Changed Lives: Mwayi
"She is now in year two of primary school and is far ahead of her peers who never attended the ECD."
In Malawi, primary education is free, yet only 54% of children complete it, and just 22% finish secondary school. In rural areas, dropout rates are even higher due to poverty, long distances to schools, and limited resources.
Eight-year-old Mwayi lives in Dzoole village in Malawi’s Ntcheu District. 97% of people in Ntcheu rely on farming to get by and over 70% live below the poverty line. Children like Mwayi often are unable to go to school and reach their full potential. But for Mwayi, four years of early childhood development (ECD) classes in her village have made all the difference.
“At the ECD, she developed a love for learning,” says her father, Goodwen. “Now in year two of primary school, she is far ahead of her peers. Without ECD, she might have dropped out, just like we did.”
ECD is a proven equaliser for disadvantaged children. Studies show that those who attend pre-primary education develop key skills that help them break cycles of poverty. Yet in 2019, only 8% of eligible children in Ntcheu District were enrolled in ECD centres.
Egmont Partner Future4All is working to change this. Through their Egmont project, they are increasing ECD attendance and improving teaching quality across five centres in Ntcheu. Enrolment has since risen to 30%, but 70% of children still lack access to these vital learning opportunities.
The project trains caregivers, raises parental awareness, and improves infrastructure, ensuring safer, more inviting learning spaces. In 2024, enrolment at the five centres grew
from 381 to 421, despite drought-related food shortages and volunteer caregiver losses.
Future4All’s impact is clear: local schools unanimously report that children from their supported ECD centres are among the top performers.
Mwayi is one of them.
“She has always been in the top five of her class. The basic skills she learned—counting, writing, reading—built the foundation for her success. She loves English and dreams of becoming a teacher.”
Beyond ECD, Future4All is also supporting vulnerable students and families. In 2024, they trained 25 volunteer caregivers in play-based learning, helped 100 parents incorporate ECD at home, and provided scholarships for 20 children to attend secondary school. A university visit inspired 90% of these students to perform above average in their exams.
To improve livelihoods, the project also supports vulnerable households with training in livestock management, savings groups, and small businesses. In 2024, 100 households benefited, with median annual incomes rising by 53%.
By investing in early learning and family stability, Future4All is ensuring children like Mwayi stay in school and build towards a brighter future.