joan.kalepa@yahoo.com +265 888 159 622 Donate
Home / About Us

About Mwayi WEI

Our story, vision, mission, and the values that guide everything we do for women and girls in Malawi.

African woman
Our Story

The Challenge & Our Response

Mwayi Women Empowerment Initiative was established as a holistic response to Malawi's crisis of teenage pregnancy — where an estimated 29% of girls aged 15–19 are already mothers and only about 10% manage to return to school.

We recognized that teenage pregnancy is not only an education issue but a complex challenge linked to poverty, malnutrition, limited health access, and persistent gender inequality. The only effective response is an integrated one.

Registered under the Registrar of Companies as a legally recognized non-profit, Mwayi WEI aligns with Malawi Vision 2063 in prioritizing education, health, gender equality, and livelihoods for national development.

0%Girls 15–19 who are already mothers
0%Girls married before age 18
0Maternal deaths per 100,000 live births
0%Adolescent mothers who re-enroll in school
Vision & Mission

Where We're Going & How We Get There

🌟

Our Vision

Where We Are Going

"A Malawi where teenage mothers and women of reproductive age are healthy, educated, economically empowered, and able to achieve their full potential."

Aligned with Malawi Vision 2063 — prioritizing education, health, gender equality, and livelihoods as critical pillars for national development.

🎯

Our Mission

What We Do

"To empower teenage mothers and women of reproductive age in Malawi through integrated programs in education, nutrition, health, and economic empowerment, enabling them to build resilient livelihoods."

Aligned with the National Gender Policy (2015) and National Adolescent Health Strategy (2017–2022).

Core Values

What We Stand For

Six principles that guide every decision and every program we deliver.

⚖️

Equity & Inclusion

Ensuring vulnerable girls and women have equal opportunities, in line with Malawi's constitutional values on non-discrimination.

💪

Empowerment

Supporting women to make informed decisions about their health, education, and livelihoods — consistent with the National Youth Policy (2013).

🙏

Dignity & Respect

Promoting the rights and dignity of adolescent mothers, aligned to Malawi Vision 2063 which underscores dignity as a national value.

🏘️

Community Participation

Working with communities to ensure sustainable change, reflecting the National Community Development Policy (2016).

📊

Accountability & Transparency

Ensuring responsible use of resources, supporting governance reforms under Vision 2063.

💡

Innovation & Learning

Applying evidence-based approaches and adapting to community needs, aligned with national priorities for adaptive programming.

Mother and child
Who We Serve

Primary Beneficiaries

Our programs are designed around those most vulnerable and most in need of integrated support:

👩‍👧
Teenage Mothers (10–19 years)

Adolescents currently pregnant or parenting — identified as highly vulnerable in Malawi's reproductive health statistics.

👩‍💼
Women of Reproductive Age (15–49 years)

Women facing barriers to economic participation and health services.

👶
Children of Adolescent Mothers

At high risk of stunting, low birthweight, and developmental delays.

Theory of Change

How We Create Lasting Change

When women receive integrated support, they transform not just their own lives — but their families' and communities' futures.

Step 1 — Inputs

Integrated Support Programs

Education · Nutrition · Healthcare · Psychosocial Support · Economic Opportunities

Step 2 — Outputs

Empowered Women

Improved health, livelihood skills, decision-making capacity, and community standing

Step 3 — Outcomes

Family & Community Transformation

Improved maternal health · Reduced poverty · Increased school retention · Stronger community resilience

Step 4 — Impact

Sustainable National Development

Healthier families · Gender equality · Aligned with Malawi Vision 2063

Governance

Organizational Structure

Compliant with good governance practices recommended by the NGO Regulatory Authority (NGORA) guidelines in Malawi.

Board of Directors

Governance & Strategic Oversight

Executive Director

Day-to-Day Lead

Program Manager

Program Design & Oversight

Finance & Admin Officer

Financial Integrity

M&E Officer

Data & Evidence Systems

Community Field Officers

Grassroots Implementation

Volunteers & Peer Educators

Community Engagement

Leadership

Meet Our Board of Directors

Our board combines expertise in financial governance, social development, public administration, and community leadership — guiding Mwayi WEI with integrity, accountability, and a shared commitment to women's empowerment.

Joan Kalepa — Board Chairperson & Executive Director
JK
Board Chairperson

Joan Kalepa

Executive Director & Founding Board Chairperson

Joan Kalepa is the founding Executive Director and Board Chairperson of Mwayi Women Empowerment Initiative. A passionate champion for gender equality, she brings extensive leadership experience in community development, program design, and organizational management. With deep roots in Malawi's development sector, Joan has dedicated her career to building integrated pathways for vulnerable women and girls to access education, economic opportunity, and essential health services. She leads Mwayi WEI's strategic direction, donor engagement, and cross-sector partnerships — holding the organization accountable to its mission and to the communities it serves. Her evidence-based approach and hands-on community mobilization have been instrumental in developing Mwayi WEI's five-pillar model, building a lasting legacy of transformative impact across Malawi's most underserved districts.

Community Development Program Design Strategic Leadership Donor Relations
Priscilla — Board Member, Financial Governance
P
Financial Governance

Priscilla

Board Member · Chartered Accountant & MBA

Priscilla is a Chartered Accountant with over 20 years of experience spanning financial management, budgeting, forecasting, payroll, and audit management across Malawi, Mozambique, the DRC, Kenya, and the United States. She holds a Bachelor of Accounting (Honours) and an MBA, and is proficient in QuickBooks, Sage Intacct, IFMIS, Power BI, Vena Budgeting Tool, and SAP Concur. As Mwayi WEI's financial governance board member, Priscilla provides rigorous oversight of financial reporting, internal controls, and compliance frameworks — ensuring donor investments are safeguarded and deployed with maximum effectiveness. Her cross-continental expertise strengthens the organization's credibility with institutional funders and bilateral partners, enabling Mwayi WEI to attract and manage grants at scale.

Chartered Accountant MBA Audit & Compliance QuickBooks · SAP · Power BI
Catherine Chiwowa Ngoleka — Board Member, Social Development
CCN
Social Development

Catherine Chiwowa Ngoleka

Board Member · Social Development & Program Specialist

Catherine Chiwowa Ngoleka is a Social Development Professional and Program Specialist with deep expertise in social work, community development, child protection, social protection, and welfare programming. She holds a Master's in Transformative Community Development, a Bachelor of Social Science in Social Work, and a Diploma in Food, Nutrition and Livelihood Security — a multidisciplinary foundation that directly informs Mwayi WEI's holistic model. Catherine brings extensive field experience in program design, implementation, monitoring, and stakeholder engagement. Her technical knowledge ensures Mwayi WEI's interventions are grounded in best practice, responsive to community needs, and aligned with international social development standards. She is a committed advocate for rights-based approaches to women's empowerment and child welfare.

MSc Transformative Comm. Dev. Child Protection Social Protection Food & Nutrition Security
Board Member — Development & Public Service
BD
Development & Public Service

Board Member

Development & Public Service Leader · MBA, BEd

A distinguished Development and Public Service leader with 32 years of experience, this board member brings institutional depth to Mwayi WEI's governance. With 17 years in Malawi's Civil Service and 15 years with international NGOs, he has operated at the intersection of government policy and grassroots implementation across education, agriculture, economic development, and natural resource management. He holds an MBA (UNIMA), a Bachelor of Education (Domasi/UNIMA), a Diploma in Agriculture & NRM, a T2 Teaching Certificate, and a PMD Pro Certification. His expertise in strategic program design, project cycle management, government-NGO coordination, and capacity building ensures Mwayi WEI's programs align with national development frameworks and deliver lasting impact.

MBA · BEd · PMD Pro Civil Service · NGO Sector Agriculture & NRM Capacity Building

Ready to Support Mwayi WEI's Mission?

Partner with us, volunteer your skills, or make a donation to help more women break the cycle of poverty.

Contact Us Donate Now