Alina, GAIA Program and Grants Manager, just returned from her visit to GAIA’s programs in Malawi and Zambia, and shares some reflections from her trip below: 

Malawi: 

Last month I had the privilege of returning to Malawi for the second time since joining GAIA in 2024. This visit was especially meaningful as it was my first visit back since the US funding cuts put a halt to our largest project in the country. 

Thanks to our incredible supporters, we’ve been able to honor our project commitments, ensuring that the 95 nursing scholars and 8 nursing fellows already in training could continue their education and service. Even more inspiring, we took on a new cohort of 21 scholars and 16 fellows, building on our long-standing efforts to strengthen Malawi’s healthcare system and address critical workforce gaps. Seeing the programs continue to grow despite the challenges affirmed that we can continue our mission to create lasting capacity for Malawi’s communities and health system.

I also had the opportunity to visit one of GAIA’s 7 Mobile Health Clinics and meet some of the many women, men, and children who rely on these services every day. Sitting with patients and hearing their stories was a powerful reminder that access to healthcare can mean the difference between life and death in rural communities. What struck me most was how trusted these clinics have become, often the first and only point of care for entire villages. 

Zambia: 

On my recent visit to Zambia, I met GAIA’s very first cohort of scholars and fellows—a milestone moment for us, as these scholarship and fellowship models have already proven to be extremely successful in Malawi.

Every scholar I spoke with shared their gratitude, explaining that without GAIA they would not have been able to upgrade their nursing degrees to midwifery. This opportunity is life-changing not only for them, but for the communities they serve, as Zambia faces a critical shortage of midwives.

The fellows, meanwhile, are already having an extraordinary impact in five high-burden hospitals across Eastern Province. At each hospital, I heard the same powerful message: without these dedicated midwives, the facilities would be stretched beyond their limits. Witnessing their commitment and the difference they are making so early on reaffirmed for me how important this work is, and how transformational GAIA’s support can be.

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