Shamila Heads to LUANAR
The YES Initiative is delighted to announce that Shamila Wakati, one of our sponsorship program students from Msalura CDSS, has been selected to join the Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR), where she will pursue a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Management.
This marks an important milestone for YESI. Since 2017, ten students supported by the programme have progressed to university, all of them male. Shamila now becomes the first female beneficiary to reach university level, marking progress toward greater inclusion and opportunity for girls within the programme.
Shamila is the firstborn in a family of four and was raised by a single mother in Kalonga Village, Salima. Her education has been affected by ongoing financial challenges that repeatedly disrupted her schooling.
In Form 1, she was unable to sit her end-of-term examinations due to unpaid school fees, placing her academic future at risk. In Form 2, she was temporarily barred from attending classes until outstanding fee balances from previous terms were cleared.
Despite these setbacks, she remained focused on her education and determined to continue.
Through support from the Janet Allan Educational Fund, Shamila returned to school, regained stability, and continued her studies. Her efforts were reflected in her performance, achieving 19 points in the Malawi School Certificate of Education (MSCE).
Shamila has long aspired to build a better future for herself and her family. Her selection to LUANAR marks a significant step toward that goal and reflects the impact of sustained support for young people to access education and succeed.
Her journey highlights resilience, determination, and the difference opportunity can make.
To support our work in helping more students like Shamila access education and reach their full potential, you can donate on the links below:
