From Gothenburg to Genhub: Thelma Kaliu’s vision for gender equality in Malawi

When Thelma Kaliu first heard about the Swedish Institute (SI) Scholarship for Global Professionals, she was working as an intern at UN Women in Malawi. Her mentor, who had studied in Sweden, planted the seed. Years later, after building a strong professional and volunteer background in gender and development, Thelma decided to apply—and was accepted on her first try. She explains:

“I think I had taken the time to build the professional background and voluntary experience. My whole career has always been on gender and development. My focus has always been to promote gender equality, SDG 5.”

Sweden felt like the natural next step, she continues:

“Studying in Sweden just made sense to me. The Nordic countries have long been leaders in gender equality, but Sweden stood out for a more personal reason. Early in my career in Malawi, I was deeply influenced by SIDA’s work, particularly in the areas of gender equality and economic development. Much of the material I worked with referenced SIDA, and that’s when I knew I wanted to be part of this kind of work”.

Thelma pursued a Master’s in Gendering Practices at the University of Gothenburg, where her academic journey was grounded in interdisciplinary learning, critical reflection, and valuing everyday experiences as sources of knowledge. She describes the program as transformative—not just academically, but also personally.

“I’ve learned that knowledge production is never-ending. Just because a theory was written in 1995 doesn’t mean it can’t be challenged,” she explains.

Her time in Sweden deepened her ability to link theory to practice and vice versa, encouraging her to think freely, question dominant narratives, and appreciate the value of situated knowledge—what people bring from their own lived realities. This approach has since shaped how she engages with gender work across diverse contexts.

Thelma’s passion for gender equality is deeply personal. Raised in a matriarchal household after losing her father at the age of four, she drew strength and inspiration from her mother, a dedicated teacher and passionate advocate for girls’ education and women’s empowerment. With her mother’s constant support, through extra lessons, encouragement, and a firm belief in her potential, Thelma was motivated to aim higher. That determination paid off when she earned a place at one of Malawi’s top secondary schools, an opportunity made possible by a scholarship linked to a gender equality policy under the Millennium Development Goals. Experiencing firsthand how policy can open doors for girls like her, Thelma made a personal commitment to help create similar pathways for others:

“Education shouldn’t be a privilege,” she says. “A country like Malawi needs more problem-solvers—young minds who can make the most of the resources we have. That begins with giving everyone, especially girls, an equal opportunity to learn. And that’s still what drives me today.”

Thelma is now actively pursuing her long-term goal, inspired by Sweden’s dedication to innovation in tackling social challenges. She founded Genhub Malawi, an ecofeminist social enterprise and consulting firm committed to gender action research and innovation to promote equal, sustainable, and peaceful societies. Her vision is to grow Genhub into a gender think tank that connects research, innovation, and policy with practical implementation. Currently, she is working remotely on a research project in Malawi that explores how AI can enhance gender-based violence services and improve access to justice.

“We’re doing something I couldn’t have imagined 18 months ago—bridging gender and tech,” Thelma says. “Sweden showed me that tech can be gender-sensitive, and I began thinking—why not apply it to chronic gender issues in Malawi? For instance, why not digitize GBV case files? I felt the possibilities were there, so I took a leap. I started. We’re still in baby steps, but we’re growing.”

Thelma was one of the keynote speakers during this year’s SI Scholarship diploma ceremony at Stockholm City Hall. In her speech she reminded her fellow graduates to make good use of the principles they’ve learned and experienced in Sweden:

“One of the first things we learned from our kick-off ceremony was the principle of ‘Lagom’ the idea of just right – not too much and not too little. When pressure is building up, especially in the current world trends on global development, it’s not just about pushing through it, but managing each day with care. It’s about knowing when to pause and how to protect our wellbeing. So, in the spirit of ‘Lagom’ may we never be too fast to listen, and never too slow to act. May we never be too strong to be soft and never too soft to stand firm in what we believe in. May we never be too educated to stay curious, and never too inexperienced to contribute. Congratulations to all of us!”

And to those considering the SI scholarship, Thelma has one important advice:

“Be open to change. Be flexible. Sweden is not just a classroom—it’s a whole country of learning. Network, explore, and stay curious. And if you don’t get the scholarship the first time, don’t give up – try again. The world is changing fast. Be ready to change with it.”