With a caring heart and inspiration from the late Chief Kachindamoto, Prudence Chavula founded Go Fund a Girl Child in 2015.
She founded the organisation in response to her own experiences.
What started as a small initiative to support adolescent girls and young women who survived gender-based violence (GBV) became a safe space for healing, empowerment and advocacy.
“This was not a sudden decision, but the realisation of a lifelong calling shaped by lived experiences, community voices and a desire to create lasting change,” she said.
Reflecting on the early days of Go Fund a Girl Child, Prudence recalls using her own student stipend to support girls’ education, buy school uniforms for vulnerable children and talking to girls who dropped out of school due to child marriage or teenage pregnancy.
Over time, she began receiving feedback from the girls and witnessed how those small acts of support transformed their lives.
Seeing girls return to school, rebuild their confidence and pursue their dreams gave Prudence the motivation to continue.
“I often say that Go Fund a Girl Child is more than an organisation; it is a ministry. That is also why my approach to leadership and community work is different. I do not see beneficiaries as numbers, but individuals with stories, dreams and potential,” she added.
Since its establishment, it has primarily focused on serving rural and peri-urban girls who often face challenges such as poverty, limited access to education, gender inequality, child marriage, teenage pregnancy and GBV.
Go Fund a Girl Child’s secondary beneficiaries include parents, caregivers, community leaders and other custodians of social norms who play a critical role in shaping the environment in which girls grow and thrive.
It also engages boys and young men as allies and beneficiaries in specific programme areas, recognising that they too face vulnerabilities and have an important role to play in advancing gender equality and creating safer communities.
To date, Go Fund a Girl Child has reached more than 8 000 girls and young women through menstrual health and hygiene management education and support programmes.
The organisation has also provided career guidance and mentorship to over 15 000 girls and boys in Mangochi and Zomba districts.
In addition, it has supported the reintegration of girls into school after child marriage or teenage pregnancy, empowered adolescent girls and young women with practical business management skills, seed grants and start-up capital, and helped GBV survivors access justice.
Through her passion and dedication, Prudence has received both local and international recognition.
Among her achievements are the Woman of Substance Award in 2024 and recognition as a Young Woman Leader during the 2025 International Youth Day celebrations.
However, like many social entrepreneurs and development practitioners, she has faced significant challenges in sustaining her organisation financially and emotionally.
“One of my lowest points has been receiving repeated funding rejections from donors, especially when I know how urgent the needs are in the communities we serve. I have also experienced burnout at times when I gave so much to others that I neglected my own well-being emotionally, physically and financially. It is hard to run local organisations because sometimes we operate without salaries or funding,” she said.
Looking ahead, Prudence hopes to build Go Fund a Girl Child into a sustainable institution that will continue transforming lives and serving communities long after her direct involvement. She believes that true impact is measured not by an individual’s presence, but by the strength and longevity of the systems and structures they leave behind.
One of her key priorities is securing sufficient capital to invest in a social enterprise that can generate income and reduce the organisation’s dependence on donor funding.
She also welcomes strategic partnerships and sponsorships that can strengthen the long-term sustainability of Go Fund a Girl Child.
There are countless vulnerable individuals and families in our communities who need support, guidance and opportunities. No single person or organization can reach everyone.
Prudence’s journey serves as a powerful reminder that young people have the ability to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others.
Born on May 11 1996 in Kasungu District, Prudence comes from a devoted Christian family of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
She was raised with values of compassion and service to others.
A graduate of the University of Malawi, Prudence holds a bachelor’s degree in public administration and a postgraduate diploma in International Gender Equality Studies from the University of Iceland.
Unlike many graduates who follow the traditional path of securing employment immediately after university, Prudence chose to pursue her long-held passion for serving others.
Soon after completing the Malawi School Certificate of Education, she volunteered with several organisations, working closely with women, adolescent girls and community mother groups.
During this period, she encountered powerful stories of abuse, neglect and unresolved trauma.
Encouraged by her family, friends and community members, Prudence decided to stop waiting for opportunities and begin pursuing her passion in whatever way she could.
