Recovery after Cyclone Freddy
Opening the door to resilience
When Cyclone Freddy swept through southern Malawi in March 2023, entire communities were left without homes and livelihoods, and many lives were lost. The torrential rains triggered devastating floods and landslides across districts like Blantyre, Chiradzulu and Mulanje, destroying homes and displacing thousands of families overnight.
Drone photo of a road destroyed by flood waters in Namchidwa village, Mulanje District.
Among them was Christina, a single mother caring for four children. After the storm washed away her home, Christina and her family were relocated to the Namchidwa camp, where they lived in a temporary tent alongside hundreds of other displaced families. With no stable shelter and no source of income, the future felt uncertain.
Christina and her daughters sitted on the front porch of their new home
Recovery began when Christina partnered with Habitat for Humanity Malawi, local leaders and the district council to rebuild a safe and permanent home for her family. What started as support for one community soon grew into something bigger. With funding from the Gale family, 17 permanent homes were constructed in Namchidwa village. That initial effort inspired additional partners to step forward, making it possible to build 37 more homes.
Recovery efforts also focused on long-term resilience with 17 young people receiving vocational training, and over 1,000 community members participating in sessions on safe shelter practices.
Today, Christina and her children are rebuilding their lives in a safe place they can call home. Across the community, recovery work is still underway as families continue to rebuild their lives and look toward a more secure future.
Their story is a reminder that recovery after disaster often begins with a home – opening the door to resilience for families and communities alike.
