The Makazi Foundation

Providing Shelter to the Most Vulnerable

Makazi is the Swahili word to mean Shelter.

At The Makazi Foundation, we’re committed to creating a future where no young person is left behind. Based in Malawi, we work with vulnerable children and youth to unlock their potential and rewrite their stories. Through intentional support and transformative programs, we focus on building emotional strength, expanding knowledge, and opening pathways to financial independence; empowering the next generation to rise above poverty and lead purposeful lives.

Empowering Vulnerable Youth for a Brighter Future

What We Provide

Everything we do is rooted in the belief that lasting change starts from the inside out. Through psychosocial support, holistic education, and vocational skills training, we’re raising a generation that’s emotionally grounded, informed, and equipped to build a better future for themselves and their communities.

Psychosocial Support

Holistic Education

Vocational Skills Training

Emotional wellness is the foundation of all growth and fulfillment. We provide safe spaces for healing, self-discovery, and resilience because without mental strength, no progress can be sustained.

We educate for life. From women’s rights to breast cancer awareness, GBV, CSE, SRHR, and career guidance; we equip youth with knowledge that empowers them to live consciously and lead confidently.

We turn passion into purpose. Through hands-on skills in beauty, fashion, agriculture, and more, we aim to empower youth to earn a living, build independence, and break the cycle of poverty.

Our Impact

Since our founding, The Makazi Foundation has empowered hundreds of vulnerable children and youth across Malawi with the tools to overcome adversity and build better futures. Through psychosocial support, holistic education, and hands-on vocational training, we are creating lasting change; one life at a time.

2,500+

90+

Volunteers

Young People Reached

2025 Theme: Leave No One Behind

“Leave No One Behind” is more than a theme—it’s a promise. In 2025, we are deepening our commitment to ensure that no child or young person in Malawi is left out of the opportunity to learn, heal, and grow.

Too many vulnerable youth are excluded from education, mental health support, and practical skills development due to poverty, trauma, or lack of access.

We believe that inclusion is the foundation of true progress. When every young person is given a chance to succeed, entire communities are uplifted.

Empower Young People with Us

Have a question, partnership idea, or want to learn more about our work? We’d love to hear from you. Fill out the form below and a member of our team will get back to you as soon as possible.

“The future belongs to young people with an education and the imagination to create.”

– Barack Obama