Give Back Hope International News Help Launch These Young Lives Into Their Future For some time now, we at Give Back Hope International have been prayerfully considering how best to equip the young people in our Youth Home to become capable, independent adults—able to support themselves in the challenging economic environment they will face in Malawi. Since opening our doors in 2015, we are now seeing the fruit of that investment. Several of our young people have reached the age of responsibility, with more soon to follow. We are especially proud of one young woman, Chisomo, who is completing her second year at university, studying to become a math and science teacher. She already has promising job prospects, and we are incredibly encouraged by her future. In addition, we have five students—three young men and two young women—currently enrolled in vocational training programs. As they prepare to graduate and step into independence, we have been intentionally teaching them life skills, especially in financial management. To support this, we introduced an Allowance Program. Each student receives a weekly amount to manage on their own, with two guiding principles:
At first, spending was focused on small pleasures like snacks and sodas, which was expected. But as graduation draws near, we’ve seen a remarkable shift—these young people are choosing to save more and think ahead. Each week, they submit an expense report to the Board, tracking both spending and savings. We also asked each student to reflect on their future: where they would live, whether they had family support, and how they planned to earn a living. With limited employment opportunities in Malawi, most expressed a desire to start their own small businesses. To help them prepare, each student created three detailed budgets:
This exercise was eye-opening. They quickly realized how quickly expenses add up. When asked how they would bridge the gap between their savings and their projected needs, each student presented thoughtful, creative plans—raising chickens or ducks, working part-time, running small food stands, or combining multiple income streams. Not one was discouraged. Instead, they showed determination and resilience. Finally, we asked if they felt prepared for life after graduation. Each one responded with confidence—they are ready. The three young men are training as welders, and the two young women as seamstresses. However, one significant barrier remains: the cost of equipment needed to begin their work. They have reached Graduation in April of this year . Our on-site teacher, Mike Chilumpha, has helped us determine the startup costs:
These tools are essential—they represent the difference between having skills and having a livelihood. If you feel led to help give these young people a true start in life, we invite you to partner with us. Contributions can be made to Give Back Hope International and designated to the: Education Fund P.O. Box 108 Independence, MO 64051 Or, you can make a one time donation on our website link to PayPal. www.givebackhopeintl.org Questions or additional information on individual students please send an email to: Your support would be a tremendous blessing and a life-changing investment in their future. With gratitude, Rowena Hughes Youth Vocational Leader Give Back Hope International |
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