About Malawi

Malawi is one of the poorest countries in the world, with 65% of the population living below the poverty line. Literacy rates are low and of those who are literate 66% are men and 34% are women. The economy is predominantly agricultural with the majority of people living in rural areas, involved in subsistence farming. A scarcity of good quality soil, land erosion and persistent droughts has resulted in food shortages.

Rapid population growth over the last decade has put pressure on all resources, including health care. Malawi has one of the highest rates of HIV infection in the world; already more than half a million Malawians have died of AIDS. It is estimated that 17% of 15-49 year olds are HIV positive and an estimated 65,000 children are HIV infected. The average life expectancy for a Malawian is 38 years.

There are now about 1.2 million orphans in Malawi, who are often forced into crime or prostitution to support themselves and their younger siblings.