Happy International Women’s Day: Meet an inspiring medical student from Malawi, Tiyamike Peace Malungo

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Today we celebrate the inspiriting and strong women around the world, and those that support us…

Meet Tiyamike Malungo from Malawi, a Watipa scholar, who was honoured in the Dean’s List last year (2019) for her hard work and excellent scholarship in medicine. Congratulations Tiyamike!

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Tiyamike Peace Malungo, Watipa Scholar and medical student, Malawi

I am Tiyamike Peace Malungo currently in my final year of Medical school and a proud Watipa scholar since 2017.

My vision is to see my community being able to freely access quality health services. That is my greatest motivation and the reason I chose medicine and why I do it passionately.

I recently have been recognized by the Dean of Medicine as one of the best performers in my class in the last academic year (2018-2019). This is one of the new developments put in place by the Dean of Students as a way of encouraging students to do more in their academics. Continue reading “Happy International Women’s Day: Meet an inspiring medical student from Malawi, Tiyamike Peace Malungo” →

Hope for the future: Mariam Nassaka – graduate in Social Work and Social Administration, Uganda

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Here is the latest in a series of reflections from recent Watipa graduates – meet Mariam Nassaka, who graduated in 2019 with a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work and Social Administration in Uganda.

IMG-20191128-WA0045As a recipient of the watipa 2016 Education scholarship, I want to thank you for awarding me this scholarship. I was very excited to learn that l have been selected as the winner of the scholarship. I am appreciative of your support of my education.

I am currently a bachelor’s degree holder in social work and social Administration at Uganda Christian University. I work with the community and   I spend most of my time figuring out how best I can create a well enabling environment for the young people to achieve their dreams. I chose to focus on this because I am completely a change maker, passionate and an ambitious advocate for people’s rights and this has become a reality through the watipa scholarship. Continue reading “Hope for the future: Mariam Nassaka – graduate in Social Work and Social Administration, Uganda” →

Congratulations graduates – we’re proud of you, and we’re listening

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This International Human Rights Day we are celebrating “Watipa style” by focussing on the number of graduates we have had in 2019 supported through our scholarship programme. Thirteen… and counting. This takes the total graduates since the start of the Watipa scholarship programme to more than 20, across 7 countries (Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Malawi, Nepal, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda), in just 3 years. These are real life examples of what it means to have the right to education.

We’re proud of our graduates, and they are proud to be Watipa scholars. Here’s what they said in their review of the programme this year. 

“Being on the Watipa scholarship programme gave me courage to do better, knowing that someone somewhere cares about my education as I care about it. This feeling made me proud .”

Naomi Nyasulu, Malawi, Bachelor of Science in Aquaculture and Fisheries Science, Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources Continue reading “Congratulations graduates – we’re proud of you, and we’re listening” →

Could you be Watipa’s new Chair of the Board of Trustees?

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Are you passionate about education? Do you believe that young people have the ideas and solutions to develop and solve problems facing their communities? Do you have experience in charity governance in the UK? Do you have time, energy and vision to chair the Board of Trustees of Watipa? Are you willing to volunteer your time? Would you like to gain more experience with a dynamic, nimble, ethical, intelligent and worthwhile charity?

If you answered yes to these questions – or know someone inspirational who could – please get in touch. Watipa is looking for a dynamic, experienced, visionary and responsible person to join the Board of Trustee and take on the role of Chair.

Continue reading “Could you be Watipa’s new Chair of the Board of Trustees?” →

Launched today: Study by Watipa scholars for UNAIDS and the PACT about the role of young people in community responses to HIV

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Geneva, Switzerland. Hot off the press: Watipa, UNAIDS, and the PACT launch study today about the importance of youth participation in community responses to HIV. Watipa scholars were the researchers in this important project. Join the conversation and take part in the Facebook Live session that is happening now…

Ruben Pages Ramos, Youth Programmes Coordinator at UNAIDS, chats with Allen Kyendikuwa, sexual and reproductive health and rights advocate and Watipa Associate, about the results. Allen Kyendikuwa was one of the lead young researchers in the report launched today.

Allen Kyendikuwa
Ruben Pages Ramos

Continue reading “Launched today: Study by Watipa scholars for UNAIDS and the PACT about the role of young people in community responses to HIV” →

Early warning signs – the effects of the Mexico City Policy in Cambodia and Malawi

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We’re proud to have worked with Frontline AIDS and local partners on a study, launched today for International Women’s Day, about the effects of the Mexico City Policy (known as the “global gag rule” by its critics) in Cambodia and Malawi. 

Strict anti-abortion funding rules implemented by U.S. President Donald Trump are causing chaos and limiting access to vital HIV services, according to a study published by Frontline AIDS on International Women’s Day.

Funding cuts as a result of the Mexico City Policy, which prevents organisations receiving U.S. funds from providing or promoting abortion, have caused disruption to HIV programmes, created an environment of mistrust, confusion and isolation among civil society organisations, and compromised access to HIV prevention, testing and treatment services for marginalised people. Continue reading “Early warning signs – the effects of the Mexico City Policy in Cambodia and Malawi” →

A Right to Education – Introducing the 2018 Watipa Scholars

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Congratulations to the 8 new Watipa scholars! Earlier this month, on International Human Rights Day, we had the great pleasure in awarding 8 new Watipa scholarships to seven young women and a young man from Ghana, Kenya, Malawi and Zambia. They join an esteemed group of peers who we are continuing to support again this year. Continue reading “A Right to Education – Introducing the 2018 Watipa Scholars” →

Watipa scholarship program expands to celebrate International Human Rights Day

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Watipa continues its quest in making education a human right and is pleased to announce on International Human Rights Day its largest ever intake of scholars since 2016.

Thanks to the generosity of public donations and the funds raised from the social enterprise, we are thrilled to announce we have awarded 8 scholarships  to 7 young women and one young man, all under the age of 25, and including one secondary school student. Our 2018 scholars are based in Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, and Zambia.

Continue reading “Watipa scholarship program expands to celebrate International Human Rights Day” →

Family Connection

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Watipa is thrilled to have received a generous donation in support of the youth development programme. Caloola is a philanthropy fund set up to honour the values and memory of Gamma (grandma) and Gampa (grandpa), two grandparents at the helm of a family committed to social justice.

Gamma and Gampa each grew up in in rural Australia, and Caloola was the name of the property where they raised their family. Due to family responsibilities, neither of them completed their schooling. However they each held strong beliefs about the value of education, and throughout their lives they made significant contributions to their own community.

A few years ago, Gampa passed away while on safari in Botswana. He died peacefully of natural causes, and the family describes it as a wonderful death. Gamma is still living in Australia, and her son and daughter are now managing the family’s affairs.

When considering how to allocate Caloola’s philanthropy funds, Watipa was put forward and we were thrilled to hear that the family wanted to support the scholarships and youth development program. It seems that in a number of ways, there is a strong connection between the vision and mission of Watipa and the values of the family. They like that we are an innovative social enterprise with a focus on international Community Development. They also like the connection with Africa, with the link to Gampa, and the hope that the donation really can make a huge difference.

Watipa plans to set up in Australia one day, and we look forward to working more closely with Caloola and the spirit of generosity and social conscience that is so strong across the whole family. What a wonderful legacy for Gamma and Gampa.