Thriving Through Trials

Inspiring Resilience and Building Hope

Malawi, May Your Voice Be Honoured

My beloved Malawi, the past five years have tested us in ways words can barely hold. When we last went to the polls, our hearts were filled with hope, determination, and the belief that change was within reach. We longed for leadership that would carry us toward dignity, prosperity, and unity. But along the way, those dreams were met with heavy disappointments. One of the men we had trusted with this sacred responsibility, our Vice President was taken from us suddenly, a loss that remains both painful and mysterious. His passing was not the reason promises were broken, but it was yet another wound that deepened our sense of uncertainty and sorrow.

Now, as we stand just days away from the election next week Tuesday, politicians are once again racing across villages and towns, visiting the broken, the disappointed, and the weary people whose votes hold the power to lift them up or cast them aside. Their fine suits, eloquent speeches, and gestures of care are on display, yet for many, the words feel empty, echoes of promises that faded after the last election. The greatest betrayal of a nation is not the failure of leaders, but the dishonouring of the people’s voice.

And so, my beloved, I look at those lining up for the presidency and wonder: do any truly carry the vision, the integrity, and the courage our nation so desperately desires? I confess, I do not see it clearly. Yet still, I pray earnestly that the will of the people may not only be spoken at the ballot box, but honoured in the results and lived out in the policies that follow. A ballot is not just paper, it is the silent cry of a mother, the dream of a youth, and the prayer of a nation.

Malawi, you are more than campaigns and manifestos. You are the resilience of the poor, the strength of the broken, the heartbeat of hope. Hope may bend under disappointment, but it refuses to break, it keeps calling for change. May this election be more than a contest for power, may it be the moment when your voice is heard, your dignity restored, and your needs honoured.

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Innocent Magambi

I was born a refugee in the Democratic Republic of Congo to Burundian parents, my first 27 years were spent navigating the challenges of five different refugee camps, forging an indomitable spirit and deep empathy. The pivotal moment came when the opportunity for a university education presented itself, leading me to found There is Hope. For 15 years, I led this non-profit organisation with a visionary approach to impact thousands of people through education, vocational training and job creation. As a refugee rights advocate and CEO of Inua Advocacy, a human rights organisation fighting for the dignity of refugees in Malawi, my commitment is both professional and deeply personal. My book, Refugee For Life, not only recounts my personal journey as a refugee, but also highlights the transformative power of individual action for entire communities. From surviving as a refugee to shaping the destinies of others, I stand as a beacon of empathy and adaptability. I have been privileged to be interviewed by respected outlets such as Voice of America, BBC World Service and The Guardian. Beyond the media, I share my insights in a variety of forums, including churches, charities, schools and prestigious institutions such as Oxford University. As an Obama Fellow and participant in respected fellowships, my life’s journey reflects the profound impact one person, driven by a compassionate vision, can have on the lives of many.

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