Watipa Stands For Equal Societies, Just Development & Better Health

Learn about how Watipa works, Watipa’s story & who we are.

Watipa’s Story

Watipa is named after a young woman in Malawi, who embodies courage, determination and hope for a better, just and more equal future. In Tumbuka, her local language, Watipa literally means ‘has been provided for.’ To us it also means hope.

 When Watipa was founded in 2016, Watipa was a seven-year-old girl. Today, Watipa is growing into a young leader and has received a scholarship to attend a Girl’s Secondary School in the Northern Region of Malawi.

 She hopes to one day help develop her local community, and has ambitions to study law or microbiology.

 “I cannot tolerate injustice” says Watipa, determined to positively impact her community and help
others in Malawi.

From Left To Right: Dr Lucy Stackpool-Moore, Prof. Maureen Leah Chirwa, Watipa Kumwenda. Photographed in Malawi, Sep 2024.

How it All Started

Watipa was founded in 2016 by a diverse group of women – the “Samajikas”. Samajika is a word from Sri Lanka, in Sinhala, meaning equal members. We refer to the founding members of Watipa as Samajikas to embrace the diversity of the cultural and geographical reach of Watipa, as well as our egalitarian and collaborative way of working.
 
Watipa sustains a commitment to enabling leadership from young women in diverse settings around the world. We are a female founded and owned business and charity.

Watipa in The UK

11 June 2016 was the first official registration of Watipa, as a social enterprise, with Companies House in the UK ( Community Interest Company 10226833). The following year, the registration with the Charities Commission followed (registered charity 1173178).

We transitioned operations to Australia in 2023, and since then Australia has been the primary home for Watipa’s social enterprise professional services and also charitable activities.

Meet Team Watipa

Lucy Stackpool-Moore

Lucy is the founder and managing director of Watipa. Lucy was born in Sydney and is proudly Australian. She has also been welcomed in other homes in the USA, UK and Malawi and Zambia. She founded Watipa with other strong women in 2016, with a vision to “pay it forward.” Lucy, and other co-founders of Watipa – the Samajikas – share a gratitude for the kindness of strangers in enabling the best education imaginable through scholarships, support and encouragement.

Karoline Soerensen

Karoline joined Watipa in 2023 as a consultant and later also as program coordinator, supporting Watipa’s mentorship and scholarship programs. Karoline is Danish and currently based in Copenhagen, Denmark but have lived in The Netherlands, Australia and Switzerland through studies and work. Karoline has a background in public health and is passionate about creating opportunities for young people through education and mentorship.

Elias Mwangi

Elias Mwangi is Kenyan, based in Mombasa, and a proud Watipa scholar [2017-2019]. Elias is a civil engineer with a strong foundation in sustainable construction, structural engineering, and infrastructure development. Beyond his professional work, Elias is passionate about climate action, education, and community service, and actively engages in initiatives focusing on clean energy, environmental conservation, and mentorship. Through his work and advocacy, he strives to promote a greener, more sustainable future while empowering young people to realize their potential and create positive change in their communities.

Lydia Pakira

Lydia is one of Watipa’s new Alumni Coordinators, who is to support Watipa alumni through mentorship and engagement programs. Lydia is a Malawian based in Blantyre city, Southern Malawi. Lydia is a Nutritionist by profession and is inspired to promote good health and wellbeing through good nutrition for all people. Lydia is a beneficiary of the Watipa scholarship program who received a scholarship award in 2017.

Sophie Fitzgerald

Sophie is one of Watipa’s new Project Coordinators. Raised in Toowoomba now calling the Banana Coast home, she is passionate about the natural environment (especially spending time in the ocean), sustainable practices and social justice. With a background in anthropology, film, and international development her work has taken her across diverse cultural landscapes, from Indigenous film productions in Hawai‘i to grassroots development initiatives in Australia. My passion lies in amplifying underrepresented voices, fostering cross-cultural connections, and using media and sport as tools for community-driven change.

Jade Symons

Jade is a professional historian, holding a Master of History with a background in International Relations. Jade has recently published her thesis titled; A Connection to Country: Understanding the Cultural Importance of Sites of Significance of the Gumbaynggirr. She loves life in the slow lane; spending long mornings in the ocean, tinkering in her garden and connecting with the local community. She’s excited to connect Watipa to the local area and ignite its wonderful purpose in NSW.