Fifteen young women from the Biwi Girls Act program have completed a three-day training in soap making and entrepreneurship, a move AHF Malawi says is aimed at building practical skills, boosting livelihoods and supporting menstrual health in communities.
The training ran from 8–10 July 2026 at the AHF Malawi Country Office in Lilongwe and was facilitated by Zoyellah Investments.
Speaking during the handover ,AHF Malawi Advocacy and Marketing Officer Davies Mwachumu said the program is about creating lasting independence for girls.
“When we equip girls with skills and resources, we are not just giving them soap to sell. We are giving them dignity, choice and the power to control their future while protecting their health,” Mwachumu said.
One of the participant Sheila Tsumba expressed excitement about the opportunity and how timely it came.
“This training has come at the right time. We have just completed our school term and were staying idle at home. From today onwards, we have something productive to do. Through selling the soap we produce, we will be able to earn an income and, as girls, help ourselves overcome menstrual poverty,” she explained.
The Chairperson of the Biwi Girls Act group pledged to expand the impact beyond the 15 trainees.
She said the group will organize itself, develop a business plan, and share the skills with other Girls Act members so that more girls can benefit.
Beyond income, organizers say the initiative directly supports menstrual hygiene management by increasing access to affordable hygiene products.
AHF Malawi notes that economic empowerment also helps keep girls in school and reduces their vulnerability to HIV infection, early pregnancies, and other social and economic challenges that disproportionately affect adolescent girls.
Through programs like this, AHF Malawi says it remains committed to investing in sustainable solutions that empower young women to break the cycle of poverty, become financially independent, and contribute to the fight against HIV/AIDS.
The organization reaffirmed its mission of providing cutting-edge medicine and advocacy regardless of a person’s ability to pay, while working to improve the health, dignity and future of vulnerable communities across the country.
At the close of the sessions, all 15 participants received soap-making startup materials so they can immediately begin producing and selling soap within their communities.
Girls Act is a global AHF initiative that empowers adolescent girls and young women through education, leadership development, economic empowerment, and sexual and reproductive health education.
In Malawi, the program supports girls with educational scholarships, financial assistance, mentorship, leadership training, digital engagement, and peer-led health education to help them make informed decisions about their lives.
