Determined to Develop

I volunteered with D2D while living in Malawi. The friendships and connections made through this organization have been life changing. The work that D2D is doing in rural Malawi is unmatched. D2D' is devoted to educating the poorest of the poor in the northern region of Malawi. So far, D2D has had an amazing impact on the students and families in Malawi, and it is my hope that this will continue to grow and that we will be able to change even more lives!

I have been working with and donating to Determined to Develop for the past 6 years. I have seen first hand how the funds are used and the excellent work done by this wonderful organization. The work they are doing with women's empowerment and education will have long lasting, positive impact not only on the Chilumba region, but indeed the entire country of Malawi. Their board is very involved in how their funds are utilized to the most effective and efficient manner possible.

I am so happy to continue supporting Determined to Develop. Since day 1 I have always felt confident that my donations were being used for what was best in the community they serve in Malawi. I really appreciate their timely feedback on project updates and the communication with a sponsored student. I can see the impact they are making and truly know that they are committed to doing the right thing by their beneficiaries.

D2D is a really nice NGO, In my opinion they support the people of northern Malawi with exactly the right programs. D2D sees local challenges and act with the right solutions. I´m really happy and thankful for all the things I´m learning here and for all the experiences I made!

This amazing organization has a simple but powerful focus of educating the poorest of the poor in rural Malawi. I have seen first hand the transforming effect over the last six years the programming has had. The ability to take a dollar and turn it into opportunity and advancement of the area's youth is nothing short of miraculous.

I volunteered with D2D this past summer, and it was the best experience of my life. The staff as well as the community were some of the most inclusive, supportive and extraordinary individuals I have met.

D2D is a fantastic charity that goes above and beyond their call to serve. I feel completely confident at all times that my donations are being used in an effective way that makes the largest and most appropriate impact. They are a charity that works closely with local communities to make sure their programming is what is needed and it's because of this that they have had huge success. I particularly appreciate their focus on education, making sure that a person's financial status does not impede their access to quality education.

I was lucky enough to work with D2D on a research project through my university. This organization understands community-based solutions and the quieting of the ego required to make sustainable change. They are active members in their community and during my visit, it was evident that the community trusted and appreciated D2D's efforts. If you're involved with this organization, you can be confident you're making a difference.

I was introduced to D2D through a partnership with my university to conduct research for 9 weeks on topics relevant to the area. It was incredible to be able to see first hand the work that they were doing for so many people in the area. The atmosphere created by D2D is unlike any other. The organization aims to be give opportunities to everyone, from sponsoring students in need to employing young professionals starting their careers. D2D is also always developing new ideas, programs, and strategies to address needs for the community they serve. The sponsored students and staff make the campus feel more like home than you could ever imagine - whether you’re there for a day, a week, or a year.

I have supported this charity for many years and have found them to a effective change-makers at a grass roots level. Many of their initiatives have started as subsidized programs and are now self-sustaining through their own program participants. They work to meet real, rather than perceive needs and truly change the lives of those they
serve. I look forward to continuing to support D2D in the years to come and encourage others to do the same.

My name is Frank Kukla and I currently serve on the Board of Directors for Determined to Develop. I know the founder personally and have visited Malawi and seen first-hand the positive impact that this non-profit has had on so many Malawians - especially women and children. One of the attributes that make this non-profit so special is the fact that we work with an entirely volunteer based administration and staff in the US and Malawi, which allows us to use 100% of the donations that are given to us for development projects or to sponsor students who can't afford the school tuition fees or expenses required to attend school in Malawi.

While primary school is free in Malawi, costs such as uniforms, pencils, notepads and shoes often prove too great for struggling subsistence farmers and make even free primary school unaffordable for many families. Secondary school (high school in the US) is not free and school fees (around $20 US per month) are unaffordable to the majority of families in Malawi.

The positive impact and accomplishments of this young and dynamic non-profit are too numerous to list here but here are a few in the areas that we focus:

EDUCATION:

- Built new double classrooms blocks at Khwawa and Sangilo schools
- Over 150 grants for school tuition fees

WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT:

- Support for women's groups such as the Sangilo Mother's Group which is responsible for the
elementary school feeding program

FOOD & NUTRITION:

- Food for nearly 850 children given each day

HEALTH:

- Construction of a water system for Sangilo Village, serving a once waterless hospital with a catchment
area population of 30,000 and direct access for 2,000 people in the village

ENVIRONMENT:

- Support for the Sangilo Reforestation Project which educates villagers on the importance of planting
and protecting trees

ORPHAN CARE & SUPPORT:

- Construction of a home for orphan boys, where 20 kids have all their basic needs covered and live
within a family environment

All of our projects, 100%, have a community ownership component. We are not in a position to impose what we think is a “solution” on people who may or may not want it. All projects are vetted by traditional leaders (chiefs), local village development committees and village women’s advisory groups before they pass the planning stages. All projects are required to have a community contribution, which is usually in another form than cash, but for which typically makes up at least 40% of the project. This includes our support for students who must then “contribute” towards the younger orphans through tutoring, thereby establishing early the responsibility to those whom much is given.

The ability of our founder and Executive Director to give a supporter a great value for their donation will forever impress me.