At just eight years old, Linessie Phiri from Nkhata Bay began speaking out against the injustices faced by girls in her rural community.
Today, she is not only a university graduate but the founder of a fast-growing non-profit organisation that has already supported over 1,000 children in Malawi to access education.
Phiri, who attended primary school at Kawalazi and Bandawe, went on to break barriers by being selected to Nkhamenya Girls Secondary School—an opportunity that was rare for girls in her district.
She later earned a Bachelor of Social Science in Development Studies from the University of Livingstonia, graduating with credit, the only female to do so in her cohort.
“In my community, very few people believed girls could go far with education, but I knew that if I could break through, I had to go back and pull others up too,” she said.
In 2020, she founded Girls Arise, a local organisation committed to improving girls’ access to education in rural Malawi. The organisation began with limited resources and faced skepticism from some community members, but Phiri persevered.
“I started alone, with just a dream and encouragement from school matrons and a Mother Group representative,” she said.
With support from St John Paul College in Coffs Harbour, Australia, Girls Arise began its first major project at Kawalazi Primary School, providing school uniforms and menstrual hygiene training.
Today, the organisation runs multiple initiatives, including tailoring projects, reusable sanitary pad production and back-to-school awareness campaigns aimed at withdrawing girls from early marriages.
Girls Arise targets children from poor backgrounds, orphans and children with disabilities. In some cases, the foundation has even extended support to the families of vulnerable children.
“Our tailoring projects help provide uniforms, which are often a barrier to school attendance. Some of the products are sold to help sustain our programmes. We also teach girls skills such as making doormats so they can become financially independent in the future,” said Phiri.
Her efforts have not gone unnoticed. Phiri was recently selected to represent Malawi at the upcoming Youth Rights Academy organised by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Education Above All Foundation.
She also participated in the prestigious World Bank Group Youth Summit, becoming the first in her family to attend a global event.
“I never imagined I would be speaking on global stages one day. It’s a testament that young people from rural Malawi can rise, and make a difference, not just locally but globally,” she said.
Despite the impact of Girls Arise, challenges remain. Phiri says fundraising efforts do not always meet their goals and community expectations can be high. But her empathy and determination keep her going.
“When I see a vulnerable child, I see myself. That feeling pushes me to act. I’m not giving up on their future,” she said.
Looking ahead, Phiri hopes to expand the foundation’s reach to other districts and create job opportunities for youth through its projects.
Her message to aspiring changemakers is clear: “Follow your passion. Even if people doubt you at first, the difference you make in someone’s life is what truly matters.”
