Patience Khembo
Cultivating literacy and leadership to tackle poverty in Malawi
Malawi
In Malawi today, too many children are leaving school unable to read. Public primary schools—where the vast majority of children are enrolled—are severely under-resourced, with overcrowded classrooms, a shortage of trained teachers, and very few learning materials. The result is a deepening literacy crisis that threatens to hold back an entire generation.
Patience grew up knowing what a good education can do. She attended some of Malawi’s top schools—spaces that nurtured her creativity, confidence, and problem-solving skills. But even as a child, she saw the stark divide between her experience and that of children in nearby public schools.
After university, she was determined to give back. What began as a small group of friends volunteering in one school has grown into a powerful movement working to close the literacy gap across Malawi.
Patience now leads a youth-driven organisation operating in 16 public primary schools. Their mission is to make quality learning accessible to every child through two flagship programmes:
Remedial Reading: After-school sessions led by trained volunteers to support struggling learners.
Literacy Hubs: Resource-rich learning spaces built within public schools to give students and teachers access to books, games, and other essential tools.
More than 7,000 learners have improved their reading through the afterschool classes, and 45,000 children now have access to Patience’s literacy hubs. The learners in these schools are reading with greater confidence, performing better in class, and re-engaging with their education.
A volunteer university graduate teaches reading skills to primary school students.
But Patience’s work isn’t just about academic results. By mobilising young people to volunteer—especially during their gap years—she’s helping to build a culture of contribution and community-led change. Volunteers discover their purpose while supporting learners, and entire communities begin to see what’s possible when everyone plays a role in raising the next generation.
With plans to expand across Lilongwe by 2030—and ultimately reach all 6,000+ public primary schools in Malawi—Patience and her team are tackling the literacy crisis head-on. Their work is transforming not only education, but the way young people see their place in society.
Over 45,000 Malawian children now have access to Patience’s literacy hubs.
Students don’t just learn to read, they learn to LOVE reading and the new worlds books open up to them.
Make a donation to support Patience’s mission
Contact jo@justpeoples.org to learn more about how you can support Patience’s work.