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Fatsani Kadango

From Dowa to an Israel Global Experience

 

For countless young Malawians, tertiary education remains a distant dream because of financial hardship, but for Fatsani Kadango, a 26-year-old forestry student, the There Is Hope (TIH) Education Scholarships program opened doors he never thought possible. Not only did the scholarship fund his university education, but it also paved the way for an 11-month agricultural internship in Israel; an experience that has shaped his future, for the better.

Fatsani, who hails from Kagwamtsobola Village in Dowa District, is the first in his family of ten children to attend university. His older siblings dropped out in secondary school and got married.

Fatsani Kadango in Isreal

Fatsani Kadango in Jerusalem, Isreal

 

“My father passed away in 2018 when I was about to write my MSCE exams,” he recalled. “After that, my mother, with no steady income, could not support my dream of higher education. Subsistence farming was all we relied on.” 

His unyielding determination secured him a spot at the Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR) for a Bachelor of Science in Forestry. However, the daunting cost of higher education loomed, until TIH intervened and made his dreams possible. 

“With no one employed in the family, getting through university seemed like a distant dream. The There Is Hope Scholarship gave me the lifeline I needed,” Fatsani said. “It covers both tuition and living expenses. Without TIH’s support, my dream of university and the opportunities that followed would not have been possible.”

The scholarship did not just stop at paying for Fatsani’s education, it became the steppingstone to an extraordinary international opportunity. Through LUANAR’s partnership with an Israeli agricultural program, Fatsani was selected for the Kinneret Internship Program, an 11-month internship in Israel. This experience allowed him to develop expertise in modern agricultural techniques and forestry practices that he hopes to bring back to Malawi.

“At the Ginosar Tissue Culture Lab in Israel, I learned how to grow seedlings that are resilient to harsh weather conditions,” he said. “This knowledge will help Malawi improve forest yields and create sustainable farming practices to support food security.” 

The internship provided hands-on experience in using advanced tools and agricultural systems, and Fatsani was immersed in sustainable practices that align with Malawi’s Vision 2063 development goals.

“The opportunity to learn about farm business management and entrepreneurship has also given me the skills I need to start my own farm after graduation.”

Fatsani credits his entire journey to the There Is Hope Scholarship, without which he says the doors to LUANAR and the Israel internship would never have opened.

“TIH didn’t just pay for my education, it set me on a path to explore new horizons that have transformed my outlook on life and my career.”

With his graduation set for June 2025, Fatsani is already planning how to apply what he has learned. His ambition is to empower others and promote self-reliance within his community.

“After completing my degree, I want to create a farm that will employ people from my community,” he said. “I’ve learned how to make organic manure, use greenhouses, and run a sustainable farm business—these are things I want to bring back to Malawi.” 

“The scholarship gave me a chance to achieve more than I ever imagined. My hope is that TIH continues to help others so they too can unlock their potential.”

His message is clear: with support like TIH, students from the most remote corners of Malawi can reach heights they never thought possible.

This is just one of the many stories showing how There Is Hope Scholarships are empowering young Malawians to not only access education but also gain global experiences that can shape the future of the nation.

“I hope my story shows others that no dream is out of reach with the right support.”