In a bold move to fight HIV transmission and improve livelihoods, adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) from Mtchembere in Traditional Authority (TA) Mlilima are turning the tide in their community through education and entrepreneurship initiatives.
Development Aid from People to People (DAPP) Malawi, with funding from the Global Fund through World Vision Malawi, is spearheading a three-year HIV prevention project targeting AGYW aged 15 to 29. The project, running from 2024 to 2027, aims to reduce HIV incidence and combat gender-based violence across 14 Traditional Authorities in Chikwawa District.
One of the success stories emerging from the project is that of Stelliah Mzumala, a Peer Educator under the programme. Since its inception, Stelliah has successfully recruited and mentored two clubs of at-risk girls, each boasting 40 members. Using toolkits developed specifically for peer educators, these girls meet weekly for interactive sessions focused on HIV prevention, gender-based violence, and life skills.

In an innovative effort to retain club members and promote self-reliance, the girls introduced a Village Savings and Loans (VSL) scheme. Despite lacking formal VSL training under the project, Stelliah leveraged her previous experience as a community facilitator to guide the group. The initiative has provided a vital platform for the girls to support one another financially, reducing the temptation to engage in risky behaviour for economic gain.

The group has also ventured into agriculture, cultivating a one-acre sweet potato farm. They anticipate earning approximately K500,000 from the harvest — a development the girls say is a life-changing opportunity.
"As a group, we are very excited. Apart from sharing information on how we can protect ourselves from HIV and other diseases, we have managed to engage in farming which doesn’t even require fertiliser. We are dreaming big — economic independence will help us avoid transactional sex and safeguard our futures," said Stelliah Mzumala.
She extended her gratitude to DAPP and World Vision Malawi for supporting the project, noting that it is already making a significant impact in empowering adolescent girls in her community.

The project continues to work closely with Area Development Committees, Village Development Committees, Community-Based Organisations, and Peer Navigators to create safe spaces for young women to thrive.