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Power To You(th) (Malawi Innovation Challenge)
- Emasi
- Malawi
- February 1, 2026
Situation
In the districts of Dedza and Machinga in Malawi, traditional Initiation Ceremonies expose adolescents to age-inappropriate sexual teachings, reinforcing harmful norms that fuel early sexual debut, teenage pregnancy and exploitation. Deeply rooted beliefs—upheld by community leaders, initiators and families—restrict young people’s ability to make informed reproductive health decisions.
Assignment
Within the Power to You(th) programme, the goal was to design a culturally sensitive, community-owned model for transforming initiation practices. The challenge: engage all stakeholders in co-developing an initiation curriculum that addresses harmful norms while promoting Comprehensive Sexuality Education and protecting adolescents’ SRHR.
Approach
Using a Human-Centred Design process, the team conducted immersive field research, mapped user journeys and convened chiefs, adolescents, parents, CSOs and government actors for co-creation. Insights informed low- and medium-fidelity prototypes refined through design sprints and community testing. A full pilot proposal, sustainability model and curriculum concept were then developed collaboratively.
Result
Stakeholders endorsed redesigned initiation pathways emphasising safety, CSE and adolescent empowerment. The process shifted attitudes, strengthened CSO capacity, catalysed district-level collaboration and equipped communities with prototypes ready for pilot funding—laying groundwork for sustainable transformation of harmful practices.