Help Malawian Youth Learn Digital Media & ICT

We did it! THANK YOU. Stay tuned for updates.

We are raising funds to buy laptops (new and/or used) to help train and teach digital skills to Malawian youth served by Youth Action For Success and Development in Lilongwe, Malawi. Our goal is to raise at least $500. This project is being spearheaded by brothers Lukas (13) and Nico (11) who are members of the international community in Lilongwe (American and German).

Both boys have been training to help others via crowdfunding projects for the past few years. See their recent successful sewing education project and mosquito net project .

These lone three YASD computers could use some support and backup to help more students.

Laston Foster (our friend and neighbor here in Malawi) is the co-founder of Youth Action for Success and Development (YASD).

He writes:

"YASD is an innovative youth led organization based in Lilongwe working for community development through sexual and reproductive health, climate change and waste management, youth empowerment, gender equality and social entrepreneurship. It is registered with the National Youth Council of Malawi and Lilongwe City Council.

For our Digital Skill Development Initiative, at the moment we only have three computers but have a waiting list of more than 30 young people who are interested in the program. We are hoping to get more computers to reach out and accommodate more young people and girls with digital skills."

Some of the YASD students trying to learn with the currently available computers.

A Quick Word From Lukas and Nico's Mom:

I'm Kristen Palana, a UN design consultant and digital media educator living in Malawi since 2019. I founded Aura's House, a grassroots website that existed long before Kickstarter, Gofundme, etc. Since 2004, we have raised over $137,000 for health, education, housing, and income-generation projects for needy families in developing countries.

Lukas and Nico have been helping me fund-raise since they were babies and now are old enough to want to do their own projects. Since having moved to Malawi in 2019, we've raised funds for a Malawian classroom to be built, a feeding center, as well as other housing, health, and education projects for families around the country.

As always with any project I am helping with, 100% of Donations go directly to the intended recipients. (I donate all the GoFundMe and credit card fees we incur so those will not affect the project.) I also am an artist and a generous portion of proceeds from my art gallery website will go towards this project. Learn more .

How You Can Help:

We aim to raise at least $500 to buy at least two computers, possibly more if we can find high-quality used or refurbished computers at a great price.

All funds raised will be used towards this project. We'll post the receipts here once we get them and keep you posted with text and photo updates.

Your contribution will have a tremendous impact not only on these young students waiting for their turn to learn computer skills but on the entire community!

*We also can accept new or gently used computers or other useful tech equipment instead of cash or online donations. (Just send us a message.)

Other Ways You Can Help:

There's more than one way you can help us with this. Yes, donating even just $5 is amazing, but there are also ways that won't cost a cent:

Spread the word! Share this story with your friends via email, Facebook, Twitter - anything will do! Tell your classmates, your family, your soccer team, your ski club - tell everyone!

And thank you. Because of you, we can make a difference in our communities and in our world!

Sincerely,

Lukas, Nico, Laston, Kristen and the YASD Team

Pic from our recent visit . Edward Chidombe Msiska (taking the selfie on the left) is a founder and Execute Director of YASD. Laston Foster is on the right.