Ambuya Development Center was established in 2012 and was registered and launched in November 2013. The history of the center is based on a Christian family that out of the love of God decided to get involved in the care of children, women and poor people in general in this area.

​

History of the Center Ambuya – “the name 'Ambuya' meaning Grandma” was commonly used by the community to call my mother. Despite the struggles she was facing, she still made her home open to children who needed food and help. On the other hand, my sister was employed by an organization in Chilangoma called the Stephano Children Home which was also involved in the care of Orphans and Vulnerable children. In fact, my sister was the first Malawian to be employed at the establishment of the Stephano Children Home and helped the expatriates in the marketing of the center in different countries and the successful implementation of the project activities. All the construction, employment of staff the establishment of the homes and the many structures that were put up there were part of her contribution. She worked there for 17 years and left.

 

Our father passed on when I was 13 years old and the struggles I went through as an Orphan had a lasting impact in my life so that after University my desire was to join an organization that was involved in caring for children and poor people. I therefore joined World Vision International where I worked for 25 years. Later I joined Living Water International an organization that provides Water, Sanitation and Hygiene activities to communities a big part of it being Children in Schools. I am currently working for this organization.

 

The experiences of my mother and sister pointed above including the experience I had as an orphan made us to think of starting a center that would take care of orphans and vulnerable children. In addition, I have been a development expert, developing many villages in the world BUT not much in my village and each time I visited home I felt bad that I was not doing anything hence the decision to start this center. What is unique about Ambuya Development Center is that it is a program run by relatives. My young brother is the Board Chairman, my nephew is the Administrator, the wife of my other nephew is the Project Facilitator and one niece, and other village people work at the center with a clear focus that God has called them to serve at the center. We have a Board Secretary and three board members who are not related to us. We also have about 9 other people that work at the center who are not related to us including our bookkeeper.