MAP Alum Joins the National Children's Commission of Malawi

The National Children’s Commission (NCC) of Malawi, established by an Act of Parliament in 2019, was officially launched on December 6, 2025, marking its full operational status to address urgent challenges facing the nation’s youth, including child marriage, poverty, violence, and neglect. Helping to lead this critical charge is Lyka Mtambo ‘23, who represents the religious sector on the five-member commission.

An alum of HIU’s MA in International Peacebuilding program, Lyka credits her education with preparing her for the immense task. “When the opportunity arose, I felt prepared,” she said. “My qualification from HIU gave me an added advantage.”

The commission begins its work at a pivotal moment. The Malawian government has recently strengthened its legal framework, amending the constitution to raise the legal marriage age to 18 and launching, in October 2024, a National Strategy to End Child Marriage that aims to reduce rates by 20% by 2030.

Commissioner Mtambo and her team are central to enforcing these reforms. “We monitor the implementation of standards for children, ensure compliance and enforcement, and hold the government accountable for its mandate,” she said. This involves direct community engagement to shift deep-seated cultural norms. “We go to communities and sensitize them on the new laws,” she said, an effort that will be bolstered by the introduction of free primary and secondary education in January 2026. Keeping girls in school, the commission argues, provides life skills and economic alternatives that are key to preventing early marriage.

Lyka’s approach is deeply informed by her studies on trauma as part of the peacebuilding program at HIU. She emphasizes that protecting children goes beyond changing laws to addressing underlying trauma. This is evident in her work on corporal punishment, which is prohibited in schools but remains legal in homes. “People have to look beyond the physical impact,” she said. “We must understand what trauma does to children and how to avoid adverse childhood experiences that affect future generations.” She and her team are now advocating for comprehensive legal reform based on this principle.

Her role requires navigating diverse perspectives, a task for which her HIU training was vital. “My courses, such as interreligious studies, helped me develop a worldview of interconnectedness,” Lyka said. The skills in conflict transformation she gained are, she said, essential for the foundational, systems-changing work of designing programs to improve children’s lives.

Reflecting on her journey, Lyka finds purpose in building a protective system for Malawi’s children. “We advise the government, lobby for resources, and shape policy,” she said. “I’m grateful for the knowledge and skills I gained at HIU, which I use every day, both in this commission and in life.”