The Chinthowa Development Trust is a small but dedicated UK charity based in North Warwickshire, transforming lives in rural Malawi through education, feeding programmes, and sustainable community development. Working in the village of Chinthowa and 14 surrounding villages, around 50 miles west of Lilongwe, we support some of the poorest and most vulnerable children and families in the region.
What began as a mission to care for orphans and vulnerable children has grown into a long-term commitment to building stronger, healthier, and more self-sufficient communities. Today, the Trust supports the primary school it built in 2012, provides assistance for children in Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary Education, operates a vital Feeding Programme for schoolchildren, elderly people, and vulnerable families, and promotes sustainable agriculture and food security projects.
Everything we do is guided by one simple principle: “Every Penny Counts.” No salaries are paid, no expenses are taken from donations, and all overhead costs are personally covered by trustees and volunteers. This means every donation goes directly to supporting the people who need it most.
Chinthowa Development Trust helps children in Malawi access primary and secondary education by supporting school attendance, learning materials, and opportunities for a brighter future.
Learn how Chinthowa Development Trust supports orphaned and vulnerable children in Malawi through community care, education support, and feeding programmes.
Chinthowa Development Trust provides nutritious meals for vulnerable children in Malawi, improving health, supporting education, and strengthening communities.
Chinthowa Development Trust supports agriculture and sustainability in Malawi through community food-growing projects, self-sufficiency, and long-term resilience.
The Chinthowa Development Trust is a UK-based charity working in rural Malawi to support orphans and vulnerable children in the village of Chinthowa and surrounding communities. Through education, daily school meals, clean water projects and healthcare support, the Trust helps improve the lives of hundreds of children and families. Alongside caring for orphans within family environments, the charity also invests in sustainable farming, micro-loans and community development to help villages become more self-sufficient. Run entirely by volunteers, every donation goes directly to supporting the people of Chinthowa.
Working closely with local partners in Malawi, the Trust focuses on practical, community-led solutions that create lasting change. Over the years the charity has helped build schools, improve access to clean water and provide opportunities that give children hope for a better future.
Chinthowa is located approximately 60 kilometres from Malawi’s capital city, Lilongwe, but the journey quickly moves from city roads into remote rural countryside.
Although Chinthowa is relatively close to the capital in distance, it can feel a world away.
Recognised as a Non-Governmental Organisation in Malawi, Chinthowa Development Trust continues to bring hope, opportunity, education, and practical support to thousands of people living in rural poverty.