Tilitonse Community Centre: Before and After the 2025 Transformation in Rural Malawi

Who doesn’t love a good before-and-after story — especially one filled with hope, community, and lasting change?

This is the story of how Tilitonse Community Centre, tucked down the hill, just below Fisherman’s Rest Lodge & the Project offices, in rural Malawi, just got the transformation of a lifetime.

From a broken building to a vibrant hub full of education, games, and opportunity — what’s happened here in 2025 is nothing short of extraordinary.

The Early Days: Tilitonse’s Roots in Community

When Tilitonse Community Centre first opened its doors in 2005, it marked a turning point in Fisherman’s Rest’s work in the region. Until then, most of our large-scale projects were focused in the Lower Shire Valley. But acquiring a building to serve this community was the start of localising projects, focus and vision to Madziabango and Nankhumba zones.

The centre had a lick of paint and solar power. The glow of onscreen football matches drew eager crowds. A preschool welcomed local families — encouraging education in an area where the nearest schools were long, uphill treks and ridge walks away. For young children, Tilitonse made learning accessible — and exciting.

A Golden Chapter: Pastor Chinkhosa’s Legacy

By around 2010, Tilitonse was buzzing. Much of that life came from Pastor Chinkhosa, a man of deep faith, passion and vision. He led youth Bible studies, sang and played with the children, and encouraged computer sessions with donated laptops from Pembrokeshire College and UK businesses.

Thanks to his leadership, a generation of well-spoken, confident teenagers emerged — many of whom went on to work with Fisherman’s Rest projects. If you’ve met Bannes, Roderick, or Augustine, you’ve seen the ripple effect of this golden era.

Pastor Chinkhosa passed away in 2014. His absence left a deep void in the community centre.

Holding On: Quiet Years and a Global Setback

In the years that followed, Blessings stepped in. He kept things going: adult literacy classes with Esnat, preschool lessons (despite teacher turnover), and daily porridge for children.Then came COVID-19.The centre closed for over a year.

When it reopened, it operated only three days a week. Though porridge continued, the centre’s energy dipped. It came alive when groups visited — then returned to quiet routine once they left.Blessings maintained what he could. But without additional staffing and with a crumbling building, Tilitonse was in urgent need of attention.

A New Chapter Begins: Funding, Faith, and Big Plans

In 2024, everything changed.We have the honour of hosting a family who returned home to announce their church wanted to support Tiltionse’s “new beginings”— offering three years of support for Tilitonse, including a refurbishment budget.

It was just what we needed. Yes — we’ve stretched that funding down to the very last penny. If this blog sparks memories or hope, we’d love your help buying monthly extra supplies like paper, paints, and books!

The Renovation: Rebuilding a Community Hub in Malawi (watch the transformation)

It’s taken 18 months of planning and 2 months of concentrated hard work. Now, Tilitonse is once again a true hub of life and opportunity.

Here’s what’s changed!

We tore down weakened walls and rebuilt foundations

Then covered all that work back up!

- Cracked floors were smashed up

...and replaced

- A new stove for phala porridge was built!

- We landscaped and flattened the football pitch added an official netball court

- Walls were painted, floors were painted

- Skylights were fitted

- Every surface, inside and out, was painted and restored

To top it all off — we celebrated the new Tilitonse with a football tournament, a netball match, and a film night for the whole community.

With Football Kits donated by Carmarthen Stars. Zikomo! And amazing donated footballs.

Meet the New Tilitonse Team

A building is only the beginning. You need people — gifted, passionate people — to breathe life into it.Originally, our plan was to employ a qualified teacher to support Blessings. But two stand-out candidates emerged… and we couldn’t choose just one.

Meet Shereen and Tia

Shereen (Left), our new Tilitonse Centre Manager, brings exceptional organisational experience and leadership. She’ll be sharing updates from the centre regularly.- Tia (right) is energy in human form — leading games, mentoring, and engaging children with pure joy. Blessings continues to support them both with his faithful caretaking, and leading children’s Bible stories.

Introducing the Tilitonse Apprenticeship

During painting, a local post-grad student — Esnat’s daughter — joined the team as a painting apprentice. And something clicked.

What if we offered a youth worker apprenticeship at Tilitonse (and the tree project and…watch this space!) every year?That spark became reality.

Our first official apprentice is Martin, a Horton CDSS graduate — and the fourth member of the new Tilitonse team.

These opportunities are rare in Malawi — especially paid ones. It’s part of our growing vision to create future leaders within the community.

Tilitonse Community Centre Today: Full of Life

Today, just a few months after fully reopening, the centre is thriving.

Here’s what’s happening every week:

📚 Adult literacy classes

✝️ Youth and children’s Bible studies (and a church uses the building on Sunday)

⚽️ Sports sessions for local schools

💻 IT classes at Horton Secondary School

🎨 Creative arts and after-school clubs

🥅 Weekend football and netball tournaments

🥣 Daily porridge for local children

The centre has become a hub again — for learning, for play, for growth.

And we couldn't deliver change without you!

Zikomo Kwambiri!

Want to Get Involved?

Whether you’ve visited Malawi or you’ve just discovered us, you are so welcome to be part of Tilitonse’s future!

Volunteer. Fund paints (and other crafty stuff).

Or simply share this story and remember us in your prayers!

The only question left is... when are you coming out to see it for yourself?