The warm heart of Africa
Malawi is a landlocked country in south-eastern Africa that is consistently ranked as one of the poorest nations on the planet. It has an estimated population of 14 million people, 52% of whom live below the poverty line on less than US$1 a day.
Malawi was colonized by the British in 1891, who ruled the country until 1964. Upon gaining independence it became a single-party state under the rule of Hastings Banda who finally lost power in 1994 during the country's first multi-party elections. Malawi now has a democratic, multi-party government under the leadership of president Bingu wu Matharika.
Malawi has been described by UN officials as the “perfect storm”. A storm that brings together crippling poverty, climatic disaster, the AIDS pandemic, and the long-standing burdens of Malaria, schistosomiasis and other diseases.
Despite these horrific adversities the Malawian people are resilient and have made their country become known as the “warm heart of Africa”.
Links:
WHO Malawi
The Malawi Volunteer Organisation
Tourism Information
