KingSango: “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”
– African proverb
Fueling a generation of change-agents:
The mission of Malaika (formally known as the Georges Malaika Foundation) is to empower Congolese girls and their communities through education. Based in New York, the non-profit operates in Kalebuka, in the Southeastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
An educated girl will increase her future earnings by approximately 10-20% for each additional year of schooling and will reinvest most of it back into her family and community. These are key factors in a nation’s socioeconomic development and yet girls still face immense obstacles in obtaining an education in the DRC. At Malaika, we mobilize resources so that these girls can receive the best schooling possible, providing them with greater choices, opportunities and the capacity to make informed decisions. Our goal is to build the leadership capacity of each individual student so that she gives back to her community and has a positive, long-term impact on the future of the DRC. In essence, we are fueling a generation of change-agents. At the same time, we impact the surrounding community through recreational and life skills programming for adults and children, as well as essential infrastructure development.
Our work takes three distinct paths:
Changing Lives Through Education
Built in 2011, the Malaika School is a free, accredited school that is providing a quality education to 280 girls in the village of Kalebuka, located in Southeastern Democratic Republic of Congo. The holistic curriculum includes classes in English and French, math, science, health and civic education, as well as art, music and theater programs. Students receive two healthy meals a day and participate in sports activities twice a week.
Transforming Communities
In 2013, we partnered with FIFA to build the Kalebuka Football for Hope Center, a community center that offers education, health, entrepreneurship and sport programs to youth and adults in the village. The center serves as a hub for the community, uniting families while providing information, support and a positive outlet through fitness.
Providing Life-Saving, Clean Water
Malaika also works to bolster the infrastructure of the community surrounding the School. We have built eight fresh water wells as part of a collaborative effort with the Voss Foundation and the Vinmart Foundation and are now providing clean water to more than 16,000 people, greatly reducing disease rates and improving hygiene.
