workshops Archives - SNI - Sponsorship Network International

July 6, 2026July 9, 2026

From Vision to Action in Malawi:

Why Our Latest Visit Marks the Beginning of a Transformational New Chapter in Building Sustainable Communities in Malawi

For more than a year, Sponsorship Network and our local partner, I-Heart Malawi, have been developing a vision for a new kind of humanitarian project. One that combines child protection, education, sustainable agriculture, and community development into a single long-term initiative.

Our recent visit to Malawi marked an important milestone in that journey.

Our presence there meant far more than a project review. It created an opportunity to work alongside our local partners, assess progress on the ground, meet the children and caregivers, and refine the strategy that will guide the project over the coming years.

Following this visit, we have formally defined the project’s objectives, implementation phases, and long-term direction. With these foundations now in place, we are entering the next stage of development.

More Than Safe Homes

The heart of the initiative is the creation of Safe Homes for vulnerable children—including those living on the streets, orphaned, or abandoned.

Our vision extends beyond providing basic shelter.

We want every child to have access to education, emotional support, vocational training, and practical life skills that prepare them for adulthood and meaningful participation in society.

The goal is not dependence on aid, but opportunity.

Building a Sustainable Future

One of the most exciting aspects of the project is the development of a permaculture-based agricultural center.

Using regenerative farming principles, the land itself becomes part of the solution.

It provides nutritious food, practical education, vocational training, environmental restoration, and eventually an income stream that helps support the project over the long term.

Alongside agriculture, vocational workshops will equip young people with practical skills that improve employment opportunities and strengthen the local community.

A Partnership Built for the Long Term

None of this would be possible without the dedication of our partners in Malawi.

The project has been designed together with local leadership, ensuring that every stage reflects local knowledge, community needs, and a shared commitment to creating lasting change.

Our role is not simply to provide funding.

It is to work alongside our partners in building a model that is sustainable, locally rooted, and capable of growing for many years to come.

This Is Only the Beginning

During our visit, we documented not only the challenges, but also the hope, resilience, and extraordinary potential that exists within the community.

Over the coming months, we look forward to sharing more stories from Malawi through photographs, videos, and a documentary that follows the project’s development.

We Invite You to Join us on this Journey

Together, we are building Safe Homes, restoring opportunity, and investing in a future where vulnerable children are given the chance to learn, grow, and thrive.

Let's build that Change Together!

Help our journey, share our story, and be part of creating a future where every child has the opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive—one step at a time.

Donate now

April 21, 2026April 21, 2026

Vocational Training and Education in Congo

From child support to a growing skills and education hub in Kinshasa

What is happening at the Bana Mayele (Smart Children) center today is not the result of a single blueprint, but of consistent presence and hands on involvement over time.

Since 2021, Sponsorship Network International (SNI) has supported the development of the Bana Mayele Center in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo.

What began as a project focused on child care and education has grown into a broader initiative — supporting both children and youth from surrounding communities.

to provide a safe place for children facing difficult circumstances — a place where they could live, learn, and begin to heal trauma and rebuild stability in their lives.

Over the past five years, that steady support has allowed something tangible to take shape.

From a safe home, to a place of education, and now to a growing center for skills and opportunity — each step has built on the last.

From Care to Opportunity

Today, Bana Mayele continues to support close to a hundred children full-time, providing care, structure, and access to education. But as these children grow older, their needs begin to change.

Over time, a new need became clear:
young people require not only education, but also practical skills to become independent.

Creating Opportunities Through Skills, Vocational Training for Youth in Congo

To address this, Bana Mayele has developed a vocational training program in Congo, offering hands-on skills that can lead directly to income opportunities.

The goal is simple: to give young people the tools they need to move toward independence. The training focuses on hands-on, income-generating skills, including:

Welding and metalwork
Aesthetics and beauty services (cosmetics, nails, hairdressing, barbering)
Cooking and food preparation
IT and digital basics
Sewing and tailoring
Gardening
Interior design and art
House painting

Participants also receive language support in French and English, improving their ability to work and communicate.

At the end of their training, they receive a certificate of completion and a basic starter kit.

Expanding Impact Beyond the Center

What started as a shelter for vulnerable children who have suffered from violent atrocities is now a thriving oasis of hope.

While the center continues to care for children living there, the training programs are beginning to include youngsters from surrounding communities — extending the impact beyond the walls of Bana Mayele.

The program now reaches not only children living at Bana Mayele, but also youth from surrounding communities in Kinshasa.

This expansion reflects the growing role of Bana Mayele as a community education and training hub.

Building Long-Term Change

The development of Bana Mayele shows how long-term support can evolve into broader impact.

From a basic shelter and education to vocational training and employment pathways, each phase builds on the last.

There is a strong need for vocational education in Congo, particularly for youth without access to higher education.

By continuing to develop this model, Bana Mayele can expand its reach and provide more young people with the tools they need to build independent lives.

Looking Ahead

While the vocational training hub is still developing, and like everything at Bana Mayele, it is growing step by step.

But it already reflects something important:
when support remains steady, it creates space for growth that goes beyond the original intention.

The vision for Bana Mayele continues to evolve — from care, to education, to opportunity.

It is about helping young people move from being supported to becoming self-reliant, and eventually shaping their own future.

Call to Action

Skills create opportunity — and opportunity creates independence. Support vocational training and education initiatives in Congo and help young people build a better future.