Towards independence

Community For Better Life is a community-based organization in Dzaleka Refugee Camp, Malawi, founded by young refugee student Gabriel Ndende Muholeza.

It all began when Gabriel created and ran a remedial class program for his fellow students as a way to encourage their studies in science. In 2019 this led him to create Community For Better Life (CFBL) and its constituency grew. New strategies for education were explored and developed as a means to promote self-reliance for young Dzaleka Refugee Camp residents. as well as for the young residents of the Malawi host community who face many of the same challenges.

Dzaleka Refugee Camp is home to nearly 50,000 refugees from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Burundi, Somalia and other countries. Ninety percent of camp residents cannot find work, which results in a stressful situation that seriously impacts their mental health and leaves them with no hope for the future. Creating jobs is not enough – they also need to learn the skills that will get them hired or enable them to create their own businesses.

As young camp residents struggling to help feed themselves and their families, the CFBL team firmly believes that education is the most powerful weapon against future poverty.

Community For Better Life (CFBL) is seeking to raise modest startup funding of $8000 which will be used to create three training programs – tailoring, baking and hairdressing – useful skills that will help young program participants (from both inside and outside the camp) to develop self-reliance and financial autonomy.