For February's Black History Month we are featuring 4 amazing African-American women. This week's guest is Anna Msowoya Keys, a humanitarian entrepreneur and community organizer. She began her career as an advocate for women and children in African conflict areas, first through Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) and then with International Refugee Committee (IRC), that took her to Burundi, Rwanda, Mozambique and Malawi. She witnessed the heart-wrenching turmoil and crisis during the genocide in Rwanda. 

She eventually dated her best friend and colleague at IRC, John Keys, who later became her beloved husband. After Anna and John married, Anna left her African homeland and moved to the United States - something she had not imagined she would ever do. Anna opened the unique shop Chibekeni, in her new community of Nyack, NY, which showcased beautiful handmade works from African artisans. The shop helped Anna bridge her African roots with her new American home. Chibekini allowed Anna to raise funds for her home country Malawi, as the AIDS epidemic wiped out a whole generation of young parents, leaving thousands of children orphaned. Four of Anna’s sisters died of AIDS, compelling Anna and John to take financial responsibility for the education of 10 of her nieces and nephews. Anna shares the story of attending her fourth sister’s funeral, where many children she didn’t know arrived. She discovered that these children were orphans and showed up because they were starving and they knew there would be food at a funeral. That inspired the beginning of Maloto, a non-profit, community based organization that started out feeding a meal to 20 children once a week, and now feeds 350 children a warm, nutritious meal 3 times a week. Maloto has expanded to include after-school programs, an early childhood class, a primary school and an international secondary academy. Having just celebrated its 10 year anniversary, Maloto’s mission is to feed, educate and empower the children and women of Malawi.   

Anna expresses her deep gratitude for the support of her Nyack community, as well as people like the NBC broadcaster Tom Brokaw and his wife Meredith Brokaw, who have served on her board of directors and devoted time, resources and love to support Anna’s vision.

Links:

www.maloto.org

Kwithu CBO

Mzuzu International Academy

Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC)

International Rescue Committee (IRC)

NBC Today Show Feature: Maloto's Kwithu Kitchen in Malawi

NYTimes Magazine “Portraits of Reconciliation: Rwanda 20 Years Later”