Our Story
The Zikomo Trust is a charity dedicated to raising awareness of the problems facing the people of Malawi and assisting in the areas of education, poverty and health care. Malawi is one of the poorest countries in the world with a GDP per capita of just $1.35 per day yet its 16 million people are always welcoming and friendly as befits their reputation as ‘The Warm Heart of Africa’. The trust was formed in 2011 to provide a formal organisation to represent the previous 24 years of fundraising for projects in Malawi and to provide a vehicle for future assistance.

Origins of the name
‘Zikomo’ in the local Chichewa language means ‘Thank You’. The founder, Barry Brindley, worked in Central Africa for 14 years in the 1970’s and 80’s together with his wife Suzanne. Over that period they enjoyed the hospitality of the people of Zambia and Malawi, making many lifelong friends. Their four children were born there, two in Zambia and two in Malawi. On returning to the UK in 1987 they continued supporting projects in Malawi as a way of saying ‘thank you’ to the country and its people for the many happy experiences over the period.

Our Vision
The Trust was formed in 2011 with the following objectives:
• The promotion of activities designed to improve the conditions of life and/or promote the education of the people of Malawi.
• The collection, dispatch and distribution of education, medical and relief goods throughout Malawi;
• The funding of organisations and institutions actively involved in the relief of poverty and the provision of education e.g. the Malama Feeding Centre in Thyolo and the Mango Tree Nursery in Cape MaClear.
• The provision of grants and bursaries for identified children to attend an educational establishment up to and including tertiary level.