Mercy Melinda From Malawi is OD Young Person of The Month – June 2026 – YOA

Melicy Mandala is the Founder and Executive Director of Wala Women’s Social Enterprise, a ladies-led social enterprise in Malawi that transforms agricultural and paper waste into sustainable biomass briquettes whereas empowering ladies and youth by way of inexperienced entrepreneurship.

More about Her Journey

Through Wala Women’s Social Enterprise, Melicy converts agricultural and paper waste into clear-burning briquettes that function an reasonably priced different to charcoal and firewood. She additionally supplies palms-on coaching to ladies, youth, and neighborhood teams in briquette manufacturing, waste administration, and entrepreneurship, enabling them to create sustainable livelihoods whereas contributing to environmental conservation.

Her work has created optimistic influence in communities by selling cleaner vitality options, decreasing waste, and equipping ladies and younger folks with sensible abilities for revenue technology. Through her coaching and demonstrations, communities are studying that waste will be remodeled into worthwhile merchandise that enhance each livelihoods and environmental sustainability.

On the challenges confronted up to now

Like many social entrepreneurs, Melicy’s journey has not been with out challenges. Limited entry to finance, manufacturing tools, markets, and enterprise growth help have offered obstacles to scaling her influence. However, these challenges have strengthened her resilience and dedication to constructing revolutionary options that reply to native wants.

Awards and Recognitions

Over the years, Melicy has been honoured with recognition by way of numerous entrepreneurship and management programmes. Most not too long ago, she was chosen among the many Top 12 contributors of the OPPORTUNITY Desk Impact Challenge 2025, an achievement that has additional motivated her to develop the influence of Wala Women’s Social Enterprise. She has additionally participated in management and mentorship initiatives which have enhanced her abilities and linked her with changemakers from world wide.

Vision for the long run

Her imaginative and prescient is to construct a future the place waste is considered as a worthwhile useful resource, ladies and youth are economically empowered, and communities have entry to reasonably priced and sustainable vitality options. Through Wala Women’s Social Enterprise, Melicy stays dedicated to driving environmental sustainability, creating inexperienced jobs, and enhancing livelihoods throughout Malawi and past.

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