WHO WE ARE

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ABOUT US

Shaping Our Future Foundation (SOFF) is a Malawian Civil Society Organization (CSO), established and registered in 2020 to advance the rights, dignity, and wellbeing of girls through the holistic development of the village girl.

At SOFF, we believe that when a rural girl is educated, healthy, and economically empowered, entire communities are transformed. Our work is anchored in four core pillars:

  • Keeping Girls in School

  • Women & Community Economic Empowerment

  • Adolescent & Community Health  

  • Humanitarian Assistance

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MISSION

Promoting the holistic development of the village girl and street child.
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VISION

A holistic citizen empowered for social impact through emancipation from a difficult childhood in the village or on the streets.
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VALUES

• Compassion
• Partnership
• Integrity
• Impact
• Dignity

WHY WE EXIST

Malawi’s girls continue to face staggering barriers to education, health, and opportunity. Only 15% of eligible learners are enrolled in secondary school — and girls make up just 34% of that number, translating to barely 5% of eligible girls nationwide. Girls account for 63% of secondary school dropouts, largely driven by teenage pregnancy and child marriage. Nationally, 42% of women are married before the age of 18, and the adolescent birth rate stands at 118 per 1,000 girls aged 15–19. One-third of new HIV infections occur among young people aged 15–24, with two-thirds affecting adolescent girls.

Behind these statistics is a name, a face, and a dream.

Alinafe was nearly counted among them. Faced with early marriage because her family could not afford school fees, her education was cut short. Through the SOFF Bursary Programme, she was rescued, returned to school, and reclaimed her future. Today, her story stands in powerful contrast to the statistics — proof that when girls are supported, protected, and given opportunity, they rise.

We exist to turn alarming numbers into stories of possibility — ensuring that every rural girl has the chance to stay in school, stay healthy, and build a future defined not by limitation, but by leadership and hope.

Meet Alinafe, who bravely shares her journey of being rescued from child marriage through the SOFF Bursary Programme. Her story is one of hope, resilience, and renewed opportunity. With support from SOFF, she returned to school and reclaimed her future—choosing education over early marriage.

STRATEGIC FOCUS

3000

 

Girls and Boys retained and complete Secondary School  by 2026

5000

 

Secondary School Bursaries provided

100+

 

Villages Economically Empowered

SRHR Promoted & GBV Reduced

Download Strategy Here

OUR MANAGEMENT TEAM

Michael Pamfwiri Mkandawire (PHD)

Executive Director


Jessy Uchindami Gondwe

Head of Programs, Strategy and Impact

Lawrence Kayesa

Programs Coordinator



Aida Kachapila

Finance and Administration Officer


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Michael Pamfwiri Mkandawire (PHD)

Dr. Mkandawire is a seasoned leader with over 15 years of experience in non-profit and academic leadership. He brings expertise in governance, strategic planning, and public policy, guiding the organization with integrity, accountability, and a strong commitment to inclusive community development.

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Jessy Uchindami Gondwe

Jessy is a Programs and M&E specialist with over nine years of experience in international and local NGOs. She holds a Master of Science in Global Health Delivery, a Postgraduate Degree in International Gender Studies and a Bachelor’s degree in Nursing and Midwifery. She leads evidence-based programming to ensure measurable and sustainable impact.

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Lawrence Kayesa

Lawrence is an Education and Community Development professional, holding a Bachelor of Arts (Education) with over 10 years of experience. He coordinates the organization’s education portfolio and supports the integration of education within health, economic empowerment, and humanitarian programs.

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Aida Kachapila

Aida brings over 12 years of experience in finance and accounting. She oversees financial management and administrative systems, ensuring transparency, compliance, and strong institutional accountability.

OUR FOUNDER

Her Excellency Madame Monica Chakwera is the wife of Dr. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera, the sixth President of the Republic of Malawi.

 

She was born and raised in Mwazisi in Rumphi District, Northern Malawi. In a career spanning four decades, until her retirement in 2017, Madame Monica Chakwera was a Chartered Accountant and a member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA). She was also a qualified Social Worker with a Bachelor of Arts in Social Work Degree from the University of the North, in South Africa. Prior to qualifying as a Chartered Accountant and as a Social Worker, Her Excellency Madame Chakwera pursued her Studies with the Malawi University of Business Administration (MUBAS), where she was awarded a Diploma in Business Studies. Madame Chakwera worked with several international development organisations such as the British Council, International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Plan International, the Irish Embassy as well as the accounting firm, Deloitte.

 

For years, Madame Chakwera has been working on supporting the development of the village girl and street children, two causes she is passionate about. Her passion for the village girl is inspired by her own roots of upbringing in the village. She faced struggles in paying school fees for her secondary school education. Save the Children came to her rescue in the final years of secondary school to enable her to finish her studies. It is this experience that has made her an inspirational advocate for women empowerment and girl-child education, to promote positive social transformation and lifelong opportunities to education.

The Life Story of Her Excellency Madame Monica Chakwera;Former First Lady of the Republic of Malawi (2020-2025)

Despite the challenges, we see the young girl from the remote area beating the odds and succeeding in education. Through thick and thin, her story is that which reinforces hope, determination, focus, dedication and it underscores the unlimited potential of the girl-child. Plan International Malawi believes this video will stand the test of time and go a long way in fulfilling the sense of purpose in girls across Africa. It also calls upon a collective responsibility in raising the girl-child.