
Founder’s Message
In 2003, I returned home to Mzuzu, Malawi to attend my sister’s funeral. Like so many, she died of HIV/AIDS. The number of children that attended the funeral shocked me because when I was growing up in Malawi, children were not allowed to attend funerals. When I asked why there were so many children, I was told they were there in hopes of receiving food. I realized immediately the devastating effects of HIV/AIDS on the community. The disease had wiped out a generation of caregivers, teachers, and community leaders; and left thousands of children orphaned. I was heartbroken and decided something had to be done.
In response, I founded Maloto to help raise funds for a feeding program and to help educate the community’s most vulnerable children.
Almost 20 years later, with the help of so many friends and supporters, we have:
- Built a thriving community center, which offers a broad range of social, educational and economic programs,
- Opened the northern region’s first internationally accredited primary and secondary school (with almost 400 students),
- Established the first women-owned food processing cooperative, Kwithu Kitchen (now the country’s largest honey processer and supplier!).
Join our cause and get involved. Together, we can make a difference.
Thank you!
Anna Msowoya Keys
Maloto, Founder and CEO