BIG 60 MALAWI; Creativity for Social Change
Ever wondered what happens when people come together to express their hopes, dreams, and aspirations in a shared space? In July 2024, after months of plotting and planning, I remotely led 2 community art projects in Lilongwe, Malawi under my social innovation initiative Good Force. When we executed BIG 60 MALAWI, the idea was simple: create a public blackboard where anyone could write a message of hope for Malawi. What happened next was nothing short of magic.
The first installation was stationed at Game Complex in Lilongwe. A frequented stop-over for shopping and errands for the everyday L-City resident. Within hours, hundreds of people stopped to engage with the board—some wrote about their dreams for the country, others shared deeply personal reflections, and a few simply stood in silence, taking it all in. The project became more than an art installation; it became a conversation.
The second installation was at one of Malawi’s biggest annual festivals; Ufulu Festival and there, the blackboard took on a life of its own. Strangers discussed each other’s writings, children scribbled their innocent hopes, and elders left wisdom in chalk. It was a moment of collective storytelling, a reminder that public spaces can be transformed into platforms for shared vision.
Why Did This Work?
Because people crave connection. When given an open space to express themselves—free of judgment, free of limitations—they show up. And in a time when digital conversations dominate, something as analog as chalk on a board felt radical, grounding, and human.
We didn’t just create an installation; we created a system for engagement—one that allowed participation, reflection, and interaction. Thinking of innovation with people in mind reminds us that the best creative projects aren’t just for people; they’re with people.
So, if you’re designing a project that aims to create real impact, ask yourself: How are you making space for people to engage, not just consume? Because when you give people a voice, they fill the silence with something extraordinary.
The A-Team! From L-R: Tubukeghe, Balinah, Aisha, Eunice and my brother, Emmanuel my brother :)
Shout out to the amazing team on the ground that moved earth and sky to make this possible. To learn more about our work at Good Force, write to me at nallalughano@gmail.com.
Yours truly,
Nalla
