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Utawaleza is a community organization that was founded in December 2016 with the aim of promoting a culture of reading and inspiring creative development in Malawi by exploring the intersection between Literature, Education and the Arts. This has been done through the establishment of book clubs in four cities across Malawi, creating a platform for creative expression through our ‘Sharing Sessions’ and shaping development research through storytelling. In addition, we donate books and learning materials to under-resourced schools through community mobilization efforts.

To find out how you can join one of the book clubs or make a contribution, get in touch with us!

About

Find out more about the vision behind Utawaleza.

Our mission

The word ‘utawaleza’ is the Chichewa word for rainbow – signifying the vibrant imagination and ideas that can be inspired by cultivating a culture of reading. It is our belief that books can change lives by inspiring great minds go further when given access to the knowledge, concepts and wisdom that they need. Our mission is to give as many people as we can a chance to experience the wonder of imagination through creativity.

The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.
― Dr. Seuss

About the founder

Singalilwe Chilemba is a development professional who is passionate about creative expression, social justice and the art of reading. It was in trying to find an intersection between these interests that she founded Utawaleza – a project that brings people together through book clubs to promote expression, encourage a culture of reading and give back to the community through the donation of books and learning materials. She hopes to make further impact by launching creative clubs in  schools across Malawi with a primary focus on social education and creative expression.

Blog

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Utawaleza Sharing Session August 2019

Following the success of the first sharing session in May 2019, Utawaleza held another sharing session this August where young people harnessed the power of art through stories, poetry and music to wow the audience. Performances included stories from Katerina Mzembe, Tuntufye Simwimba and Yolanda Ng’oma. Poetry from Muyanga Shela, Rabie Kondowe and Chris Msosa. …

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Utawaleza Sharing Session May 2019

Utawaleza held its first sharing session on 4th May at Story Club Arts Cafe in Lilongwe where audiences enjoyed various perfomances in story telling, poetry and music. The perfomances included story telling by Alinafe Malaonje, Chris Msosa, Chim Chisiza and Utawaleza founder, Singalilwe Chilemba; poetry perfomances by Marumbo Sichinga, Alex Chiwaya, Chris Msosa, Tamiwe Kathumba …

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