How it all began...
Women for Fair Development (WOFAD) started with a small group of women, mostly widows, infected and affected with HIV. The changing political context, the emergence of HIV/AIDS and persistent poverty led to circumstances which drove this group of women to begin meeting rotationally in Chirimba. They believed that there was a strong need for women to come together and help each other through psychosocial support to change their lives for the better and improve their families’ living standards.
Prior to 1994, when Malawi was under a one-party system, individuals could not demonstrate personal accumulation of wealth without arousing suspicion among government officials. Consequently, immense restrictions were placed on building homes and purchasing personal property. Once the multi-party system was introduced in 1994, people began exercising their freedom to build larger homes and amass personal property. However, during this period, men began dying in large numbers for reasons that were unknown at the time. Many women became widows, lost their source of economic support and were accused of killing their husbands as a means of accumulating their wealth. This was a difficult time for women as they fell victim to verbal attacks, property grabbing and violence from family and community members.
Prior to 1994, when Malawi was under a one-party system, individuals could not demonstrate personal accumulation of wealth without arousing suspicion among government officials. Consequently, immense restrictions were placed on building homes and purchasing personal property. Once the multi-party system was introduced in 1994, people began exercising their freedom to build larger homes and amass personal property. However, during this period, men began dying in large numbers for reasons that were unknown at the time. Many women became widows, lost their source of economic support and were accused of killing their husbands as a means of accumulating their wealth. This was a difficult time for women as they fell victim to verbal attacks, property grabbing and violence from family and community members.
Before the WOFAD office was constructed, the women used to meet under a tree with no funding or resources, to discuss their personal challenges and come up with ideas and innovations on how to advocate for their rights and eliminate discrimination and stigma against People Living with HIV and AIDS (PLWHA). The tree still stands strong next to the WOFAD office and will always be a symbol of hope and new beginnings for many of the women.
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Then in 2006, the Cross Life Church donated funds to construct a building to act as the WOFAD office. The office was built and in 2006 WOFAD was registered as a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO).
WOFAD is was registered with the Government of the Republic of Malawi, under the National Malawi Incorporation Act 1996 (cap: 5.03).
WOFAD is was registered with the Government of the Republic of Malawi, under the National Malawi Incorporation Act 1996 (cap: 5.03).
- Registration Number for Malawi Government: 20754/1M/5.2005
- Registration with Council Non Government Organisation in Malawi (CONGOM): C568/2012
- Registered with Non Government Organisation in Malawi (NGO Board)