The name Diana Baluwa might not be familiar in both business and charity circles, but her business brand under the trademark of Ellie’s, is.
You have probably heard about Ellie’s Bakery, Ellie’s Car Hire and Ellie’s Farms situated in Nsundwe, Lilongwe.
These are three businesses founded by a 36-year-old Diana from Lilongwe.
She is a young woman business leader who is fast making a name for herself as a philanthropist through her newly registered organisation called Seed of Hope Charity.
Seed of Hope is located in Lilongwe’s Area 49 and works in a number of programmes such as caring for the sick, less privileged, orphaned and abandoned children, and the elderly.
“I officially founded and registered Seed of Hope Charity in 2025 and launched it on my birthday, April 19 2025. This initiative is part of my drive to give back to the community to contribute towards the well-being of the less privileged in our society,” said Diana.
Inspired by her mother and love of serving God, Diana embarked on her entrepreneurship journey to make a difference in the lives of poor Malawians.
“My mother is my number one inspiration in my charity cause. She always shares whether she has enough or not, so she motivated me to start caring for others, too,” she said.
It is very rare to find charity workers in poor African countries, including Malawi, who use their own resources to tranforming lives of others as majority, rely on donors to do so.
But Diana’s story is different and inspiring in the sense that she uses her personal resources to effect change in society.
She uses part of proceeds from her chain of businesses to support the needy with different vulnerabilities.
According to Diana, making a difference requires passion and patriotism to make this world a better place for everyone.
“I believe charity work comes from the heart. If you really have passion to serve, you start with what you have, no matter how little it is. Because charity work is a calling from God to improve lives of others with love, kindness and energy,” she said.
Through the Seed of Hope Charity Organisation, Diana has also introduced new programmes such as feeding and vocational training for marginalised women.
“With expertise from Ellie’s Bakery and farms, we have started empowering vulnerable women with vocational skills in baking, tailoring and farming to equip them with employability skills. Our mission is to empower vulnerable girls and women to become economically independent,” said Diana.
Her business intersects well with her charity in a way that the farm produce helps in feeding the children while the profits she makes funds the non-governmental organisation.
Diana buys food and educational materials such as school uniform for the needy children, among other vital things. Her work has impacted several lives, giving hope to the hopeless.
She disclosed her plans to open a model orphanage and vocational training school where more vulnerable children and communities will benefit.
“My vision is to reach more vulnerable children by opening a free primary and secondary school in future. We see a lot of uneducated children not by choice, but circumstances beyond their control. So, I want our organisation to help fill the gap by feeding them, taking care of them and giving them education,” she said.
Diana also envisions a vocational and rehabilitation centre which will empower vulnerable community youths with vocational skills and provide psychosocial services and medication free of charge.
The main focus of the rehabilitation centre will provide physiotherapy services to patients with stroke, cerebral palsy and other related issues.
“These plans also aim at creating jobs for the country’s youth,” she said.
Vesina Yohahe, 26, from Mponela in Dowa, is one of the beneficiaries of the Seed of Hope Charity.
She has been receiving physiotherapy support since her only child, Miracle, has cerebral palsy.
“I have been helped in taking my child to the hospital for diagnosis and assigned a physiotherapist to guide her with exercises and provided essential supplies. I am grateful for this support because I was desperate with the condition of my child,” said Yohane.
She urged parents of children of disabilities not to lose heart, saying guidance on how to take care of their children is paramount.
Yohane is part of our Seed of Hope Charity ‘s women empowerment programme, where she is offered vocational training and a startup capital to help her establish a business.
Diana went to Chilomoni Primary School in Blantyre from where she got selected to Providence Secondary School.
From there, she pursued her tertiary studies at the Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences (Mubas ) where she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business administration.
Diana comes from Bembeke in Dedza Distrcit.
She is married to a Mwenye Phiri and they have three children.
Aside sharing joy and laughter with vulnerable children, Diana loves traveling and watching movies.
