Vijana Malawi

Dzaleka is Malawi’s largest refugee camp, which currently houses approximately 50,000 refugees. It is located 41 kilometres from the capital city, Lilongwe.

A common theme amongst refugee camps across the world is the protracted nature of life within the camps. Within such a congested and challenging environment, there are many ongoing issues, including poverty and inequality, with refugees’ de-skilling and losing hope.

A key way that poverty and inequality is being addressed has been through community-based organisations that are created by and for the people living in within these camps. Vijana Africa is a community-based organisation located within Dzaleka refugee camp, working to fight poverty and hunger, and to promote gender equality.

THREE for All has partnered with Vijana Africa in relation to the commitment and shared responsibility to tackle poverty and inequality within Dzaleka by funding courses in videography and photography. These 6-month courses have been successfully training students in filmmaking, business, and entrepreneurship. This project aims to be educational and sustainable, providing highly regarded skills for a future with income, food security and hope. The project provides opportunities for past students to share their knowledge and expertise.

With the support of THREE for All, since 2020 Vijana Africa has so far empowered 69 young refugees, both men and women to be qualified videographers. Furthermore, the project’s beneficiaries have been able to fight unemployment by utilising their videography and business skills. Joseph, Boston, and Kasa Production have launched photography studios. Clementine has been hired as photographer in the communication office of the Jesuit Refugee Service.

To successfully continue the work being undertaken in Dzaleka, Vijana Africa needs further support to accumulate more equipment, pay volunteer trainers, and assist the students in graduating their course.

If you would like to donate to this project, please head to our support page www.threeforallfoundation.org/donate

Our relationship with Vijana Africa began in 2019, with initial shared project activities scheduled for early 2020. When the COVID-19 pandemic began, and at Vijana’s request, we supported them to undertake activities aimed at COVID awareness and limiting the spread of the virus within the camp. . Taking into consideration the rapid speed of the virus and the high density living within Dzaleka, early intervention, awareness campaigns and relief packages were essential to get ahead of the virus. Vijana and Three For All coordinated to implement a two-stage response to help those most vulnerable. The first step consisted of distributing corn flour (a key ingredient in cooking), hand washing facilities and soap to maintain hygiene and prevent transmission of the virus. Additionally, Vijana worked to distribute awareness posters of COVID, which displayed how to stop the spread of the virus and broadcast key messages on COVID-19 prevention on the Yetu Community Radio. The second step only varied in that it took into consideration that a communal water pump was regularly accessed by large amounts of people. As a result, personal hand sanitizer bottles were dispersed in this stage to limit community transmission.

See photos of the COVID-19 response below