Alliance Against Poverty in Africa
Country
Malawi
Location
Dzaleka Refugee Camp
Founder
Muhimuzi Onesime Jimmy
Focus
Livelihoods, creativity, and economic empowerment
About
Alliance Against Poverty in Africa is a refugee-led organization founded in 2020 in Dzaleka Refugee Camp. It focuses on helping refugees move from aid dependency toward dignity and self-reliance through entrepreneurship, creative work, and community leadership. The organization highlights the creativity already thriving in the camp—from tailoring shops to music, gardens, and local festivals.
Why beauty matters here
In places shaped by long-term displacement, environments can begin to feel temporary or forgotten. But when people care for their surroundings—through gardens, music, design, or shared gathering spaces—something shifts. Beauty restores dignity, strengthens belonging, and reminds people that they are more than their displacement.
“Many outsiders see Dzaleka Refugee Camp as a place of lack. What they often misunderstand is that it is also a place of creation, culture, and quiet determination.”
What this partnership will explore
Document everyday creativity within the camp
Work with youth and women to identify spaces for transformation
Celebrate local art, music, and storytelling
Strengthen community pride and ownership