Ken Mpemba, A Man on a Mission

In 2007, Ken Mpemba turned a deeply rooted conviction into action by founding Malawi Children’s Mission (MCM). Growing up in Malawi, Ken witnessed both the resilience of his community and the hardship many children faced. As a teenager, he felt called to serve others, influenced by the outreach work his own family carried out for those with fewer resources. Even then, he understood that the opportunities he had were not shared by every child around him.  He believed that with the right support, children could discover and pursue their full potential.

Ken attended African Bible College, where his commitment to faith, service, and leadership continued to grow. He spent time in the United States working as a sports counselor and summer intern at Peninsula Covenant Church. Ken returned to Malawi to serve with Navigators Ministry working with high school students in the central region, then moved south (to launch MCM) and became an assistant pastor at Blantyre Baptist Church. These experiences helped shape his perspective on mentorship, youth development, and the power of community in shaping young lives.

MCM’s location was chosen when Ken, Steven Koffman and Sean Robinson determined which region of the country had the highest number of underserved orphaned and vulnerable children, over 600. What began humbly as a feeding program providing 50 children a meal on Fridays has steadily grown to support more than 300 children over the years under Ken’s leadership in partnership with community leaders.

Ken is the proud “father” to every child to have walked through the doors. Some have earned degrees and certificates, working as teachers, HR administrators, journalists, logistics coordinators, tire mechanics, receptionists and welders. Others left to start families and small businesses in the surrounding villages. Each of their lives was altered by the experience of being a part of MCM, which provided hope and opportunity for these “children” to see beyond the day to a future full of possibility.

Today, MCM provides the foundational care and opportunities children need to thrive creating stability in their lives and opening doors for the future. Ken remains grounded by a simple conviction that when children are given consistent care, education, and the right resources, their potential is extraordinary.