At the tranquil Tongozala Village, Traditional Authority Mkanda in Mchinji, young learners clamour playfully around a school compound, plastic cups and plates handy for the morning porridge.

As the teacher beckons, the learners line up to fill their plates with the gruel. For a large portion of them, this is the only meal for the day aside dinner.

This feeding routing for the 150 pupils might appear like a simple task. However, it is a no mean significance for the community around this institution.

The village has become a symbol of hope and transformation with support from Our Aim Foundation.

What began as a humble initiative in 2019 has blossomed into a comprehensive community project, touching the lives of countless individuals and families.

The American no-profit organisation’s work covers vital areas such as education, healthcare, access to clean water and women’s empowerment in the remote locality.

Learners take daily porridge at Tongozala school in Mchinji

The school at Tongozala is just one facet of the community project. On campus, a clinic provides life-saving assistance to more than 170 patients, while a vocational training centre equips women with the skills needed to start life anew.

The impact is profound, and the gratitude palpable.

Rute Phiri, a 19-year-old resident of Mkanda Village, located 15 kilometres away, has been attending tailoring lessons at the vocational centre. She aspires to open her own salon to supplement her husband’s income.

Rute’s journey represents the kind of transformation happening in the rural community.

The clinic managed by the foundation has become a lifeline for many residents.

Village head Tongozala says: “The impact is very clear, especially the clinic because it serves a lot of people, some from as far as 25 kilometres away.

“This is also because the government hospitals seldom have any medicines. So, a lot of people opt to come all this way because they are assured that they will receive treatment.”

Concurring, Senior Chief Tongozala says he is the witness to the life-changing experience underway.

“Some of us have lived all our lives and would have died without knowing piped water. As a people, as a community, we are very grateful for everything the foundation has done for us,” he narrates.

Nisha Mandani founded Our Aim Foundation in 2008. With a passion and dedication to serving the less fortunate, the American says she is committed to making the world a better place.

Her journey has since touched the lives of over five million communities trapped in multigenerational poverty.

Under Mandani’s leadership, the charity provides hundreds of vital facilities such as boreholes, solar hand pumps, restrooms, washing stations and women’s showers in remote villages across Africa, South Asia and various refugee camps.

The humanitarian foundation has earned international recognition, including the Most Empowering Remote Community Support Organisation 2022 – East Africa Award by the UK Acquisition International.

Mandani actively complements government policies and international efforts to create better living conditions for all.

The foundation’s work focuses on education, health, and water, sanitation and hygiene, fundamental rights of every community.

Access to these basic life necessities holds the power to transform lives and that belief is at the heart of the Our Aim Foundation.

Nisha’s philanthropic journey led her to Tongozala Village in the district along the border between Malawi and Zambia, where she discovered a dire situation.

“The lack of access to basic necessities, including clean water, hygienic products, education, and healthcare, deeply moved me,” she says. “My motivation to invest in the village’s health and education sectors stemmed from a desire to make a tangible impact where it was most needed.”

Mandani envisions a self-sustaining model for development that can inspire positive change in neighboring communities.

Through her vision and the partnerships with Our Aim Foundation, Tongozala Village stands as a beacon of hope, illuminating the path to a brighter future for those in need.

The community on the rise is proving that even in the most challenging circumstances, hope and change are possible with investment in the right sectors.

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