Evelyn’s story: From nanny to degree holder
By Hastings Msosa
Born in a small village under Traditional Authority Zilakoma in Nkhata Bay District, Evelyn Chirwa was the fourth born in a family of eight. Her late father, a game ranger, was often on the move, so she attended primary school in different districts, from Bumba in Rumphi to Lifuwu in Salima, before sitting for her final exams at Kalowa Primary School.
Evelyn shared a special bond with her father, built on their daily habit of listening to BBC Radio and discussing world affairs. “That bond shaped how I viewed life. He believed education could take me anywhere,” she recalled.
But in July 2003, tragedy struck. Her father, her mentor and greatest cheerleader, passed away.
“I felt my dreams of university fade with him. He always said I would one day graduate and work in broadcasting,” Evelyn said softly.
Chirwa: She worked hard (Photo Credit: Hastings Msosa)
Still, she held on to one of his favourite sayings: “Kuti usenze njobvu pamutu, nkhata yake iyenera kukhala ng’ombe.”
At just 17, Evelyn began volunteering as a teacher at Kalowa Primary School. Her talent was quickly noticed, and within months, she was offered a place at Karonga Teachers Training College. But as she prepared to open a bank account, a requirement for admission, fate intervened. Relatives visiting from South Africa suggested taking one child to Cape Town to work and support the family. Evelyn, who already had a passport, was chosen.
Her mother resisted at first, afraid she would never return. But Evelyn’s curiosity and courage prevailed. “I remembered the Cape-to-Cairo stories my father told me and wanted to see the world he spoke of,” she said.
In Cape Town, she found herself in a new world, working as a nanny and housekeeper for a wealthy family in Constantia. It was not the university life she had dreamed of, but it became the beginning of her transformation. “My parents had taught me hard work and loyalty, even my employers saw that in me,” she said.
Her dedication earned her trust and a raise. Slowly, Evelyn began saving, not for luxury, but for education. After years of planning, she applied to the University of South Africa in 2015 to study Communication Science. But her Malawian MSCE qualification was considered below South Africa’s Grade 12, so she first completed a Level 5 course in Archives and Records Management, passing with distinction.
In 2017, she was finally admitted to pursue her degree. As a single mother juggling work, studies, and parenting, the journey was grueling, but she never gave up. “I studied after work, during breaks, even when my daughter was sick,” she recalled.
Chirwa: Never give up on your dreams (Photo Credit: Hastings Msosa)
Her perseverance paid off when her article was published in the university’s student magazine, a moment that affirmed her voice in the field she loved.
After four and a half years, Evelyn graduated with a degree in Communication Science, funded entirely by her earnings as a domestic worker.
When she returned to Malawi in 2020, she started working as an intern and later fully joined the Ministry of Local Government, where she now works with local councils.
Evelyn’s message to young people is simple yet powerful: “Never give up on your dreams. Start where you are, use what you have, and work for what you want. Do not compare your life to others, our journeys are different. Some are born with a silver spoon, but others like us must build our own table. Keep your dream alive, and one day, you will say, against all odds, I made it.”
