Life Concern

LICO works to strengthen community development systems by addressing local challenges such as low access to education, social and health services. In realizing our mission, we seek to increase access to quality education for children, adolescents and youth; reduce gender-based violence through the promotion of rights and economic empowerment activities for vulnerable groups of women, girls and disabled children; and enhance access and uptake of comprehensive quality SRHR, HIV/AIDS and TB services among communities.

Life Concern (LICO) is a non-profit, non-governmental organization based in Rumphi District in the northern region of Malawi. It was established in the year 2008, and it was registered with the government of Malawi in 2011 under the Trustees Incorporation Act (Certificate TR/INC 4822). Apart from being subscribed to the Council for Non-Governmental Organizations in Malawi and the NGO Regulatory Authority, the organization is also affiliated with the Girls Not Brides, More Than Brides, Malawi Scotland Partnership, and more other international and national alliances.

LICO's past programming areas include:

1.      Community Health and Awareness Programs: This includes GBV, HIV, and sexual reproductive health awareness, sensitization, and mobilization through study circle groups, sports clubs, youth clubs, and youth-friendly spaces at health facilities. It also involves promoting condom use through education and awareness, and conducting school-based education on preventive measures for sexual abuse.

2.      Capacity Building for Community Structures: Training and empowering community structures such as faith leaders, community volunteers, Area Development Committees, Village Development Committees, community paralegals, village rights committees, child protection workers, focal teachers, child counselors, and health providers on their roles as gatekeepers, GBV, sexual abuse case treatment, care, support, and court presentation.

3.      Healthcare Facility Enhancements: Establishing male-friendly health services, renovating and constructing health facility guardian shelters, and facilitating outreaches and mass screenings for STIs, HIV, cervical cancer, and other diseases.

4.      Support for Vulnerable Groups: Providing reusable sanitary wear to vulnerable adolescent girls, facilitating mobile courts for child sexual abuse cases, and offering scholarships (fees, stationery, and uniforms) to secondary and university students.

5.      Infrastructure Development and Educational Support: Building and improving school infrastructure such as classroom blocks and libraries, constructing modern change room toilets in schools, and distributing library books, sports equipment, and other learning materials to primary and secondary schools.

6.      Economic Empowerment and Vocational Training: Capacity building for local market committees on financial accountability, advocacy, and financial management, and training youths in vocational skills while providing them with start-up capital.

The organization's current and planned activities, which are part of the operationalized strategic plan, include:

• Vocational Skills Development and Economic Empowerment: Provide vocational skills development, including digital training and other informal skills, and offer start-up capital to trained beneficiaries. Additionally, implement sustainable economic empowerment initiatives for women and girls through entrepreneurship and value-addition initiatives.
• Support for Vulnerable Groups: Implement food security initiatives targeting vulnerable women and girls, and provide school support to vulnerable learners in primary, secondary, and universities.
• Health Awareness and Access to Services: Raise awareness and mobilize adolescent youths to access sexual reproductive health and rights (SRHR) services, enhance access and utilization of comprehensive prevention and care services for victims of sexual abuse and violence, and promote awareness on HIV/AIDS and TB while distributing informational materials, condoms, and lubricants.
• Youth Leadership and Networking: Promote youth leadership and networking opportunities to foster community engagement and personal development among young people.
• Educational Support and Infrastructure Development: Support infrastructure development in schools, including building classroom blocks and libraries, and provide schools with classroom desks, sports equipment, and other learning materials.
• Awareness and Mobilization Initiatives: Conduct awareness-raising campaigns and mobilization efforts in communities to ensure widespread access to critical health and education services.