By Cecelia Thula | Compliance Coordinator
August 2026 marked an exciting milestone for Dzuka Achinyamata as Stepping Stones International delivered its first youth activity in Malawi.
From 18 to 20 August 2026, we participated in the Malawi National Youth Summit in Lilongwe, which brought together more than 1,200 young people, government representatives, development partners, civil society organisations, and private-sector leaders.
On 19 August, we partnered with Shuga Global to deliver a Film and Storytelling Skills Lab. Young people explored how challenges such as unemployment, peer pressure, substance abuse, poverty, mental health, health and well-being, and difficulties staying in school can be transformed into powerful stories that inform, inspire, and create change.
Working in groups, participants developed characters and storylines while gaining practical skills in:
Participants also discovered career opportunities across the creative industry, including acting, scriptwriting, filming, editing, production, and wardrobe.
Although the breakaway session was too short to complete the full filmmaking process, participants successfully developed initial story ideas and left inspired to use their voices and experiences creatively. We will explore further collaboration with Shuga Global, including opportunities to develop youth-led educational content.
This energetic first step supports the wider Dzuka Achinyamata programme, which aims to equip 120 job-seeking young people and 500 secondary school students in Lilongwe with leadership, entrepreneurship, financial literacy, technology, employability, and life skills.
We appreciate the partnership of the National Youth Council of Malawi, National AIDS Commission, UNICEF, and Shuga Global in helping us create this platform for young people.
This is only the beginning of our journey. With support from our GlobalGiving donors, we can reach more young people, strengthen their skills, and connect them with mentors, employers, and opportunities to build brighter futures.
Thank you for helping Malawi’s young people turn their voices into action!
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