The Mayamiko Trust advances social justice and equality by helping women empower themselves. We provide the skills, training and education women need to thrive.
The Mayamiko Trust offers training and educational courses for the most disadvantaged people in Malawi and other parts of Africa, teaching them transferable and creative skills such as tailoring, bee-keeping or solar lights promotion and then encouraging them to make the most of these new skills through entrepreneurial workshops, as well as our micro-financing scheme.
Explore some of our initiatives:
Fashion lab
Covid 19
Feminine Health
Business & Finance
Our Philosophy
For each initiative we ask three questions:
Can teaching this topic provide long-term opportunities to break out of poverty?
Can we expand our reach by integrating digital learning solutions?
Does it lead to a more environmentally aware and sustainable future?
For the numbers lovers
160
Over 160 women have graduated from our Fashion Lab sewing and tailoring training, received business mentorship and accessed funding to start their own business.
30,000
30,000 daily nutritious meals distributed to our trainees
2000+
Over 2000 sanitary pads have been distributed to girls and women living in refugee camps and our communities within the last year.
90
90 beekeepers received training and access to micro finance
5000+
5000 people in our immediate communities now have access to green, clean lighting in their homes through our solar initiatives.
5000+
4000+ masks donated to vulnerable groups in our surrounding communities
Meet our team
PAOLA MASPERI
Compelled by her extensive travel and work in the region, Paola Masperi established the Mayamiko trust in 2008 with the aim of helping marginalised women in Malawi by turning their creative talents into sustainable activities. Her ethos has always been about nurturing skills that can help people lift themselves out of poverty for a brighter future. Through her own creativity and determination to listen to women’s needs, The Mayamiko Trust has continued to embark on a number of life changing projects focused around long term impact.
HLUPE CHIRWA
Hlupe joined the Mayamiko Trust team in 2019, moved by our mission to provide women with the tools they need to thrive in life. Hlupe also runs an orphanage with her husband Titu: her life commitment is to make a long lasting positive impact on girls and women at the margins of society. Working at Mayamiko Trust allows Hlupe to support women in different and impactful ways. Energetic and fun, she is a joy to be around!
TOWERA Kadzamira
Towera is our long-standing tailoring and sewing teacher. She has spent the last 7 years teaching our Fashion Lab trainees and, most importantly, encouraging them to thrive. Towera took a break in 2019 as she welcomed her twins, and is now back with lots of energy, determination and creativity. She has so far overseen the graduation of close to 100 trainees!
Lucius Kasakala
Lucius is our micro finance, business and financial literacy expert: with almost 20 years experience in micro banking and inclusive finance, and a masters degree under his belt, Lucius has helped us design our entrepreneurship and financial literacy programmes, while providing guidance to ensure the long term economic impact of Mayamiko Trust’s initiatives.