We are delighted to announce the upcoming premiere of the documentary “Youth Empowerment Clubs in Malawi”,  set to launch on YouTube this Friday, April 4th at 10:00 CET. 

This compelling video offers a unique glimpse into one of the most impactful Marist initiatives in recent years—an inspiring journey of child-led advocacy, community transformation, and the birth of a sustainable model that has already begun to ripple across Africa.

The documentary captures the story of a bold vision made reality between 2021 and 2023, as seven Youth Empowerment Clubs were successfully established in Marist and non-Marist schools across Malawi. Funded by CEI and Misean Cara, and coordinated by FMSI in collaboration with national and local partners, the project “Equity of Access for girls to Quality Education in Malawi” directly engaged over 1,500 children, providing them with leadership training, safe spaces for expression, and the tools to advocate for their rights within their schools, families, and communities.

More than just a school-based initiative, the clubs have triggered real change. By addressing issues such as child marriage, school dropout, gender-based violence, and barriers to quality education, the clubs helped improve academic performance and retention—especially for girls. In a powerful culmination of this work, over 300 children contributed to Malawi’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR) submission, giving testimony to the strength of youth voices in global human rights processes. This marked a milestone for Marist advocacy: connecting grassroots empowerment to policy-making at the highest international levels.

The success of the Malawian model inspired momentum for regional expansion. In 2024, a strategic meeting in Lilongwe brought together key stakeholders from across the continent. The meeting affirmed that the Youth Empowerment Clubs are not only scalable but essential for building a child-centered, rights-based movement throughout Africa. This trajectory continued with the recent Child Rights Training Week for Africa that took place in Rome on March 24th-28th, where delegates from all five Marist Provinces came together for capacity building, shared learning, and co-creation of strategies.

That training week has set the stage for the next phase: the drafting of a Regional Strategic Plan, which will be submitted for review and endorsement by the African Mission Commission and the Conference of African Marist Superiors during their upcoming gathering, scheduled for June/July 2025 in Nairobi. The plan envisions a continent-wide network of Youth Empowerment Clubs embedded in Marist schools, adapted to local realities, yet united in a shared vision of empowerment, participation, and advocacy.

The video premiere this Friday is more than just a celebration—it is a call to action. It marks the closure of a highly successful project in Malawi and the beginning of what could become a transformative movement across Africa.

The documentary offers heartfelt testimonies from students, educators, and community leaders who have witnessed the changes brought by these clubs firsthand. Their voices echo a powerful truth: when children are empowered, communities are transformed.

As we look forward to the premiere, we invite all Marists, partners, educators, and advocates to join us in witnessing this story—one that reminds us of the profound impact of walking alongside children, listening to them, and creating space for them to lead. The Malawi experience is a seed planted; with collective will and collaboration, it can grow into a forest of empowered youth shaping a more just and hopeful Africa.

Watch the première on YouTube this Friday, April 4 at 10:00 CET.

Let their voices inspire the next chapter.