The National Youth Council of Malawi (NYCOM) launched the ED’s Youth Impact Tour on 20th May with a powerful first stop in Balaka District, where youth-led solutions are not just being imagined—but actively built from the ground up.
The tour, championed by NYCOM Executive Director Mr. Rex Chapota , is a nationwide campaign to spotlight youth-driven innovation, amplify success stories, and directly engage with young changemakers shaping their communities. It marks a shift from passive consultation to real-time engagement, where youth voices are heard, and their innovations supported at the source.
Mr. Chapota began the tour with a courtesy call to the Balaka District Council, where he met with the District Commissioner, Mr. Harawa, and District Youth Officer, Mr. Mpinganjira. Discussions focused on deepening collaboration to ensure youth initiatives receive the recognition and support they deserve.
The ED then visited Springs of Hope, a youth-led organisation that started as a small club but has evolved into a dynamic force for community transformation. What he witnessed was nothing short of remarkable.
Springs of Hope has constructed a structure valued at approximately MWK 150 million, which they intend to turn into a Digital and Economic Hub—a bold vision to create a space for training, innovation, and youth enterprise in Balaka. The organisation also plans to launch the district’s first-ever farmers market, offering local youth and farmers a permanent space to sell produce and access better markets.
In the area of fashion and design, young creatives at Springs of Hope are producing high-quality laptop bags and accessories, ready for scale and entry into larger markets. The organisation is also leading in agricultural innovation—having inspired a group of young farmers into forming a farmers club, which transitioned into a cooperative thanks to a matching grant from the Malawi Agricultural Commercialisation – AGCOM Project amounting to MK173,555,000.00. With these funds, they have built a warehouse that strengthens their storage and supply chain systems.
Looking to the future, the group is exploring green innovations, including converting plastic waste into construction materials, and aims to position the new hub as a digital learning and enterprise centre for young people in the district.
In his remarks, Mr. Chapota applauded the group’s work and pledged NYCOM’s full support in helping them realise their goals.
“This is what the new narrative looks like. Youth who are not waiting for change, but creating it. Our role is to amplify your stories and support your vision,” he said.
During the engagement, the youth also expressed a desire for a local clinic, solar-powered irrigation systems, and tools for value addition, such as turning tomatoes into sauce. In response, Mr. Chapota announced that NYCOM will support Springs of Hope in matching their AGCOM grant using funds from the Youth Innovation Fund (YIF) to procure a tractor—an investment that will significantly strengthen their agricultural operations. With this funding, the youth in Balaka have the potential of creating 15 permanent jobs in the first year and 100 season jobs each year!
As the tour continues, NYCOM aims to not only highlight youth innovation but also to unlock partnerships that will elevate such initiatives to the next level. The Council is looking to leverage collaboration with institutions such as the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa AGRA-Sustainably Growing Africa’s Food Systems. —with whom NYCOM is already implementing the Youth Entrepreneurship for the Future of Food and Agriculture (YEFFA)project. This initiative is transforming food systems through youth-led entrepreneurship by equipping young people with leadership, safeguarding, and enterprise skills to build a competitive and inclusive agro-processing sector.
In addition, the recent Memorandum of Understanding signed between NYCOM and the Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority – MACRA (MACRA) is expected to provide critical support to youth-led digital innovations.
NYCOM will continue to engage with other Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), the United Nations system, development agencies, and the private sector to unlock resources and technical partnerships that can scale up youth innovation across Malawi.
The ED’s Youth Impact Tour is more than a visit—it’s a call to action, showing that Malawi’s youth are not just part of the future, but are already reshaping the present
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