The Naweza Project (meaning “I can” in Swahili) aims to empower refugee girls and increase their access to quality education, security, and overall well-being. In partnership with the Fidel Götz Foundation, JRS launched the project in Malawi last year.

Naweza organizes community engagement activities to raise awareness and buy-in for girls’ education that increases long-term economic possibilities. In particular, Naweza coordinates a merit-based scholarship programme that encourages girls to attend boarding school outside the camp and then enroll in Malawian universities.

Read the impact this has had on the lives of some of the scholarship recipients.

Ruth, 16 years old

Thanks to the Naweza Scholarship Programme, I am now a boarder at a secondary school.

Naweza is doing a wonderful job at helping me to have a brighter future: it allows me to have access to opportunities that I could never have acquired on my own.

The scholarship provides me with food, accommodation at school, school uniforms, and school supplies. By getting me into boarding school, this scholarship has helped me to have time to study and read. When I was at the Dzaleka Community Day Secondary School, I didn’t have much time to study because I was supposed to help with chores at home. Now I can dedicate myself full time to studying.

I am grateful for the opportunity that I have been given. It will go a long way towards my getting a quality education. I know there are a lot of other girls in Dzaleka camp who want this opportunity but did not get it. I will use this scholarship to achieve my dream of becoming a doctor so that I can help people with different ailments.

Zura, 15 years old

My dream is to become a doctor so that I can help people and make my parents proud. I do not want to be a burden to my parents forever.  I want to become independent and earn my own living. The only way I can do this is through education.

The Naweza Scholarship Programme has given me space where I can fully concentrate on school work. Before attending boarding school, I was not able to study because I had a lot of household chores to do after school in the camp.  This left me with no time to study. I am thankful and hope that more girls from Dzaleka camp can have this opportunity.

Faraja, 16 years old 

The Naweza Scholarship Programme is changing my life. Now I know who I am and what I want to be.  My goal is to be a doctor because I want to help people just as I have been helped.

I am thankful for this scholarship. It has made me realise my potential, and I know I can achieve my dreams if I work hard enough.

Ireene, 16 years old

This scholarship has helped me by giving me a chance to study at a boarding school.

I always wanted to attend boarding school, but I could not pay the fees. I knew that I would have a lot of time to study at a boarding school. At home, there was always work that I had to do and never enough time to study. I am the first one in my family to attend boarding school.  There are some subjects that are compulsory here but were not required at school in the camp.  I am doing my best to catch up.

I want to become an archaeologist. I want to make discoveries that can contribute to the study of history, a subject that I love.

I am grateful for this opportunity and enjoy the experience. I have made new friends, and I am happy. May God bless this work good work for us, those who make the scholarships possible, and those who come after us.

Anne Marie, 16 years old

This scholarship has helped me to concentrate on my studies. In my previous school, I had no time to read. I have five siblings, so I had to help my mother provide for our family’s basic needs.

My goal is to become a doctor and help sick people get better. I am thankful for this scholarship. By helping me, it helps my mother and family.  I know my future is going to be bright now.

Devota, 15 years old

The Naweza Scholarship Programme has improved the quality of my education and my academic performance.  While living in Dzaleka, I attended school but did not have time to study afterward because I was busy with chores at home. Here at boarding school, I can study when I am not in classes.

When I finish school, I want to be a doctor. I want to help people in hospital, I want to help my family, and I also want to rely on myself.