Used her loan to start a maize-selling business, and renovated her house with the profits.Janet Yuda, 66Namiyango · microfinance member
MASYAP – Mai Aisha Sisters & Youth AIDS Programme
Women's support groups
31 groups, meeting every week
Members learn about HIV, home-based care, nutrition and how to fight stigma, together.
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What is MASYAP?
A Muslim-led network of women and girls fighting HIV/AIDS since 2008
MASYAP was set up by the Mai Aisha Trust to civic-educate Muslim women and youth on preventing HIV/AIDS and to care for those infected. Today our support groups across southern Malawi are how we reach members: with health education, nutrition, school fees and loans that help women earn their own income.
2,000+members in our support groups
61women's and youth groups, meeting weekly
250+women in the microfinance programme
39girls given school fees in one term
Programmes
How we help
Every programme runs through the support groups, so help reaches members where they live.
31 groupsWomen’s support groups
Weekly groups where women infected and affected by HIV learn, care for one another and fight stigma together.
30 groupsYouth groups
Girls aged 10 to 26 learn about HIV, play netball, stay in school and build their own futures.
250+ womenMicrofinance
Business training and interest-free, Islamically acceptable loans that help women earn their own income.
At our office and in communitiesHIV testing & counselling
Free, confidential HIV testing and counselling at the MASYAP office and in members’ own communities, with referral to treatment.
When funds permitNutrition & relief
Food parcels, Qurbani meat, clean water and emergency help for the most vulnerable members and their families.
LearningResearch
Research that shapes our programmes and is shared with others working on HIV/AIDS, including at international conferences.
Stories
Never went to school herself, she saves her business profits for her children's school fees.Zainab Tayipi, 61Kanjedza · microfinance member
Uses what she learned in the workshops to persuade sick relatives to go for testing and hospital care.Rosemary BandaNkwate support group
Sees the group as a source of encouragement and hope, and credits it with getting women tested and onto ARVs.Maika KananjeChairlady, Nkwate support group
News
All newsFrom the field
Our supporters
Mai Aisha TrustRoad-To-Relief (RTR)World AppealTransglobe Produce Exports (TPE) LtdUnleashing PotentialLuton Sixth Form CollegeMuslim World LeagueWorld Care FoundationSteadfast Ways