𝗧𝗔𝗚𝗗𝗲𝘃 𝟮.𝟬 𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗻𝘀 𝗢𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗮𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗲𝘀

For Chifundo Phinda and Emmanuel Mbemba, the TAGDev 2.0 Scholarship is opening new opportunities to pursue higher education, build practical skills and work towards creating positive change in their families and communities.

For many young people, pursuing higher education comes with the challenge of meeting tuition and other academic costs.

For Chifundo Phinda and Emmanuel Mbemba, the TAGDev 2.0 Scholarship they recently received has opened a new chapter, giving them an opportunity to focus on their studies and work towards achieving their dreams.

This year, TAGDev 2.0 at MUST has provided fully funded scholarships to four undergraduate students and five postgraduate students.

For Chifundo, who will pursue a Bachelor of Science in Food Science and Technology at MUST, financial challenges had been one of the biggest barriers throughout her education journey.

As the first person in her family to attend university, she believes the scholarship will not only support her studies but also inspire others around her.

"I am truly grateful for this support. This opportunity has given me confidence that I can successfully complete my studies, achieve good results, and motivate others in my community to pursue education," she said.

Emmanuel will pursue a Master of Engineering in Applied Chemical Engineering at MUST, and says the scholarship aligns with his passion for transforming agriculture and contributing to Africa’s industrial growth.

He says financial limitations had previously affected his ability to access tuition, learning materials and research opportunities.

"This scholarship will allow me to fully focus on my studies and gain practical skills in areas such as agriculture, entrepreneurship, industry and leadership. I hope to use this knowledge to support my family and create positive change in my community," Emmanuel said.

Through the TAGDev 2.0 Scholarship, Chifundo and Emmanuel are joining a growing community of young people being empowered with education, skills and opportunities to become future leaders and change-makers.

TAGDev 2.0 began offering scholarships last year, with 10 students, comprising six undergraduates and four postgraduate students, receiving support during the first cohort.

The scholarships are offered under the TAGDev 2.0 Program component, a partnership between RUFORUM and the Mastercard Foundation, and in Malawi are being implemented by MUST.

As part of the program’s collaborative approach, MUST works with various local partners, including LUANAR, MZUNI, UNILIA, agrifood enterprises and TVET institutions to advance skills development, entrepreneurship and agricultural transformation.

Chifundo and Emmanuel’s journeys are part of a wider TAGDev 2.0 vision of empowering young people through education and skills development, creating opportunities for them to learn, grow and contribute to meaningful change in their communities.