In Chiradzulu community, Malawi, where the pace of life often leaves families struggling to connect, Linnes Chamadenga, a Global Peace Women Sunshine Family Volunteer (SFV) noticed a quiet crisis. Parents and children, siblings, and grandparents were drifting apart, their bonds frayed by poor communication, cultural barriers, and the relentless demands of daily life. Determined to mend these ties, Linnes launched the Family Ties Initiative (FTI), a project that would soon transform not just families but an entire community.
Linnes’ inspiration came from a simple yet heartbreaking observation. While working with local families, she discovered that many could barely recall the last time they had shared a meaningful conversation, let alone a moment of joy together. “Ten out of fifteen families told me their biggest struggle was simply talking to one another,” she recalls. “Without that connection, everything else falls apart.”
Linnes designed activities which took place between mid- and end-2024, to bridge these gaps. She knew traditional lectures wouldn’t work, families needed to experience unity. So, she turned to creativity and storytelling, tools as old as humanity itself. One of the project’s most memorable events was during a storytelling session at Muhasuwa Secondary School, which brought together thirty participants, all eager to be part of a session that would strengthen their familial bonds.
Linnes credits much of FTI’s success to the values of Global Peace Women, which inspired her to see families as the foundation of societal peace. “When families are strong, communities are strong,” she reflects, “and when communities are strong, the world changes.”
Now, she dreams bigger: registering GPW in Malawi to expand its reach, partnering with more organizations, and one day, seeing family bonding initiatives in every district. But for now, she cherishes the small victories: the father who now asks his children about their day, the grandmother who finally feels heard, and the families who’ve rediscovered each other, one story at a time.
One participant, Grace, a mother of three, shared how the project transformed her home. “Before, we just coexisted, eating in silence, everyone on their phones,” she said. “Now, we have ‘story nights’ where we share our highs and lows. My youngest even calls it ‘our magic time.’”
The work of Linnes and the Family Ties Initiative beautifully reflects the spirit of Global Peace Women’s Sunshine Family Volunteers, a global movement that empowers families to become beacons of hope in their communities. Just as FTI has transformed lives in Malawi, Sunshine Family Volunteers around the world are strengthening family bonds through service, dialogue, and shared experiences, proving that when families grow stronger together, they become powerful forces for peace. By volunteering side-by-side, participating in intergenerational activities, and modeling compassionate leadership, these families create ripples of positive change that extend far beyond their homes.
To learn how you can join this growing movement of families building a more connected world, visit Global Peace Women’s Sunshine Family Volunteers. Together, we can turn the light of strong families into a sunrise of hope for entire communities.
