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 applyâand was accepted on her first try. She explains:
âI 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.â
Sweden felt like the natural next step, she continues:
âStudying 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 SIDAâs work, particularly in the areas of gender equality and economic development. Much of the material I worked with referenced SIDA, and thatâs when I knew I wanted to be part of this kind of workâ.
Thelma pursued a Masterâs 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 transformativeânot just academically, but also personally.
âIâve learned that knowledge production is never-ending. Just because a theory was written in 1995 doesnât mean it canât be challenged,â 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 knowledgeâwhat people bring from their own lived realities. This approach has since shaped how she engages with gender work across diverse contexts.

Thelmaâs 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 girlsâ education and womenâs empowerment. With her motherâs 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 Malawiâs 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:
âEducation shouldnât be a privilege,â she says. âA country like Malawi needs more problem-solversâyoung minds who can make the most of the resources we have. That begins with giving everyone, especially girls, an equal opportunity to learn. And thatâs still what drives me today.â
Thelma is now actively pursuing her long-term goal, inspired by Swedenâs 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.
âWeâre doing something I couldnât have imagined 18 months agoâbridging gender and tech,â Thelma says. âSweden showed me that tech can be gender-sensitive, and I began thinkingâwhy 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. Weâre still in baby steps, but weâre growing.â

Thelma was one of the keynote speakers during this yearâs SI Scholarship diploma ceremony at Stockholm City Hall. In her speech she reminded her fellow graduates to make good use of the principles theyâve learned and experienced in Sweden:
“One of the first things we learned from our kick-off ceremony was the principle of âLagomâ 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, itâs not just about pushing through it, but managing each day with care. Itâs about knowing when to pause and how to protect our wellbeing. So, in the spirit of âLagomâ 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:
âBe open to change. Be flexible. Sweden is not just a classroomâitâs a whole country of learning. Network, explore, and stay curious. And if you donât get the scholarship the first time, donât give up – try again. The world is changing fast. Be ready to change with it.â
The Swedish Institute awards fully-funded academic scholarships for masterâs studies in Sweden through the SI Scholarship for Global Professionals and Pioneering Women in STEM.
Global professionals from 33 countries with work and leadership experience, and with the ambition to contribute to change in their home country and region are welcome to apply. Read more about our scholarships here.