Our Vision
is a world in which communities from across the globe work together in partnership to transform each other’s lives, so that people are relieved from suffering and can begin to achieve their full potential.
Our Mission
is to build partnerships between villages in the developed world and villages in Malawi to bring about life-changing development for all.
Our Belief
is that we can empower people to raise themselves from extreme poverty by coming alongside them as partners to share each other’s burdens, resources and solutions.
Our Method
is to work with local development experts in Malawi to implement programs designed to simultaneously address the interconnected web of root causes of extreme poverty.
Our Motivation
is to respond to the call of Jesus Christ to love and serve the poor, the hungry, the widowed and the orphaned.
Our Values
Love
All of our actions are motivated by our love for God and for all of His children, no matter where they may live. We love our neighbors all over the globe, as we love ourselves.
Sustainability
The goal of every VIP project is to empower our partner villages to become self-sustaining communities. We want to equip our communities to thrive without the need for on-going assistance from VIP or others.
Relationship
We strive to know and value all of our partners, including our staff, the chiefs and village elders, grassroots leaders, government agents, donors, and members of our partner communities. We honor the existing village leadership structures and systems already established in our partner communities. We listen to the voices of our partners.
Integrity
We will live our word. We shall act at all times with the highest degree of ethics and accountability which builds trust. We will use the resources entrusted to VIP wisely, in ways that will have a significant impact on the lives of our partners.
Holistic Care
We are concerned not only about the physical well-being of our partners, but also about their emotional, spiritual, and educational needs.
Faithfulness
We understand that making transformational changes in the lives of those living in extreme poverty requires patience, persistence, trust, and time. We are committed to being there for our partners for a long time.
Reciprocity
We expect our partners to invest themselves and their resources in the development of their communities. All beneficiaries are expected to give back to the best of their abilities; every project requires investment and response.
Adaptability
Within the context of our core values, we are a learning and creative organization. We are flexible and innovative with our partners. We will learn from our mistakes, adapt, and move on.
Our Name
The name “Villages in Partnership” reflects the fact that we seek to build enduring partnerships between communities here and in Malawi, Africa, working together to bring about life-changing development for all.
We don’t view the work we do as a hand-out. It’s about sharing burdens and a unified vision that move communities from scarcity to more sustainable livelihoods.
Our Story
What began as a small group of inspired volunteers has grown into a global partnership touching the lives of thousands living in extreme poverty. Villages in Partnership (VIP) was born from a profound personal experience and a chance encounter that changed everything.
In the summer of 2007, Liz Heinzel-Nelson felt an unshakeable calling to serve the poor. Supported by her husband Stephen, pastor at Allentown Presbyterian Church in New Jersey, they made the bold decision to move their family to Malawi for a year of mission work.
Arriving in January 2008, Liz and Stephen were confronted with a level of poverty that challenged their expectations. For months, Liz spent many days and nights wondering what she was doing there. Why had she brought her family 8,000 miles from home, away from their friends and family, schools, and jobs? But she never lost faith that God would reveal the answer in time.
Liz began investigating what non-profits were doing on the ground. One day in June, a local Malawian expert in development work, Wellings Mwalabu, brought her and Stephen to the village of Kalupe, where he had grown up – an extremely poor region largely ignored by the international development community. As they arrived, a crowd started to form, excited by the rare sight of a car and intrigued by the appearance of two mzungu, or foreigners. Liz and Stephen’s gaze soon fell on an old brick building that had long ago fallen into disrepair, with parts the roof caved in and large holes in the walls. Mwalabu explained that the dilapidated building served as a clinic.
Liz and Stephen were intrigued by the sight of a large pile of freshly made bricks lying in the shadows of the falling walls. As they were asking Mwalabu and the gathered villagers about them, an old man stepped forward.
Mr. Kusimba, an elderly villager who had been making bricks in anticipation of help that had yet to arrive. No one paid him to make bricks. There was no planned development from the local government or any outside organization. Mr. Kusimba simply had faith that someday, someone would come and help him rebuild the clinic.
His unwavering hope in the face of uncertainty became the catalyst for Villages in Partnership.
This serendipitous meeting crystallized VIP's mission: to partner with communities like Kalupe, building on their existing strength and determination. The organization's first project was rebuilding that very clinic, a symbol of the power of collaboration and faith.
Since 2008, VIP has expanded its reach, implementing numerous projects throughout the Sakata region. Our approach remains rooted in partnership, inspired by the resilience of individuals like Mr. Kusimba who continue to be an integral part of our story.
Today, VIP stands as a testament to what can be achieved when global partners join hands with local communities, turning inspiration into tangible impact.
Click here to learn more about VIP’s work.
Learn More About VIP
Impact
Impacting the lives of tens of thousands of people living in the remote Sakata region in southern Malawi, VIP is moving households from scarcity to a sustainable living.
Partners
To accomplish its work, VIP partners with dozens of churches, schools, businesses, and community organizations, as well as individual volunteers and donors, to nurture enduring, life-changing relationships with villages in Malawi.
Leadership and Staff
Led by a dedicated group of volunteer Trustees, located in the U.S. and Malawi, VIP employs knowledgeable and experienced staff who are on the front lines, working on the ground in the villages or behind the scenes to transform lives.