In the quiet village of Namgoma, under Traditional Authority Nankumba in Mangochi District, lives a woman who is redefining what it means to lead with purpose. Her name is Agnes Mkandawire, a Community Health Volunteer (CHV) who has become a source of strength, healing and resilience for young people living with HIV. But this didn’t happen overnight. Agnes began her journey with one goal: to make sure no adolescent in her community felt alone in their HIV journey. She had seen firsthand how stigma, shame, and silence were keeping young people away from the care they needed — and she refused to stand by and do nothing.
So she did what leaders do. She took charge and acted.
Agnes formed Tikondane 1 Support Group, a space where adolescents come together, speak freely, support one another, and learn how to take care of their health — physically, emotionally, and mentally.
At first, it wasn’t easy.
“Many of them were scared,” she recalls. “Some were ashamed. They’d rather stay away than risk being judged.”
But with training on how to use the Thandizo App, mentorship, and encouragement from COWLHA and its partners, Agnes began to see change — not just in the youth, but in herself.
“I became more confident. I knew how to approach them, how to listen, how to guide. And I wasn’t doing it alone — I had the Thandizo app.”
The Thandizo mobile application has become an extension of her work. She is able to conduct individual consultations with the young people to identify those at risk of stopping treatment and makes conclusions on whether to refer them to clinics or psychosocial support service providers based on their responses. In her support group sessions, Agnes uses it to spark conversations, share information, and help the young people understand their treatment better — through interactive tools like animations, quizzes, and practical guidance.
“The app is a game-changer,” she says. “It helps me reach them in a way that feels safe, even fun.”
Today, Tikondane 1 is more than a group — it’s a family. A place where healing happens, hope is restored, and stigma gets replaced by support.
Why It Matters
What Agnes is doing is at the core of what Thandizo stands for: putting power in the hands of community leaders and young people themselves to drive real, lasting change. She’s proof that when you equip women with tools, knowledge, and a bit of digital innovation — they become unstoppable.
Be Part of the Change
Agnes’s story is just one of many. Across Malawi, youth champions and community health volunteers are stepping up to rewrite the narrative of HIV for young people.
You can support this movement.
By sharing these stories, contributing resources, or simply showing up — you help create a world where young people no longer face stigma alone.
Let’s keep the momentum going.
Let’s support Agnes, support youth, and support Thandizo.
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