When silence is louder than words, it takes a fearless voice to break through.
For Malumbo Mkinga, a young woman born with a hearing impairment, the barriers of exclusion could have been a lifetime sentence.
Instead, she chose to rewrite the narrative, not just for herself, but for countless others living with disabilities in Malawi.
Through her initiative, Tikuyana, Malumbo is championing inclusive education, economic empowerment and a world where every voice matters.
Growing up with a hearing impairment in a society where disability is often misunderstood and stigmatised, her journey was never going to be easy.
In many parts of Malawi, children with disabilities still face enormous barriers to education, employment and participation in community life.
But for Malumbo, these challenges only fuelled her determination to create change.
“I believe disability does not mean inability because everyone regardless of their physical condition deserves the opportunity to live their dreams,” she said.
Growing up, she quickly realised her journey would be different.
“I faced many barriers in terms of resources and support. Most schools I attended had no special needs teachers. I often struggled to keep up,” she added.
But her spirit was never crushed. With the encouragement of good friends and a supportive family, she learned to cope.
Through these challenges, Malumbo discovered her passion for advocating for others like her.
She learned how to build supportive networks and design practical solutions.
Today her journey has moulded her into a passionate leader and a powerful voice in the movement for disability rights in Malawi.
Now in her 20s, Malumbo disclosed that the name Tikuyana is Tumbuka, which means ‘We are all Equal’.
“The initiative came out of the desire to address the barriers and inequalities that people with disabilities face, particularly those with hearing impairment,” she said.
Her vision is to see a world where individuals with hearing impairment can access quality education, health care and vocational training enabling them to be economically independent.
She said: “Our initiative aims to promote inclusivity and equal opportunities for people with disabilities. We recognise that disability is not a limitation, but a natural part of human diversity.
“We strive to create a society where everyone can participate. Our main focus area is on education, advocacy and economic empowerment.”
Malumbo said quality education is the future for success.
She observed that economic empowerment is a key aspect of our initiative as vocational training and economic opportunities can help individuals with disabilities gain financial independence.
The organisation runs awareness campaigns in schools and communities, pushing for inclusive education systems where children with special needs are fully supported.
They also organise training workshops in entrepreneurship and skills development, helping young persons with disabilities build pathways to self-reliance.
“Many young people with disabilities drop out of school early because of the lack of support and understanding.
“We want to change that narrative by creating environments where they feel seen, heard and empowered.” she explained.
Malumbo’s goal is to build a vocational training centre and increase the enrollment of students with hearing impairment in primary, secondary and tertiary schools.
She noted challenges people with disabilities face in accessing education and employment.
“Inaccessible curriculum that doesn’t fit the needs of those with disabilities, inadequate support services such as braille materials/ sign language interpreter and limited availability of assistive technologies.
“When it comes to employment, people with disabilities face discrimination as some may be deemed unfit,” she said.
Malumbo said these challenges can lead to limited job opportunities and lower career advancements.
She said that through Tikuyana, vocational training programmes have improved and young people own businesses.
“We have made young people with disabilities become role models by inspiring others to achieve their goals and dreams regardless of their abilities,” she said.
Her platform has created an inclusive space where people with disabilities feel valued and respected
“Our work has shown that through the right support and better opportunities, everyone can still make contributions to the community.
“There were no special needs teachers and the curriculum wasn’t inclusive. Visiting a school for learners with hearing impairments and discovering alarming issues, low secondary school enrollment, lack of role models, inadequate resources and stigma.
“That was my turning point and I knew I had to be part of the change. After completing my bachelor’s degree, I officially began her advocacy journey,” she recounted.
She started working on inclusive education policies and pushing for accessible learning environments and amplifying the voices of those who are often unheard.
Her work has already taken her far beyond Malawi’s borders.
Malumbo has participated in a sexual and reproductive health rights workshop in Botswana, attended the Green Economy Summit in the United States sponsored by USaid Malawi and was part of a youth summit in Algeria sponsored by Plan International Malawi.
These global engagements have broadened her perspective, boosted her confidence and connected her with like-minded change makers.
“Through these experiences, I gained knowledge on youth-led solutions and innovative approaches to advocacy. They helped me to become a more effective leader and gave me the courage to share my story with the world,” she said.
Tikuyana is addressing these barriers through partnerships, awareness campaigns and hands-on skills training.
Born on 7 June 2000, Malumbo is the third of four children and comes from Rumphi District.
She pursued her passion for inclusive education by studying special needs education at the Catholic University of Malawi graduating in 2023.
With resilience as her root and Tikuyana as her tool, Malumbo is planting seeds of equality that promise to blossom for generations to come.
“We envision a world where people with disabilities are leaders, decision makers and innovators, where no child is left behind because of their hearing, vision, or mobility.
“My dream is simple, to see an inclusive world where everyone has the opportunity to rise,” she said.
