Malaika Launches “Educate, Empower, Elevate: 20 Years of Malaika,” on International Day of the Girl
A year-long campaign to celebrate two decades of free education, clean water, health, and community transformation in the DR Congo, with the aim of raising support for the Malaika Legacy Fund.
Kalebuka, DRC, October 11, 2026 - On International Day of the Girl, Malaika launches Educate, Empower, Elevate: 20 Years of Malaika, a year-long global campaign to mark its 20th anniversary in 2027.
Malaika began with a simple belief: when you educate a girl, you transform a community. Founded in 2007 by international model and philanthropist Noëlla Coursaris Musunka, alongside an incredible Congolese team, Malaika opened as an all-girls school in the remote Kalebuka region of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Since then, it has grown into a sustainable ecosystem that supports girls from the classroom through graduation and beyond, while creating opportunities for their families and the wider community..
Today, 415 girls are enrolled in Malaika’s free, accredited K-12 girls’ school, and 99 alumnae have completed their education. Through university scholarships, career guidance, and mentorship, Malaika supports its graduates as they pursue their ambitions and establish careers. .
Beyond the school, every year, it reaches more than 5,200 community members through education, sports, and vocational programming. Malaika provides clean water to over 46,000 people through 35 wells, supports students and staff with daily hot meals, and promotes sustainable agriculture through its farm. Support does not end when students graduate. Alumnae receive scholarships, career guidance, and mentorship to pursue further studies and establish careers. All programs are offered free of charge, run by a Congolese-led team, and together form the Malaika Model Toolkit, a replicable model for other communities.
“I returned to the Congo twenty years ago with a dream that every girl in Congo would have the chance that I almost didn’t have. I dreamt that they could learn, lead, and decide their own futures,” said Noëlla Coursaris Musunka, Founder and CEO of Malaika. “Today, I am so excited to see our girls become engineers, teachers, and entrepreneurs, and watch our whole community grow alongside them. On this Day of the Girl, I am asking the world to stand with us so that this work can continue for generations to come.”
Noëlla’s hope for the next generation is already visible within the community. Sarah Kalumba, Malaika’s Country Manager, has seen it firsthand.
“Looking back at my first year at Malaika, I can see the difference that has been made in our community through the hard work of everyone who has helped shape it,” said Sarah. “I have watched it grow from a vision into a community where girls and youth are given not only an education, but the confidence to believe in what is possible for their lives. What stays with me most are the everyday moments: a girl finding her voice in the classroom, a youth discovering a new skill, a family gaining access to clean water for the first time. These moments remind me why Malaika’s work matters and why, after 20 years, our commitment to this community remains as strong as ever.”
The Malaika Legacy Fund sits at the heart of the campaign, designed to provide Malaika’s work with lasting financial stability, sustainability, and perpetuity. It aims to generate steady annual support to fund core programs – education, clean water, community health, and women’s economic empowerment. Malaika aims to sustain the ecosystem forward for generations..
Supporters can join the campaign by making a gift, hosting a fundraising event, or partnering with a specific Malaika program, from sponsoring a student’s education to sending a graduate to university or bringing clean water to an entire village.
Key campaign moments include:
October 2026 - Campaign Launch on International Day of the Girl, kicking off a year-long global celebration of Malaika’s impact.
27 July 2027 - Global day of action on Malaika’s founding day, uniting supporters worldwide to celebrate 20 years of impact.
September 2027 - Alumni spotlight month, honoring the achievements of Malaika’s graduates.
To learn more, support the Malaika Legacy Fund, fundraise, or partner with Malaika, visit Malaika.org/20-years-of-malaika.
Media Contact:
info@malaika.org | +1-212-726-1089
