Recorded September 2024: In this episode, Willie Mpasuka, founder of Rays of Hope Malawi, shares his inspiring journey of turning a small grassroots organisation into a transformative organisation that now improves the learning outcomes of thousands of disadvantaged children. Willie offers invaluable insights into how locally-led organisations have the potential to drive large-scale social and economic change, if supported.

Kindly note that this episode was recorded on location, so you may hear some background noise. We keep these conversations brief out of respect for our guests' busy schedules.

Key highlights

• Local communities should not be viewed as passive recipients of aid but as active participants in designing and implementing development projects.

• Building trust-based relationships between donors and grassroots organisations is critical to driving more sustainable outcomes.

Our favourite quotes from this episode

• “Grassroots organisations are the lifeblood of communities. They understand local needs better than anyone else because they live in them every day.” - Willie Mpasuka

• “We can’t rely on a one-size-fits-all approach. Development must be context-specific and community-led to make a lasting impact.” - Willie Mpasuka

As always, if you have any thoughts or feedback on this episode; send us a note at hello@fundingwithtrust.org. Remember to subscribe and stay updated with more stories of impact!