Linessie Phiri and AGE Africa Champion Girls' Education for Malawi

Hit the subscribe button on this channel to meet more Frontrunners you want in your network. This episode brings together leaders working at the intersection of girls’ education, youth advocacy, and community development in Malawi. Mary Kurek is joined by Tobias Nauruki (Co-Host), Cozy Faber, Concepcion Gaxiola (Advancing Girls Education-AGE Africa), and guest Linessie Phiri to discuss how education changes lives, what it takes to keep girls in school, and why strong local partnerships matter. In this conversation, the speakers share both personal experience and organizational strategy, from Linessie’s journey from a rural village to global youth spaces to AGE Africa’s scholarship model and community-based support system. Key topics: Linessie's early advocacy began at age 8. She grew up in a rural Malawian community where girls faced child marriage, menstrual stigma, and school exclusion. Even as a child, she wrote songs and poems about girls’ rights and children’s rights. Linessie describes education as a door to opportunity and a way to imagine a different future. She emphasizes that school should build knowledge, confidence, and long-term vision, not just a certificate. AGE Africa’s mission is to get girls through secondary school and beyond. Cozy Faber explains that the organization identifies academically promising girls who lack financial support. Concepcion Gaxiola shares that AGE Africa supports girls from secondary school through university and also helps with career placement. AGE Africa’s support includes the full cost of staying in school. The organization’s graduation rate is 98%. The team also serves more than 1,000 girls directly through scholarships and reaches about 7,000 weekly through after-school chats. Both AGE Africa and Linessie stress the importance of working with district officials, teachers, mother groups, and community leaders. Linessie Phiri (Linkedin)   / linessie-k-phiri-999609125   AGE Africa: https://ageafrica.org/ -------- Frontrunners Development⁠ is a global business development consultancy that connects business to change the world. We are the producers/publishers of the Frontrunners Innovate Podcast, our best relationship building vehicle for advancing business development. We bring together innovators, investors, diplomats, NGO and government leaders, experts on almost every critical impact topic, and more. You can visit our info page at   / frontrunnersdevelopment   and easily connect with us from there.