Your amazing contribution this month will reach 120 widows in Malawi, setting them up for a new life with the skills and funding to generate an income for their families.

Married young (50% of girls in Malawi are wed before they turn 18) then widowed and left with nothing, these women are usually very poorly educated but they are resourceful, intelligent and desperate to provide for their children.

We’re partnering with the Jacaranda Foundation who have been transforming communities through education for 21 years. Our grant will get 120 widows a place on a free six week locally-led entrepreneurship course. Armed with their new skills they will be supported to apply for jobs or access an interest-free microloan to help get their own business off the ground. The results from previous cohorts are impressive. After just six months 85% of alumni had profitable businesses.

On average each course participant will have 6 dependants meaning over 800 people will directly benefit from your generosity this month. Over time this work serves to help redress the gender imbalance in Malawian society, and contribute to avoiding more young girls being forced to marry early to relieve financial stress on their family.