Radio Program Leads to Donated Building for Youth in Rural Malawi

(April 22, 2024) The group village head of Mwanjawala village in northern Malawi is donating space in an unused building as a place for youth to meet. It comes after a parent Shashura Mwalilino heard a program on Radio Dinosaur in Karonga about why parents need to allow their teenagers access to contraceptives. Mwalilino then contacted Group Village Head Mwanjawala-Mwangwabira. The GVH says “I provided the space because Mr. Shashura approached me after listening to the radio program. He said there was a discussion on the radio, but I did not listen to it myself. But knowing that it was talking about our youths, I had no problems as I know very well that it is going to assist my community as explained to me by Shashura.” During a meeting on February 19th, attended by 14 people, including three youth, GVH Mwanjawala- Mwangwabira said he'd like to see the space be used as a youth corner. 17-year old Fanny Mwabungulu, who attended the meeting, agreed. “We should have in our community a place where we can go to as youths and get the services we want next to us as we walk long distances (up to 5-6 kilometers) to the main hospital to access the services we need,” Mwabungulu said. The building requires renovations because a storm blew off the roof a few months ago.