Bexton, 45, has been a dedicated community activist in Traditional Authority Mtwalo, Mzimba district, since 2012. Through his voluntary work as a sponsorship photographer for Plan International Malawi, he supports 1,928 sponsored children in 8 communities.
Bexton’s tough childhood sparked his desire to help others. Orphaned at 2, he grew up with his uncle’s family of 8 children, where life was not easy. These struggles drove Bexton’s determination to create a better life for his children and make a lasting impact in his community.
Trained as a journalist, Bexton decided to use his knowledge and passion to serve his community, where child marriages and other violations of children’s rights are widespread.
“Soon after my diploma in journalism studies, I reflected on my community’s struggles. Empowered by my newfound knowledge, I felt driven to initiate change. I returned to my village, joined forces with locals, and co-founded Fiskani Community Based Organisation,” Bexton said.
Despite initial doubts from some community members due to cultural beliefs, Bexton and his friends were determined to make a difference. Over time, their hard work paid off, and the Community Based Organisation (CBO) has since grown, becoming a vital force in addressing community challenges.
“We knew it wouldn’t be easy, but we embraced a shared vision of a better future for our community. Cultural norms in this community accepted child marriages and violence against women, so we worked to address these issues,” he recalled.
“We knew it wouldn’t be easy, but we embraced a shared vision of a better future for our community. Cultural norms in this community accepted child marriages and violence against women, so we worked to address these issues.”
Bexton, Plan Malawi Sponsorship Volunteer
Working with Plan Malawi
Within Plan International Malawi’s Mzimba impact zone, Fiskani CBO emerged as a strategic partner in 2012. As part of this collaboration, Bexton took on the role of volunteer sponsorship photographer, documenting the journeys of sponsored children and showcasing the transformative impact of the programme.
“This partnership has been transformative as Plan Malawi has been providing us with vital training in areas like child protection, gender-based violence, and youth empowerment. We’ve established a child protection committee to end child marriages and promote girls’ education, created youth and male champions at our youth center, and given young people a platform to access crucial sexual and reproductive health services,” Bexton explained.
The CBO, through all the established committees, tackles critical issues in their community. Girls now return to school after leaving marriages, and people actively report issues of violence against women and girls.
“Before the partnership, our reach was limited. Now, we are a well-known local organisation within the community. Plan Malawi’s support has elevated our work and our activities get the credibility they deserve,” he said.
Through this partnership, Plan Malawi built a multipurpose centre for the CBO. The multipurpose centre provides sexual health services, youth programmes, and space for community meetings.
Bexton highlights his story as proof of dedication and community spirit through his voluntary work.
“I’m always glad that organisations like Plan Malawi partner with communities like ours. When empowered, these communities have the potential to create lasting change. My journey with Fiskani CBO should inspire others, showing that together, we can make a difference,” he concluded.
“I’m always glad that organisations like Plan Malawi partner with communities like ours. When empowered, these communities have the potential to create lasting change. My journey with Fiskani CBO should inspire others, showing that together, we can make a difference.”
Bexton, Plan Malawi Sponsorship Volunteer
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