Our Story

Story Workshop’s vision is of a well-informed, healthy, self-reliant, food-secure rural Malawian population practicing democratic values. An ambitious ideal, but one that has carried us forward in our organizational philosophy and work for the last 10 years.  

Story Workshop was founded in 1996 by American artist and educator Pamela Brooke. The organization's first project was a radio soap opera about family health, funded by UNICEF, called Zimachitika, which quickly became the most popular radio drama in Malawi. Story Workshop registered as an NGO in 1998. Our goal in 2006 remains the same as it was 10 years ago: to bring together social change communication and entertainment to to help Malawians improve their everyday lives. 

"As an organization, Story Workshop's story contains all the elements of our dramas: opportunities, goals, obstacles, challenges, and results from hard work. At the end of the day, we can say that we are learning, and succeeding, right alongside our audience." –Marvin Hanke, Story Workshop Executive Director

Story Workshop matches message to media through a range of media formats, including:

• Radio
• Theatre
• Print
• Music
• Training and Capacity Building
• Community Dialogue

Our key issues are:

• Food security
• Environment
• Health
• HIV/AIDS
• Gender
• Human rights and democracy

As a Malawian NGO, Story Workshop aims for high standards of control and accountability.  The Board of Trustees has overall responsibility for setting policies and strategy.  Learn more about our Board and staff.