The meeting room at Blantyre City Council was calm, but the conversation unfolding inside carried real weight. As MATCH Foundation’s Executive Director, Tadala Kandulu Ngosi, sat alongside the Mayor of Blantyre City, His Worship Isaac Jomo Osman, Deputy Mayor Mr. Lipukwe, and the Director of Planning, the focus was clear: creating stronger pathways for young people in the city.
One place kept returning to the centre of the discussion — Zingwangwa Youth Centre. Through collaboration with the City Council, MATCH Foundation explored how the centre could be uplifted through our Play and Stay sports programme, opening the door to establishing a MATCH presence in the Southern Region.
“For us, expansion is never just about location,” Tadala shared during the meeting. “It’s about meeting young people where they are and building systems of support that help them grow.”
Already firmly rooted in Lilongwe and five surrounding districts, MATCH Foundation’s potential expansion into Blantyre signals a deepening partnership between local government and civil society — one made possible by donor trust and shared commitment to youth development.
As the meeting concluded, there were no grand declarations — just shared understanding, handshakes, and the quiet sense that groundwork for something meaningful had been laid.
