Safe Refuge
Immediate safe accommodation for women and children escaping domestic abuse in Malawi.
Mary Theu Foundation exists to improve the support for Survivors of Domestic Abuse and their Children in Malawi — providing safe accommodation, life skills and a pathway from refuge to independent living.
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Women Supported
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Children Housed Safely
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Core Programmes
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% Moved to Safe Living
Our Purpose
Mary Theu Foundation exists to improve the support for Survivors of Domestic Abuse and their Children in Malawi by providing Safe-Accommodation and skills to improve their wellbeing.
Our Vision
is to improve the wellbeing for Survivors of Domestic Abuse and their Children in Malawi.
We Provide
Safe-Accommodation and skills for Survivors of Domestic Abuse and their Children in Malawi.
Domestic abuse is one of the most underreported crimes in Malawi. Survivors face compounding obstacles that make it nearly impossible to leave without support. We are here to remove those obstacles.
Constant threat of retaliation keeps many survivors trapped in silence and danger.
Cultural pressure and community shame stop women from speaking out and seeking the help they deserve.
Financial dependency means many survivors have nowhere to go and no means to start over without support.
A critical shortage of safe refuge spaces in Malawi leaves survivors with nowhere safe to turn in crisis.
Safe and accessible accommodation is one of the most significant barriers for those seeking help. Mary Theu Foundation works to bridge this gap, ensuring that no survivor in Lilongwe and across Malawi is turned away when they need safety most.
Learn More About Our Work
Immediate safe accommodation for women and children escaping domestic abuse in Malawi.
Community campaigns and education on identifying and responding to domestic abuse.
Vocational training, mentorship and confidence-building for lasting independence.
Bursaries, school support and safe after-school programmes for children in our care.
Names changed to protect identity. Stories shared with full consent.
"I arrived with nothing but my two children and a bag of clothes. The Foundation gave us a safe room, warm meals and people who listened without judgement. Three months later I had my own flat. I never thought that was possible."
"The caseworkers here understand Malawian culture — they do not shame you. They helped me understand that what happened to me was not my fault. Now I volunteer to help other women because someone helped me."
"My children were missing school. Within two weeks of arriving, the Foundation had enrolled them and was paying the fees. Watching them come home with homework again — that was the moment I knew we were going to be okay."
Volunteer, donate, or partner with us to protect more women and children in Malawi.
We meet survivors wherever they are on their journey — from the night they first flee to the day they own their home. Our pathway model ensures no one is left behind.
Safe accommodation for women and children escaping domestic abuse — a calm, secure space to breathe, recover and plan the next step with professional support.
Learn moreTransitional and longer-term housing support with a clear pathway: Refuge → Dispersed Housing → Independent Accommodation → Home Ownership.
Learn moreVocational training, business skills, financial literacy and micro-enterprise support so survivors can earn an independent income and never be economically trapped again.
Learn moreTrauma-informed counselling, parenting support and children's therapy to help families heal and rebuild healthy relationships rooted in safety and mutual respect.
Learn moreRead the latest news, campaign updates and impact stories from Mary Theu Foundation.
After nine months in our supported housing programme in Lilongwe, Grace and her two children moved into their own flat. She is now enrolled in our vocational training programme and running a small tailoring business.
Read StoryThanks to generous monthly donors and corporate partners, twelve children in our care started the new school term with full fees, uniforms and stationery paid for.
Read StoryOur annual campaign to bridge the gap from temporary refuge to permanent housing has reached its midpoint. With your support, we have housed 18 families since January.
Read StoryFounded with a deep commitment to ending the cycle of abuse, we combine safe housing with life skills, counselling and community networks to create lasting change — not just safety for today, but freedom for tomorrow.
Lilongwe, Malawi
+265 99 123 4567
info@themarytheufoundation.org
Monday – Friday, 8:00am – 5:00pm CAT
Be part of a transformative mission to ensure every woman survivor of domestic abuse in Malawi has access to a safe and stable place to call home. Through this campaign, we bridge the critical gap between temporary refuge and permanent housing — empowering survivors to move from Victim → Survivor → Refuge → Dispersed Housing → Independent Accommodation → Home Ownership. Together, we create lasting change.