A LEGACY OF DIALOGUE: HOW FORUM THEATRE IS UNLOCKING GENDER EQUALITY IN MALAWI
Two fast-moving and highly impactful months have drawing to a close, leaving behind a profound foundation for social transformation across local Village Savings and Loan Association (VSLA) communities. Building on the initial exploratory work conducted last year, Jon’s return visit to Malawi has yielded remarkable fruits, successfully turning a pilot concept into a vibrant, community-driven theatre project.
Implemented in close collaboration with the Rhema Institute for Development and Hope for a Child UK, this joint initiative has equipped rural communities with a deep, practical understanding of how Forum Theatre can be used to safely navigate, challenge, and dismantle deep-seated social norms surrounding gender inequality.
The true heart of this project’s sustainability beats within a newly formed, professionally equipped team of four local actors from the Lumbadzi area. Under Jon’s energetic and specialized guidance, this local troupe underwent intensive training to master the art of facilitating participatory workshops and leading constructive, intense community debates.
Far from a temporary, short-term intervention, this initiative has empowered the local actors to take full ownership of the project’s future. The troupe has already developed a robust three-month work plan stretching from August to October, which includes:
targeted community performances designed to spark dialogue. Focus areas aimed directly at dismantling harmful gender biases and Community-led advocacy to promote the socio-economic empowerment of women within VSLAs.
What sets this initiative apart is its practical approach to long-term sustainability and the spirit of community volunteerism. The actors are fully prepared to continue performing independently, intentionally scheduling their theatrical advocacy around their own business commitments and local agricultural calendars—ensuring that performances never overlap with critical sowing and harvesting seasons.
To support their dedication and ensure smooth regional mobility across villages, key structural incentives have been established:
Sustainability Enablers: The Rhema Institute and partners have equipped the troupe with bicycles for reliable transport and provided meals during active working days, keeping the team motivated and mobile.
Ultimately, this intervention has proven that when you equip people with the right participatory tools, true change comes from within. Forum Theatre provides a safe, transformative space for marginalized community members to step onto the stage, dissect their lived realities, and collectively identify real-world solutions to their own challenges.
By mastering this “game of dialogue”—a unique practice combining structured social rules with creative freedom—these four local actors have gained invaluable, transferable facilitation skills. They are now uniquely positioned to address not just gender dynamics, but any emerging social issue their communities face in the future, proving that the grassroots stage is one of our most powerful tools for lasting social justice.