Gertrude Kabwazi joined Yamba Malawi in 2019 with over twenty-five years of experience as a development practitioner and social justice activist. Her expertise in working with both local and international organizations uniquely positions her to lead the program team, develop community-focused interventions and activities, and serve thousands of children each year. Prior to Yamba Malawi, she worked at Advancing Girls Education in Africa, World Vision International, and Concern Universal, among others. Her breadth of expertise and leadership roles serves Yamba Malawi’s holistic approach to breaking the cycle of poverty. Gertrude holds a Masters in Women’s Law from the University of Zimbabwe, B.A. in Human and Social Studies with a concentration in Development Studies from the University of South Africa, University Diploma in Journalism from University of Malawi, and Certificate in Education Policy from University of Witwatersrand, South Africa. Gertrude has been recognized as an African Visionary Fellow with Segal Family Foundation and a Perennial Fellow, and serves on a number of Boards, including the Malawi Union of Academic and Non-Fiction Authors, Integrity Platform (Affiliate of Transparency International), World Bicycle Relief-Buffalo Bicycles, Women and Law in Southern Africa (WILSA), Coalition of Women Living with HIV and AIDS (COWLHA), and Concerned Youth Organisation.

Melissa Kushner founded Yamba Malawi, formerly goods for good, in 2006 with the mission of uplifting vulnerable children and empowering communities to break the cycle of poverty.

Melissa is a Global Citizen Award recipient, has been featured on Cool Hunting’s inaugural CH25 list, The Jewish Week’s 36 under 36, and the Empact100 list. She has been named an American Express NGen Fellow, awarded the Young Entrepreneur for the World by the World Entrepreneurship Forum, and received the Torch Award and Distinguished Young Alumna Award from New York University. Melissa has also been featured in numerous publications, including Forbes, USA Today, and Elle, was featured on NBC’s Nightly News, and has presented at the TEDx Atlanta Conference.

Melissa received her Masters in Public Administration from New York University, and Bachelor of Arts degree in Urban Studies from the University of Pennsylvania.   

Malawi Board of Directors

Jane Asani

Timothy Kachule

Lingalireni Mihowa

Madalo Samati, CHAIR

Ralph Sauti-Hahn

Jailan Adly

Taryn Blank

Bethanie Brady

NATHAN CHIUME, secretary

Abby Doft, chair

SONIA FARBER

PATRICK KANDAWIRE

Jeremy Kaplan

Melissa Kushner, Special Advisor

HILARY KOYFMAN

Mark Lakin

Meryl Levin, vice chair

Stephen Murray, Treasurer

THANDIE NYIRENDA

Jason Segal

PETER TWYMAN