UNICEF USA and MS NOW announced a record $6.3 million raised through the K.I.N.D. (Kids in Need of Desks) Fund to support education in Malawi, according to a Tuesday statement from UNICEF USA. Celebrating 15 years of operations, the initiative has delivered over 400,000 desks and provided nearly 38,000 scholarships to schoolgirls. The funding comes after the Malawi government abolished public secondary school fees in 2025, providing material support as student enrolment expands across the country.
In the tertiary sector, the Catholic University of Malawi is partnering with the Forum for African Women Educationalists in Malawi (FAWEMA) to expand university access for marginalized youth, AMECEA reports. Vice Chancellor Professor Francis Moto confirmed the institution is part of the Second Chance Pathways initiative, backed by the Mastercard Foundation. The programme will support 750 vulnerable students, with an 80 percent female enrolment ratio, to enter Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics courses across eight local institutions, including the University of Livingstonia.
Meanwhile, research published this week by Kalamazoo College details the success of the Mulanje-based Othakarhaka Foundation in helping young women overcome barriers to education. The organisation uses community interventions, including school-fee sponsorship, mobile health clinics, and local tree-planting initiatives designed to bring firewood sources closer to villages. Researchers noted these practical support systems reduce the hours girls spend gathering wood and help young women facing financial and social hurdles complete their secondary education.