The Team - ..Community Opportunity..

Samalani Staff

Samson Chaziya

Samson was born and brought up in Chaziya village in the rural District of Lilongwe, about 35 km from Lilongwe City.

After moving to Lilongwe, he worked with Press Bakeries as production supervisor for 7 years, whilst attending evening classes. Unfortunately, the company closed and Samson lost his job. After this, he set up his own business selling timber and plastic shoes.

In 2005, after the famine in Malawi, Samson decided that action needed to be taken. His aim was to improve the lives of the youths and children, orphans and other vulnerable groups, economically and physically, spiritually and emotionally. Together with the community Samson founded Samalani Orphan Care and he is now executive director for the organisation.

Samson recently got a scholarship from UNICEF to study Development Facilitation long distance at the University of Kwazum Natal in South Africa.

Maxwell Mwale

Maxwell is one of the founding members of Samalani. He is a business man by profession and has a shop in Area 23 of Lilongwe. The roles he carries out in the centre are teaching, business and financial skills management facilitation as well as HIV/AIDS counselling. Within Samalani, Maxwell is responsible for the financial aspects of the centre, such as managing the various properties of the organisation, preparing the annual budget and submitting periodic financial reports to the executive committee.

Innocent Chinkhosa

Innocent joined Samalani in 2007, inspired from seeing the work that Samson and others did to support orphans and vulnerable people in the area.

Innocent has a ‘Malawi School Certificate of Education’ and his role at Samalani is both a teacher and the Senior Marketing Officer. His responsibilities involve helping to teach carpentry and joinery, providing knowledge of HIV/AIDS and offering his experience of business management. He will be in charge of ensuring proper market research for the products.

Peter Kawaza

After working for some time running his business, selling clothes in Area 23 of Lilongwe, Peter was motivated to help the community in the face of the famine. He joined Samson and the rest of the Samalani team in 2005.

Peter has ‘Malawi School Certificate of Education’ and works as a secretary for the organisation, taking minutes, keeping records and recording properties belonging to the organisation. He also helps with business management, working on income generating activities for the enterprise as well as teaching and supporting the youths.

Annie Major

Annie Major is herself an orphan and a participant in the training programme. She lost her father when she was 15 and subsequently faced challenges resulting in her being unable to complete her secondary education. Instead, she joined Samalani in 2008 as Youth Assistant Leader and has been elected as Assistant Finance Officer in the Project. Her responsibilities involve assisting the Finance Officer and supervising the payment of staff where there is a need to do so as well as other administrative duties.

Laurence Mussa

Laurence is also participant of the training programme and will sit for ‘Malawi Senior Certificate of Education’ in a few months. He was inspired to join Samalani by the positive work that it does. His position within Samalani is Assistant Marketing Officer for the Project.

Elizabeth Kaluwa

Elizabeth is an orphan and participant in the training programme. She is currently working as a Procurement Officer for the Project. She joined Samalani in 2007 inspired by the work of Samalani's role, amongst other things, as a space for youths to gather and gain support and advice about the future.