In Malawi, there is a proverb: “Mutu umodzi susenza denga” — one head alone cannot carry the roof. For us, that captures the heart of this project. Rising Stars of Malawi began with partnership, community spirit, and the belief that meaningful work is never done alone.

When Jonty was working in Malawi as an anaesthetist, he met Ibrahim Nthalika through their work with an NGO. Ibrahim had spent many years working in education and charity work, and the two formed a friendship rooted in shared values: practical action, local knowledge, and care for children and families. Together, they saw a clear and urgent need: many young children were missing out on the food and early support they needed during their most important years of growth.

In Malawi, chronic malnutrition continues to affect many children under five. For infants and young children, regular nutritious meals can make a lasting difference — supporting growth, health, learning and development. That became the mission: to create a simple, sustainable feeding programme for young children, led locally and rooted in the community. And the strength of that mission grew through the team around it.

Today, Rising Stars of Malawi supports Mmela Wathanzi, a community-led project run in Malawi by Ibrahim and his brilliant wife, Madalitso Nthalika. Ibrahim helps guide the project through strategic planning, oversight and liaison with Rising Stars of Malawi in the UK. Madalitso is central to the daily life of the project.: as a retired primary school teacher with a qualification in Community Development, she works directly with the communities, supports the caregivers, helps track the children’s needs and progress, and makes sure the work is carried through with care on the ground.

Together, Ibrahim and Madalitso have shaped Mmela Wathanzi into something practical, trusted and deeply rooted in local knowledge. When the first feeding centre was being established, the team looked for a name that would carry the spirit of the project. One possibility was Pamodzi Tipindula — roughly, “Together We Thrive” or “Together We Benefit.” But “Mmela Wathanzi” – which roughly translated- means healthy sapling -spoke most clearly to the heart of the work: the hope that children, like young plants, can grow strong and healthy when they are given nourishment, care and the right conditions.

The first Mmela Wathanzi feeding centre has now been running for over a year, providing nutritious meals and practical support for young children and their families. In 2026, the project opened its second centre in Guliguli village – and we couldn’t be more excited to see more children get a more nutritious start in life. With Rising Stars of Malawi helping to fund the work, Ibrahim, Madalitso and the Mmela Wathanzi team have helped create a clean, safe and welcoming feeding and learning space for the youngest children in the village. The centre supports children not only with food, but with care, routine, hygiene, early learning and a place to gather.

This is a story of village leaders opening the door. Of caregivers who have stayed committed for years. Of builders taking pride in creating something for their own children. Of Ibrahim and Madalitso leading the work with experience, trust and care.  And of people like you, whose donations help provide the resources Malawi’s rising stars need for a healthier start in life. 

One head alone cannot carry the roof.

But together, a community can raise one.

To see the work your support helps make possible, please visit our News and Updates page, where we share photos, stories and updates from the Mmela Wathanzi centres and the power your small (and big) donations make possible.