Lighting the Path for Malawi’s Young Entrepreneurs
This week, we celebrate the incredible journeys of young innovators from the Malawi University of Science and Technology — graduates of the Nyenyezi Fellowship, our flagship entrepreneurship development program through the Kwathu Kollective.
But this moment is about more than graduation. It is the culmination of a vision seeded in 2020 — one rooted in our mission to close the gap between talent and opportunity in Africa.
Why We Created the Fellowship
When we launched the Nyenyezi Fellowship five years ago, we had the very clear aspiration to change lives.
We saw brilliant students with bold ideas, but limited access to the resources, mentorship, and confidence needed to turn those ideas into impact. Rather than scale fast, we chose to build intentionally — co-creating a program that integrates into university systems, works hand-in-hand with academic curricula, and focuses on deep transformation.
This is why, since 2020, and having scaled our work and trained over 10,000; this is only our second cohort. The past five years have been spent (in partnership with the World Bank, European Union, GIZ, and more) programming, testing, refining — laying the groundwork for a fellowship that is now ready to scale and lead.
What Fellows Experience
The Nyenyezi Fellowship is not an extracurricular add-on. It is an immersive, design-driven journey woven into a student’s final year of university — with a focus on practical entrepreneurship and real-world thinking.
Fellows work from our hubs around Malawi, and they engage in:
- Design thinking workshops and business model development
- Hands-on prototyping and pitching
- Exploration of innovation hubs and tech ecosystems
- Mentorship from entrepreneurs and industry leaders
- Capstone projects rooted in solving real African problems
They don’t just graduate with degrees. They leave with venture-ready ideas, startup foundations, and a renewed sense of agency.
A Strategic Pillar of Kwathu Upgrade
Today, the Nyenyezi Fellowship stands as one of two anchor streams under the Kwathu Upgrade Programme — our talent acceleration model designed to equip Africa’s youth for the future of work and innovation. While the M’mawa Apprenticeship prepares graduates for corporate success, Nyenyezi nurtures founders, creators, and change-makers.
Together, these streams speak to one belief: 🔸 Talent is everywhere. Opportunity is not.
And we’re working to change that — with vision, consistency, and community.
Join Us at the US Launch Gala
If you are in Washington, please join us as we mark a transformative milestone — the official U.S. Launch Gala of the Ntha Foundation, celebrating our journey from Malawi to the world. Taking place in Redmond, Washington, this unforgettable evening will highlight our growth, honor our graduating fellows, and unveil our bold vision for the future of creativity, innovation, and education across Africa. Come connect with our global community, experience the power of storytelling and youth-led impact, and be part of building the next chapter.
Whether you’re a student ready to apply, a university ready to collaborate, or a partner looking to support the next generation of African entrepreneurs — we invite you to be part of this movement.
Work With Us
Want to partner on or fund one of our programs / initiatives? We are always open to collaborations and partnerships. Contact our Founder; Ms. Nthanda Manduwi via contact@nthafoundation.org, or give us a call(direct or WhatsApp) on +265991850730.
To keep up with the work of the Ntha Foundation, our hubs under the Kwathu Kollective, our initiatives, and our projects, follow us on social media:
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