques, passing on their knowledge in a ‘cascade’ system.

increasing adult literacy

The Capacity Academy provides ten adult literacy and numeracy classes from which nearly a thousand people have graduated, with about 200 studying at any one time.

Retaining young talent

Capacity maintains ten youth clubs, running programmes intended to encourage Malenga Mzoma’s young people to build their lives in the area and help it to prosper.

Check out this animated guide to what the Capacity Foundation does, how we do it – and what makes us different.