Malaika is a nonprofit organization empowering girls and their communities in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) through education and health programs.
Founded in 2007, Malaika has grown into an all-encompassing ecosystem, impacting thousands of lives each year through its four core programs, all of which are offered for free to the entire community:
- School - The Malaika School provides an accredited, holistic primary and secondary education to 400 girls. Taught in French and English, its STEAM-focused curriculum includes coding, music, theater, sport and art, ensuring that students are equipped with a 21st century education.
- Community Center - Malaika’s community center, partially built in partnership with FIFA, offers extensive programming, including literacy, vocational education, sports/football and health classes to more than 5,000 youth and adults, providing life-changing opportunities for the community at large.
- Water - Malaika has built or refurbished 21 wells, providing clean, safe drinking water at central locations to more than 32,000 individuals each year.
- Nutrition - Malaika’s agricultural program, grows organic food on campus, providing students and staff with two healthy meals each day, creating employment opportunities and serving as a platform to educate the community about sustainable farming practices.
These programs, all of which are community driven and locally led, symbiotically work together as a replicable model, which can be customized to other communities and organizations throughout Africa and the world. Malaika is also proud and honored to have won a 2021 World Literacy Award.