A Community Partnerships Initiative (CPI) grant is supporting collaboration between Elon students in COR 4430: Poverty and Social Justice and the Chimwemwe Children’s Centre in Malawi. Through sharing educational resources, students engage in cross-cultural learning about poverty while working to advance social justice in Baluti Village.
A Community Partnerships Initiative (CPI) grant is sustaining a long-running partnership between Elon University and the Chimwemwe Children’s Centre in Baluti Village, in Blantyre, Malawi. This fall, a $1,000 award to Nermin Vehabovic, assistant professor of education, and Macdonald Nkhutabasa, founder and director of Chimwemwe, will fund collaboration between Elon students in “COR 4430: Poverty and Social Justice and the Centre.” The grant supports a relationship rooted in shared learning and a commitment to social justice and community and global engagement.
Baluti Village faces entrenched poverty that disrupts children’s education and exposes youth to risks like substance abuse and exploitative relationships. With under-resourced schools and many families unable to afford basic supplies, dropout rates remain high. This project aims to strengthen Chimwemwe’s efforts to break this cycle by providing children’s literature and educational materials, while also fostering connection and empowerment through an international, collaborative learning experience.
Elon students will connect with Chimwemwe staff and youth via WhatsApp, research and select children’s books, and create learning kits and lesson ideas tailored to local needs. The Chimwemwe team will identify priorities, facilitate engagement and help implement activities in Baluti Village to ensure new resources are integrated into ongoing programs. The partnership is expected to deepen students’ understanding of global poverty and social justice, while providing Chimwemwe with culturally relevant and historically responsive educational support.
By engaging Elon students directly with Chimwemwe Children’s Centre and the community in Baluti Village, this project allows students to move beyond classroom study and actively participate in addressing educational inequities shaped by poverty. Through collaborative work, Elon students gain firsthand insight into the complexities of community development. At the same time, the initiative provides immediate, practical support to Chimwemwe’s programs and helps lay the groundwork for lasting educational opportunities, reflecting a shared commitment to social justice and equity.