Education for Change (E4 Change) founder and chief executive officer Grace Chomanika is on a mission to bridge the gender gap in education and improve literacy rates in Malawi.
Since establishing the non-profit organisation in 2019, she has remained steadfast in her belief that education is key to reducing poverty and driving national development.
“We empower primary, secondary and university students to access education and thrive.
“Our vision is to see better schools in rural areas and more children attending school regardless of their gender, status, or physical challenges,” she said.
With its mission rooted in economic transformation through education, they prioritise mentorship programmes in secondary schools to motivate students and encourage positive attitudes toward learning.
Grace said the programmes go beyond academics, addressing mindset, behaviour and menstrual hygiene management.
“We want every girl to feel safe and confident during her periods so she can stay in school and focus on her education,” she added.
Grace is equally vocal about the challenges within Malawi’s education system, particularly the rising cost of tertiary education.
“University fees are becoming unattainable for many families. If this trend continues, higher education could become a privilege for the rich, undermining our development goals,” she warned.
Grace said they also provide learning materials for primary school learners.
“We nurture their soft skills for university students and provide job opportunities for them to work in different projects while still studying.
“We also provide internship programmes, paid-volunteer initiatives where we connect them to other institutions and help the disadvantaged to stay in college,” she said.
Grace admits it is not easy to start something new because it takes self-motivation, passion, resilience and hard-work to achieve big.
“I have remained focused and determined to see this organisation grow bigger and make a huge impact to the youths in Malawi,” she said.
Her family has motivated her to be unique and not to compare herself with anybody.
This made her spread her wings and found her purpose for existence.
“I believe my mission is to serve others through education. I am passionate about transforming the lives of underprivileged children and youths through education so that they become self-reliant and responsible citizens in future,” she said.
Grace also disclosed that promoting education in Malawi has been a challenging journey due to limited resources.
She said they are yet to reach some districts and campaign for the right to education for every child.
“So far, we have been in 11 districts implementing different activities, but we would love to be everywhere in Malawi,” she said.
Another challenge is parents, guardians and learners attitude towards school.
She said most parents in rural areas do not see a need to invest in education so they encourage their children to do farming.
Grace also observed laziness as common due to lack of role modeling.
However, they are addressing the problem by bringing in role models to inspire children in schools and hold education awareness campaigns so that they realize the importance of education.
She highlighted that boys-to-boys and girls-to-girls mentoring programme have proved effective in shaping youths future.
“It also excites me to see the youth set goals and achieve them.
“Our positive impact is evidenced in 2023 Malawi School Certificate of Education results. Since E 4 Change introduced a mentoring programme at Bwaila Secondary School, students have been performing great,” Grace said.
She said the school got a 97 percent pass rate.
“Our initiatives have also attracted some local companies who support students with different materials.
“In addition, we ensure quality education, especially in rural areas, by donating teaching and learning materials,” she added.
Based in Lilongwe, the activist comes from a family of eight, including her father, the Reverend P.D. Chomanika.
Her mother passed away on August 5 2023.
Both parents were dedicated educationists who retired years ago to focus on running businesses and serving God.
Grace has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication and Cultural Studies from the University of Malawi (Unima) which she earned in 2022.
In her leisure time, she enjoys exploring nature through vacations, hiking, swimming, reading, singing, playing the acoustic guitar and piano.
Public speaking is another passion of hers.
Grace believes activism requires a genuine passion for serving others and prioritising their welfare.
“Activism is a selfless service where you give more than you take, driven by the desire to help others improve their lives. I encourage young women to discover their purpose and pursue meaningful goals for a fulfilling life,” she said.
On leadership, she added that confidence is key for young women aspiring to lead.
Empowering primary, secondary and university students
