How one orphan is feeding 2,500 students in Malawi
When poverty forces children to choose between food and education, empty stomachs become barriers to learning. Yet Dalitso Muronya, who lost both his parents as a child, refused to let his story end in hardship. Today, the 32-year-old leads a school feeding program serving 2,500 children seven days a week across Malawi, proving that one person’s compassion can create ripples of change.
With over 70% of Malawi’s population living in rural areas and nearly half below the poverty line, hunger and education are deeply intertwined. When families can’t provide even one meal a day, sending children to school becomes impossible. Dalitso’s story shows what happens when faith meets action and what’s at stake when we choose to respond.
From pain to purpose
Born into a poor but loving Christian family, Dalitso lost both parents at a young age. His grandmother taught him to always give back to society. In 2014, driven by that calling, he started a youth club that met under a tree to discuss helping the elderly, orphans, and the environment. Within two years, their acts of kindness grew into a community-based organization.
As a pharmacy assistant, Dalitso saw how poverty and sickness reinforced each other. He realized people needed more than medicine, they needed love, food, and faith. After work, he began visiting homes, sharing meals, and helping school children, living as both a health worker and a social worker.
“I describe my journey as one of faith, compassion and love transforming even the most ordinary life into something meaningful.”
A life-changing encounter
A work opportunity in Dubai led to a chance encounter with an Indian pharmacist who introduced Dalitso to the teachings of Sri Madhusudan Sai. Something shifted within him. He returned to Malawi with renewed purpose and joined the One World, One Family Global Humanitarian Mission, a philosophy that sees the entire world as one family, where no one is viewed as lesser.
“Divinity filled every cell of my being. In Sri Madhusudan Sai, I had found my father.”
Sri Madhusudan Sai directed Dalitso to start a free school feeding program for 50 children. On the first day, 175 children showed up. Within one month, they were feeding 577 children despite severe financial struggles. By 2025, the Tigwilizane School Feeding Programme was serving 2,500 children.
Let no child go hungry
The program provides nutritious breakfasts every morning, resulting in better school attendance, improved academic performance, and empowered communities. In a country where families face impossible choices between food and education, a single meal makes the difference between learning and staying home.
“The goal is simple: Let no child go to school hungry ever!”
Dalitso works tirelessly to build partnerships with individuals, organizations, and businesses. He attributes the program’s success to dedicated volunteers and collective action. The mission operates in over 100 countries under the principle that volunteers should be ready to help always, without conditions or expectations.
In March 2025, Dalitso met Sri Madhusudan Sai in person for the first time. From that day, he was convinced his life belonged fully to service.
“If an orphaned African boy from a small village in Malawi can be used to save others, then truly nothing is impossible.”
What one person can do
From a youth club under a tree to feeding 2,500 children daily, the Tigwilizane School Feeding Programme proves what’s possible when people unite for a common cause. Dalitso’s story reminds us that global challenges aren’t solved by institutions alone — they’re also solved by individuals who transform pain into purpose and believe every child deserves a meal and a chance to learn.
Change doesn’t require unlimited resources. It requires unlimited heart. And sometimes, it starts with a single meal.