Our Story
Laying The Foundations
Mayankho was founded in 2019 with the original intention to create a route towards long-term financial independence. Financial independence means having the ability to make financial decicions for you and their family. By providing women with this consistent monthly income, we are enabling them to re-invest in their household and their children's futures.
Our Founder's Story
Co-Founders, Nancy and Owen, have known each other for other 10 years. In this decade, we both led careers in various industries but with a constant investment in Mulanje, Malawi. Nancy worked closely with national female leadership efforts. In 2019, it became clear that our common interests could be applied into a structured idea that become self-sustainable and impactful.
A letter from our Founder
Greetings from Mulanje,
My name is Yilinaise Nancy Chirwa. I was born in 1972 as the last born in a family of 5. When I was 8 years old, my father died. Soon after, my uncles grabbed everything from my mother. At this age, I could not understand what was happening. When I got older, I began to question how these men have the power to do this to my mother, and I immediately developed a desire and passion to stand up and support women and less privileged children. Since then, when I have something to give, I always give. In 2010, I built a restaurant to begin my vision of generating funds to support women and orphans in the Mulanje area.
In 2019, I reconnected with an old friend, Owen Martin-Jones, who came to visit me at my restaurant. He told me “Let’s do something together”, and we shared ideas. This is when the Mayankho Women’s Group was born. We aim to give financial freedom to women and underprivileged youth. I believe that when you help a women, you have helped a whole nation.
This year, we have seen these women grow with confidence and self-belief. Already they are thinking in a new way, and have big plans for the future. We know that when we support each other, we can achieve anything. Together we can!