Rudra Pratap Singh
KOCHI: Thousands of miles from Kerala, in the heart of South-Central Africa, a young Malayali couple is making a difference in Malawi, one of the world’s least developed nations. Arun C Ashokan and his wife, Sumi, have dedicated their lives to improving the conditions of rural villagers, ensuring access to clean water, education, and sustainable livelihoods.
A Chance Encounter That Changed Everything
Arun, hailing from Nilambur in Malappuram, arrived in Malawi in 2019. His philanthropic journey began two years later, quite unexpectedly. “Everything happened by chance,” he recalls. Initially working as a warehouse manager in the city, Arun’s real awakening came when he took up a job with a construction company that required him to visit remote villages.
During one such visit to Chisasila, he witnessed children studying under a makeshift structure—four poles supporting a thatched roof. When it rained, school was simply canceled. Moved by their plight, Arun decided to take action.
Building a School from Scratch
His initial plan was modest—a temporary shelter with a tarpaulin roof. But when villagers and teachers pleaded for a permanent structure, he resolved to build a proper school. With help from his colleague, engineer Kenneth, they designed a blueprint, and the villagers enthusiastically joined the effort, producing 20,000 bricks within two weeks.
Arun’s friend Ashique, working in Dubai, stepped in to provide financial support. Refusing to crowdfund, the team pooled their salaries to finance the project. After a year and a half, their dream took shape—a fully functional school.
The project caught the attention of a visiting UN team, which funded the construction of two additional classrooms. Arun’s employer contributed an office room, and eventually, the school was taken over by the Malawian government, expanding to include grades I to VII.
Empowering Villages: Wells, Water, and Livelihoods
After completing the school, Arun and Sumi expanded their efforts, visiting other villages to better understand their needs. They introduced new cooking techniques using staple foods like tapioca and banana, taught villagers how to set up small businesses, and pioneered a simple method to store water using makeshift dams.
However, the most pressing issue remained—water scarcity. Each village relied on a single hand pump, often insufficient for its 50-plus families. Locals believed the soil was too loose for open wells, but Arun and Sumi saw an opportunity. Drawing inspiration from Kerala, they built lined wells using bricks and cement to prevent soil collapse. Their method proved successful, and to date, they have constructed seven such wells.
Innovating for the Future
Now, the couple is working on a more ambitious water supply project. By detecting underground water sources, digging wells, and using solar pumps, they aim to provide a sustainable water supply to drought-stricken villages.
Funds for these initiatives come from their YouTube channel, Malawi Diaries, as well as their personal savings and contributions from close friends. The couple’s current undertaking? Constructing a higher secondary school in Ponela village—another step in their unwavering mission to bring education and hope to Malawi’s underserved communities.
Arun and Sumi’s journey is a testament to the power of compassion and determination. Far from home, they have found a new purpose—building a better future, one village at a time.