At the heart of the Ntha Foundation lies a simple but powerful conviction:
Talent is everywhere. Opportunity is not.
Founded in 2018, the Ntha Foundation was born out of both frustration and hope — the frustration of seeing too many brilliant, under-resourced African youth sidelined by global systems that do not make space for them, and the hope that through creativity, education, and innovation, we could begin to carve out a new path. One built not just for the few who make it out, but for the many still waiting on a chance.
The First Chapter (2018–2024): Learning by Doing
From the outset, our work was experimental, adaptive, and community-led. We piloted programs across Malawi and Southern Africa — digital skills bootcamps, creative fellowships, youth apprenticeship pipelines — and steadily built a body of work rooted in local insight and international ambition.
Over the past 7 years, we’ve:
- Trained over 10,000 youth across 20+ African countries,
- Reached 500,000+ people through digital storytelling campaigns,
- Built an e-learning platform — digitalskillsforafrica.com — for scalable training delivery,
- Launched structured programs like the Nyenyezi Fellowship and M’mawa Apprenticeship, and
- Forged meaningful partnerships with schools, international agencies, and government departments working to reimagine education and employment systems.
And yet, even with these milestones, it never truly felt like we had started.
Because while the work was meaningful, it was often limited by geography, bandwidth, and infrastructure.
The U.S. Incorporation (2024): Rebuilding for Scale
In 2024, we took a bold step forward: we registered the Ntha Foundation as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in the United States. This marked the beginning of our second chapter: building the systems and structures necessary to scale our impact globally, while remaining deeply anchored in Africa.
The U.S. incorporation was inspired in part by the journey of our founder, Nthanda Manduwi, who — after years of grassroots development work — was selected to pursue an MBA at Michigan State University and intern with Microsoft Xbox in Redmond, Washington.
It was during this time, living and working among global changemakers in tech and business, that she realized:
This work belongs on the global stage. And our youth deserve infrastructure that matches their brilliance.
The Launch Gala (August 1, 2025): A Moment of (Re)Beginning
This summer, we hosted our first-ever U.S. Gala, in partnership with the Archer Hotel in Redmond, Washington — the very city where our founder was interning with Microsoft. The event brought together creatives, technologists, donors, and partners who all share one belief: Africa’s future lies in the hands of its youth.
We used the gala to kick off fundraising for the Kwathu Innovation & Creative Centre (KICC) — a permanent home for our programs in Mangochi, Malawi. The centre will house digital labs, creative studios, learning spaces, and community hubs. A space designed to bridge worlds with creativity and innovation, so that no child born in Mangochi will need to leave their home to dream.
Our Why (2025 and Beyond)
As we look ahead, our purpose is sharper than ever:
- We believe education is still Africa’s greatest bet.
- We believe innovation must be democratized.
- We believe that African youth deserve infrastructure that reflects their brilliance.
- We believe that proximity shouldn’t determine possibility.
- We believe in building a future where African stories shape global narratives.
Join Us
To everyone who has walked with us — donors, mentors, partners, and believers — thank you. The last 7 years were a proof of concept.
Now we build the next 70.
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:
NTHA FOUNDATION SOCIAL MEDIA
KWATHU KOLLECTIVE SOCIAL MEDIA
