Breaking the mindset of begging
By Joseph Kayira
Most people today agree that many youths and children in this part of the world resort to begging as a desperate survival strategy, largely driven by poverty and inadequate social services. High youth unemployment and limited social protection programmes have failed to adequately prioritize young people—a key demographic that could help Malawi achieve the aspirations of the Malawi 2063 Vision.
From homes to the streets, from schools and colleges to the gates of affluent households, churches and mosques, the culture of begging in Malawi is difficult to ignore. More recently, another category has emerged: college students and young people who have turned social media into a platform for soliciting financial support.
Begging, however, takes many forms. A young child asking a stranger for sweets may simply reflect poor guidance at home. Some would argue that parents should correct such behaviour firmly, citing the Biblical saying, “Spare the rod and spoil the child.” Others maintain that the true measure of good parenting is not merely a child’s behaviour but the parent’s example.
Some youths beg to sustain their social lifestyle (Photo Credit: Internet)
According to the parenting blog Inside Parenting, teaching children not to beg helps build self-worth, emotional independence, and healthy boundaries from an early age. Whether in social situations, emotional relationships, or spiritual life, encouraging gratitude instead of entitlement can foster resilience and personal responsibility.
At the same time, many children and young people beg because of circumstances beyond their control. Broken homes, poverty, and guardians who cannot provide basic necessities often leave them with little choice. In some cases, adults even encourage children to seek alms. While government has at times attempted to criminalize begging, such measures address the symptoms rather than the underlying causes of poverty.
Youths perfecting the ‘art’ of begging
Street beggars who knock on car windows or wait outside churches and mosques for assistance often rely on begging simply to survive. Many have no permanent shelter, sleeping under bridges or on shop verandas. Without the generosity of others, they may struggle to meet even their most basic needs.
A different concern arises with some young people in colleges or operating small businesses. Many own smartphones and have access to the internet, and some come from relatively stable backgrounds. While many students genuinely struggle to meet the high costs of higher education, others increasingly use social media to solicit money for expenses that are not always essential.
Higher education is expensive. Tuition, accommodation, food, healthcare, and textbooks place significant financial pressure on students. For many, asking for help is a necessity rather than a choice.
However, there are also instances where some students seek financial support to maintain lifestyles that exceed their means. Some young women, for example, pursue relationships with older, wealthier men in exchange for financial assistance. Others frequently request money for airtime, meals, shopping, rent, or social events.
Students like these are driven into begging due to several factors (Photo Credit: Internet)
Social media platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook have made such requests easier. A simple greeting may quickly be followed by a request for money. While genuine appeals for assistance exist, repeated and indiscriminate solicitation risks normalizing dependency and encouraging people to seek easy money instead of sustainable solutions.
Similar patterns can also be found among some young men. Those who spend heavily on entertainment or alcohol sometimes rely on relatives and friends to finance their lifestyles. Others borrow money under the pretext of academic needs or use loans to maintain appearances and impress peers or romantic partners, only to struggle with repayment later.
Living beyond one’s means often creates unnecessary financial stress. When expectations become difficult to sustain, relationships suffer and emotional well-being may also be affected. Colleges and universities are increasingly recognizing the importance of counselling and mental health support to help students cope with such pressure.
Begging in all its forms should be discouraged where it promotes dependency rather than addressing genuine need. A culture of handouts can undermine initiative and self-reliance if it becomes a long-term way of life. At the same time, society must continue addressing the structural causes of poverty that leave many people with few alternatives. Mindset change should begin in the home, continue through schools and colleges, and be reinforced within communities. By promoting hard work, resilience, personal responsibility, and opportunities for economic empowerment, Malawi can build a society where dignity is strengthened through self-reliance rather than dependence.
