In Nkhata Bay, a district in northern Malawi, many families rely on fishing as a primary source of income. Moses Milanzi, 13, is one of many children who once left school to fish in the waters of Lake Malawi. Peer pressure and limited support at home led him to step away from his education in favour of earning an income.

World Renew, together with its local partner, Nkhata Bay Word Alive Church, saw opportunities for families to build livelihoods beyond fishing. Church members visited households across the community, sharing ideas about alternative ways to earn an income, such as guiding visitors or starting small businesses.

When they visited Moses’ family, they encouraged his parents to support his return to school. With renewed support at home, Moses re-enrolled. The church community continued to walk alongside him—monitoring his attendance, encouraging his progress, and offering support when challenges arose.

At the same time, the church helped community members begin vegetable gardening and poultry farming. Income from these activities helped families meet basic needs and contributed to school-related costs for students like Moses.

After successfully completing his primary-level exams, Moses was accepted into secondary school. He continues to receive encouragement from the church and is committed to his studies. His perseverance is now inspiring other children in his community.

“My dream had been to become a medical doctor upon completion of my studies, but living in a lakeside village made my ambition harder to accomplish. I preferred and was sometimes forced to help my parents with fishing, and I missed classes. Now my ambition to become a medical practitioner is back on course,” says Moses. “I am very thankful to World Alive Church and World Renew.”

Prayers for Southern Africa

• Pray that Malawi’s leaders will continue to welcome the work of organisations and local partners seeking to bring hope and opportunity to vulnerable communities.
• Pray for farmers in Malawi as changing and unpredictable weather continues to affect their harvests and livelihoods.
• Pray for peace and stability in Mozambique amid ongoing political tensions.