Aubrey Mtusi: graduated welding & fabrication student June 2025 – read about his background and experiences

Mariska: "Aubrey graduated from the OneHeartMalawi vocational training centre in June 2025. During the interview with him, I was reminded of how different life and the future are for young people in Malawi compared to my own future and where I was when I was Aubrey's age. I'll never forget meeting Aubrey - I sat with tears in my eyes listening to his story and vulnerability.

Aubrey is only 20 years old, but he looked much older because of everything he's been through. Pain shone in his eyes, and his entire energy radiated sadness. He has an older brother, and his parents divorced when he was very young. His father left for South Africa, and his mother left for an unknown destination. He and his brother stayed with their grandmother because neither of their parents took care of Aubrey and his brother.

Later, they stayed with their uncle in Blantyre, one of Malawi's bigger cities. Without telling him, their uncle left, leaving them behind. The landlord kicked them out because they couldn't pay the rent. Aubrey was 12 years old at the time. Aubrey and his brother did everything they could to survive. They survived on the streets of Blantyre for five years by begging and doing piece work. At one point, they found work as butchers in a butcher shop, and that's how they survived. They didn't have a roof over their heads. "I never want to beg again," Aubrey said, his eyes filled with pain. He dropped out of school in seventh grade because of his circumstances.

Aubrey's father had been in South Africa all those years and recently returned. He found out where Aubrey was staying and suggested he will come live with him in Monkey Bay to learn a skill. His father knew OneHeartMalawi through church and regularly visited the project site. He paid the school fees so Aubrey could take the welding & fabrication training course. Aubrey says he had a very positive experience at the OneHeartMalawi vocational training centre.

Aubrey: "I enjoyed every moment to the point that I forgot everything I had experienced. I felt free, welcome, and at home. I see so much development in myself and I am so proud of myself because I can make so many things, like window and door frames and repair other products."

At the graduation ceremony, the students had the opportunity to perform, and Aubrey wrote a rap about OneHeartMalawi and his experiences and performed. He is now back in Blantyre and has found a job as a welder there.

All Aubrey wanted was to become independent, get a job, and earn money so he'd never have to end up on the streets again. Sadly, this is just one of the many stories we hear and see around us. Young adults like Aubrey are the reason the vocational training centre was established. Aubrey arrived so sad and hopeless - I'll never forget that look in his eyes. But over the months, the sparkle returned to his eyes, he started to shine again, regained his energy, and regained his hope for the future.”

Do you want to help young vulnerable people like Aubrey? For only 75 euro's you can support by paying the school fees of one student for a 6 months training which will change his or her future completely: oneheartmalawi.com/en/donate/

#successtory #selfreliance #independence #hope #oneheartmalawi

We are so grateful that volunteer Rotem, a fashion and footwear designer by profession, made the effort to come to OHM to help at the tailoring and fashion design class! 💚

She made a huge impact on the OneHeartMalawi Vocational Training Centre. Rotem is special to us, since she was the first volunteer who contributed with teaching skills through her profession. She came fully prepared to Malawi and brought a lot of materials with her.

She taught the students about fabric awareness & safety, embroidery, focused on drawing and creativity, did a material exploration exercise and had a bag, underwear and final fashion house project.

On her last day, she ordered a cake and celebrated with all the students. Rotem inspired students to think out of the box and be creative. She encouraged them to work hard, be dedicated and reminded them passion will allow them to create meaningful work. The group of students she taught graduated on December 19th and we 100% believe the students will always remember Rotem and everything they learned from her.

Click here to read and see more about Rotem's experiences at the OneHeartMalawi Vocational Training Centre: oneheartmalawi.com/stories/#RotemSahar

Are you also interested to make an impact? Spread the word and get in touch before February 1st 2026. Read more about the OneHeartMalawi Experience here: oneheartmalawi.com/stories/#OneHeartMalawi-Experience

#volunteerwork #MeaningfulImpact #grateful #tailoring #fashiondesign #oneheartmalawi

1.5 week ago Abu, Adidya, Alfred, Asimau, Awema, Benson, Bridget, Carloreen, Cecila, Chisomo Chunga, Chisomo Salapa, Chisomo Simumbo, Dayiton, Esther, Evelyn Jollamuh, Evelyn Nkhoma, Heria, Jamistone, John, Kailu, Lisse, Lonely, Madalo, Maria, Mariam, Mariatu, Marko, Neliah, Obvious, Prisca, Rex, Scover, Shackeerah, Thokozani en Zamilluh graduated at the OneHeartMalawi Vocational Training Centre.

A few quotes from them about their experiences at the OneHeartMalawi vocational training centre and their future plans:

Kailu: “I did not go far with my studies, and I left school in std 4. This was due to the extent of poverty at home. I had to help my parents with finding food for the family together with my brothers. I had such a good experience at OHM since now I see myself different in a way of which I never imagined when I was back home. I am so proud that a person like me who had no plans knows how to weld and fabricate.”

Alfred: “I have experienced a different kind of life full of love and laughter. And even the way I see myself now is different. I can operate my own business with what I have learnt here.”

Chisomo Simumbo: “I have had such a good experience. I have learnt a new lifestyle, and I am always happy to be here.”

Chisomo Salapa: It's a very good school. We are free to be who we are, and everybody is treated equally.”

Marko: “I left school when I was in form three because my parents could not afford to pay school fees for all of us who were in secondary school at that time. I went to live with my brother in Blantyre when I left school but then I had nothing to do, and I felt bored until I got a chance to come here. I told my mother about how devastated I was with just staying and having nothing to do. So she asked me if I could come from Blantyre to Monkey Bay and start at OHM and luckily enough, I got the chance. With everything that happened here I have had a good experience. The inclusion of extracurricular activities is awesome. I am so proud that I can weld and fabricate a lot of things without any support, like chairs, doorframes, and many more. I honestly had low expectations. In my mind when my mother told me to come here, I just thought it was some kind of mere workshop run by business owners. So I never had much energy but when I came it was a different story. It's a place to learn and gain.”

John: “It's a good place. We feel safe and it is more like our second home. Our teachers are even better.”

Rex: “I had no expectations but to be honest everything went well. I have a skill now in which I can use my entire life, and nobody can steal it from me.”

Chisomo Salapa: “I am so proud that I can sew trousers and shorts so well. A lot of progress has happened. I came here knowing nothing but now I can use the machine to make different things.”

Thokozani “I was born and raised in a family of four children. Both our parents died when I was very young and I started living with my grandmother. We faced a lot of hardships since our grandmother was already old at that time so she could not work to provide for us. We went to bed hungry a lot of times and we had to find food for ourselves. I ended up getting pregnant when I was 17 years old since the only option I saw was to get married and be free from hunger and poverty. My two older siblings are both dead now so it's only me and my sister remaining. At OHM I had a good experience. I have been able to do a lot of things so far. I applied as a tailor, but I switched to welding and I am doing so good. I was so afraid of starting welding and fabrication since people were telling me that it’s not for women and your eyes get damaged when you work with grinders. But it’s all lies, as long as you take safety measures then you are okay. I went on and proved them wrong.”

Words can't describe how thankful we are to all of you for making it possible for 16 newly passionated welders and 19 tailors to look ahead to a bright future! The welders will start their internships 5th of January and the tailors will get machines in terms of a loan so that they can start their own businesses. Without all who supported our mission this would have never been possible. Zikomo kwambiri!!

The OneHeartMalawi team is wishing you a sparkling New Year! ✨

#proud #graduates #milestone #oneheartmalawi