LICO Education Support Program Transforms Lives of Vulnerable Students in Rumphi

In Rumphi and surrounding districts, many young learners face immense barriers to education. Poverty, lack of tuition fees, uniforms, stationery, and basic upkeep often force promising students to drop out, while orphaned children and vulnerable youth struggle to envision a future beyond secondary school. For students in vocational centers and universities, financial pressures can cause stress, poor performance, and discontinued studies. Without intervention, these challenges limit opportunities, perpetuating cycles of poverty and vulnerability.

Recognizing this urgent need, LICO has been implementing its Education Support Program since 2012, providing targeted support to vulnerable learners from secondary school to university. The program focuses on two key solutions: infrastructure improvements to create conducive learning environments and a bursary support initiative that covers school fees, uniforms, stationery, and upkeep allowances. By addressing both material and financial barriers, LICO ensures that students can remain in school, focus on learning, and pursue their dreams.

To date, the program has reached hundreds of learners. By 2025, over 1,000 students benefited from tuition fee support, while more than 10,000 students received uniforms and essential stationery. Among these beneficiaries are six university graduates, demonstrating the long-term impact of sustained support. Today, LICO continues to support 47 students at various education levels, including secondary schools, vocational centers, and universities.

The difference this support makes is tangible. Benedicto Saka, a university graduate, recalls how the bursary changed his life:

“In 2016, I faced the real risk of dropping out of Rumphi Secondary School because of lack of fees and materials. LICO’s support allowed me to complete secondary school and continue to university, where I graduated in 2025. Without this support, I would not have achieved my dreams.”

Similarly, vocational student Emmanuel Phiri shared how LICO’s support enabled him to focus on practical skills training:

“Before I was supported, I could not afford training fees or materials. LICO came at the right time. Now I have hope to start my own business and support my family after completing my course.”

Even secondary school students feel the impact. Grace Mweso, a form three student at Mkombezi CDSS, said:

“School life was very hard because my parents could not manage fees and requirements. With LICO’s support, I can attend classes consistently and focus on my studies. My dream is to complete my education and become a professional who will help my community.”

LICO’s leadership emphasizes that the program is not just about supporting students, it is an investment in long-term community development. Graduates and skilled vocational trainees now contribute to their communities as nurses, builders, plumbers, mechanics, and managers, with some even returning to LICO to coordinate programs themselves.

Through the Education Support Program, LICO continues to expand opportunities, strengthen partnerships, and transform education from a distant dream into a tangible reality for vulnerable learners. By breaking down financial and social barriers, the initiative empowers students to achieve their potential, strengthening families and contributing to sustainable development in Rumphi and beyond.