How Women in Mzokoto Are Rewriting the HIV Story Through Study Circles

In Mzokoto, a rural community in Rumphi District, HIV risk is deeply connected to daily survival. Poverty, food insecurity, and limited income opportunities often shape health decisions, especially for women. When households struggle to meet basic needs, accessing health services or prioritizing HIV prevention becomes difficult. For many families, the challenge has never been a lack of willingness to stay healthy, it has been the lack of economic stability to make that possible.

That reality began to change through community study circles, supported by Life Concern with funding from Blood:Water. These study circles are community-led spaces where women and men meet regularly to learn about HIV prevention, PMTCT, and healthy living, while also building practical skills for income generation and savings. LICO provided the foundation, training peer educators, strengthening leadership, and supporting groups with start-up resources, but the direction and energy come from the community itself.

Across Mzokoto, women are leading small but powerful enterprises. In Umodzi Study Circle, members run a bakery that generates income while supporting a group savings system.

“We started with one bag of flour,” one woman shared. “Now we bake regularly, save together, and lend to each other. I can support my children and still go for health services without fear.”In Chimwemwe Study Circle, local chicken production is improving both nutrition and income. “Our chickens mean food at home and money when we sell,” a member explained. “If someone is sick, we don’t delay going to the clinic anymore.”Ungweru’s sunflower farmers are already thinking long-term. “We don’t want to stop at harvesting,” one woman said. “Our plan is to process cooking oil so we earn more and grow as a group.”

The impact of the study circles goes far beyond earnings. These groups have become trusted spaces where women speak openly about HIV testing, treatment adherence, cancer screening, reproductive health, and family planning. Economic stability has reduced fear and dependence, making it easier to seek care early and consistently. Savings groups have strengthened resilience during difficult seasons, while collective learning has built confidence and solidarity. Men’s involvement in some study circles has also increased support for maternal and child health, encouraging shared decision-making within households.

What makes this approach a game changer is its integration. Health education is no longer separate from livelihoods, it is embedded within them. By combining economic empowerment, peer learning, and community ownership, the project addresses the root causes that increase vulnerability to HIV. Communities are not passive recipients; they are planners, implementers, and champions of their own solutions.

As the project moves forward, LICO and Blood:Water aim to deepen skills training, expand value-addition, strengthen savings systems, and reach more families across Mzokoto. What is taking shape is not dependency, but momentum, women with income, knowledge, and confidence to protect their health and shape their futures.

Mzokoto’s story shows that when communities lead, change is not only possible, it lasts.

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