21/04/2026
A Story of Change in Ligowe Village in T/A Mlauli, Neno District
In the quiet hills of Neno, Ligowe village was once defined by struggle. Each morning before sunrise, women and young girls walked long distances to fetch water from a nearby river. Water that was unsafe, shared with animals, and often the cause of illness. Children frequently missed school due to sickness, and at the local primary school, the absence of proper sanitation made learning difficult, especially for girls who lacked privacy and dignity.
The situation worsened when Cyclone Freddy struck southern Malawi. With no early warning systems or disaster plans in place, the village was caught off guard. Homes were damaged, crops destroyed, and families were left vulnerable. For many, it felt like hope had been washed away.
Change began when Beyond Our Hearts Foundation stepped into the community not with solutions, but with a willingness to listen. They engaged with villagers, chiefs, women, and youth, encouraging them to take the lead in shaping their future. Together, they began rebuilding Ligowe from within.
A borehole, that was once damaged got fixed, bringing clean and safe water closer to homes. The long walks ended, and health began to improve. At the same time, through community led sanitation efforts, families built latrines and adopted hand washing practices, transforming hygiene into a shared responsibility. At the school, new sanitation facilities and hygiene programs restored dignity, especially for girls, and helped improve attendance and confidence among learners.
The transformation went beyond water and sanitation. With support from partners like Save the Children, the community established Civil Protection Committees and introduced early warning systems. When heavy rains returned, Ligowe was ready, people responded quickly, protecting their homes and reducing losses.
Today, Ligowe tells a different story. Children are healthier and attend school regularly. Women have more time to support their families and livelihoods. The village is cleaner, stronger, and more united. As one mother shared, “Now we have clean water, our children are healthy, and we can work and build our future.”
Ligowe Village is no longer defined by hardship, but by resilience. It stands as a powerful reminder that when communities are trusted, empowered, and supported, lasting change is not only possible it is rather inevitable.
