Gender Justice
For us, the term “gender justice” best signifies our intersectional approach that centers on the diverse needs, experiences, and leadership of people most impacted by discrimination and oppression. This approach helps achieve both equity (equal distribution of resources, access, and opportunities) and equality (equal outcomes for all). Gender justice also means the full equality and equity between women and men in all spheres of life, resulting in women jointly, and on an equal basis with men, defining and shaping the policies, structures, and decisions that affect their lives and society as a whole.
To achieve gender justice, we believe that transforming gender and power relations, and the structures, norms, and values that underpin them, is key. We believe that women taking control and taking collective action are the most important drivers of sustained improvements in women’s rights, and are a powerful force to end poverty not only for women and girls but for others too. We believe this can be achieved through:
- Ending all forms of violence against women and girls.
- Supporting women’s bodily autonomy and reproductive rights.
- Nourishing capacities of women and their organisations, movements, and groups to lead and make decisions.
Our programme's initiatives:
Tiyambe Project
The Tiyambe Project is a 3-year project (2021-2024) that is promoting gender equality and tackling sexual harassment in tea and macadamia growing communities in targeted areas of Mulanje and Thyolo. Using Theatre for Development as the primary methodology, the project trains local Drama groups in tea estates and surrounding communities to identify issues and create performances that address these real-life issues and situations. The performance culminates into the creation of multi-stakeholder Community Action Plans which are community-owned, led, and funded.
Impact
Drama Clubs and Community Stakeholders that the Tiyambe Project trained addressed:
Reach
Tiyambe project has so far reached:
Tiyambe Updates
Cross-Border Child Protection Concerns Raised In Mulanje
On 12 April 2026, ArtGlo facilitated a Theatre for Development (TfD) performance in Likhanyaule Village, under Traditional Authority Njema in Mulanje District, as part of the Tiyambe Project. During the engagement, a serious cross-border child protection concern affecting communities near the Muloza border was raised. It was shared that in a nearby area across the Malawi-Mozambique border, commonly referred to as Villa, some children, particularly girls, are being coerced into relationships in exchange for money. This practice has contributed to increasing cases of early pregnancies and school dropouts. The issue prompted strong reactions from community members and stakeholders, who called for increased vigilance and stronger collaboration between families, community leaders, and authorities to safeguard children.
Mukhoza Magistrate Court Clerk, Paul Kachingwe, emphasised the legal implications and the role of parents:
The engagement highlighted the importance of parental responsibility and coordinated action in addressing cross-border child exploitation and gender-based violence. Through such dialogues, the Tiyambe Project continues to create space for communities to surface critical issues and work collectively towards solutions.“Parents must be vigilant in protecting their children. The law will not spare those who are involved in or allow such behavior to continue.”
Tiyambe Drives Action Against GBV in Ntambanyama
On Saturday 11 April 2026, ArtGlo, in partnership with Eastern Produce Malawi, facilitated a Theatre for Development (TfD) performance at Kasembereka Estate in Ntambanyama, Thyolo under the Tiyambe Project. The performance took place in Masai Village, under Group Village Head Njobvu, in the area of Traditional Authority Khwethemule.
The performance brought together a diverse group of community members and district-level stakeholders in a shared space for dialogue and collective reflection on the theme of domestic violence. Participants included traditional leaders, Community Police Forum members, and representatives from the Department of Gender, Social Welfare, and the Malawi Police Service.
In line with the project’s approach of sustaining dialogue beyond performances, the activity was followed by a community discussion. Stakeholders and community members reflected on the issues raised and contributed to the development of a Community Action Plan aimed at strengthening local responses to gender-based violence.
Through engagements like this, the Tiyambe Project continues to use Theatre for Development to strengthen community dialogue and collective action on gender-based violence in tea and macadamia-growing communities.
Make Art for Women’s Activism (MAWA)
MAWA is a 3 year funded project (2020-2023) by The UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women (UN Trust Fund). The project worked with 57 Community-Based Organisations (CBOs) and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs)in 6 districts of Malawi, Phalombe, Chiradzulu, Blantyre, Chikwawa, Mulanje and Zomba, to design and implement innovative projects to tackle Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) in their communities, and collectively advocate for change at a District and National levels. Through this project, the CSOs and CBOs have formed 5 district EVAWG networks.
Impact
MAWA trained CSOs have responded, reported and addressed:
Promoting bodily autonomy
We work with other SRHR advocates and allies to advocate for safe abortion and progressive legislation which allows women and girls to make decisions about their bodies. We are also working with UNESCO and the Ministry of Education to review and reframe the CSE curriculum for Secondary schools in Malawi
