The Festival Institute

24/08/2024

Productions: SPECIAL PROMOTION: Buy a cocktail from event host venue, Orchid and 50% of the proceeds will go to a cause of choice. For today's event, the lovely star of the show, Tayamika, has generously nominated The Grl Pwrd Company as the beneficiary of today's event. As an almost entirely self-funded initiative, we are so grateful for all the support, especially when it comes from other Grls.

Support Grls Supporting other Grls!
In other related news, catch our Content Manager, the lovely Sophie Mponda who will be making her Grl Pwrd showcasing debut as Event Host for tonight's event.
It's a good day to have a good day. 🥳

23/08/2024

Got weekend plans? We're about to give you one! Meet Malawi's newest Grl Artist Tayamika, who launches her debut EP, "Lingalira" at Orchid in Lilongwe, this Saturday.

So of course we had to pull up with the Grls to handle the production
We'll be on stage with KIM of Diamonds as supporting artist and the lovely Sophie "Piano Queen" Mponda as event host.

We'll be off stage, handling set-up, backstage and Front-of-House

And as always we'll be in the audience gathering views, news, interviews and much much needed industry data.

Because is the future Grl Pwrd? Yes it is!

As part of our preps for the show, Kim shared some insights from The Diamond Standard on performance preparation and presentation, in a Grl Pwrd & Geared Up special mentorship session which was conducted during a site meeting we had with the Artists and Crew, last night.

What a time to be alive! !

20/07/2024

Out and about at Ufulu Festival with The Grl Pwrd Company team, gathering content and very valuable industry data 🥳

08/07/2024

It's been a month since The Festival Institute launched Grl Pwrd X, Creative Training for Grls in Technical Production, Extended Edition. It's been a lovely month of product designing, producing, mixing, scripting and piloting.

Some highlights below.
Month 2 includes product packaging and distribution. We can't wait for you to check out what we have in store as we prep for the official launch of The Grl Pwrd Company

As always a big thank you to Grl Pwrd co-founder KIM of Diamonds and The Diamond Standard for everything you pour out for this cause. A big shoutout to our Grls for sharing your talents with us. And to those of you who support the cause with your donations, likes, shares and encouragement. Also the ones just watching. ☺️ we see you see us too!
The Future is Grl Pwrd..

06/07/2024

Good morning from The Festival Institute, The Diamond Standard and The Grl Pwrd Company
Today we host session 2 of Grl Pwrd & Geared-Up, with our guest mentor, the incredible Maria Thundu a multifaceted professional, renowned for her talents in photography, writing, and art, whose work includes official State House Photography for Malawi's President and Vice President amongst many accolades.

As a pioneering Female Photographer in Malawi, she's an advocate and for gender inclusion in the photography field, she spearheads a vibrant community of female photographers in Malawi through the initiative Female Photographer's Rise, empowering them to excel in the industry. Beyond her creative endeavors, Maria is dedicated to facilitating personal growth through vision board workshops, guiding individuals to set and accomplish life goals. Committed to community service, she serves as a member of the Rotary Club of Lilongwe Lotus, where she leverages her skills to make a positive impact. stories of women as told by women, for women

Maria will be sharing on the topic: The Art of Visual Storytelling. The Photographer's Eye. As well as Visualizing and Realizing your Dreamz

28/06/2024

Another opportunity for young people created by The Festival Institute
A heartfelt congratulations to FIT graduate Andrew K Jere who takes up a new role with Zomba City Festival, today, as Project Coordinator for the Festival, effectively relocating to Zomba for the immediate forseeable future. Andrew will be part of a team of 3 Managers for the Festival and we are so proud!!!

His journey with FI began as part of the Pilot cohort for the Festival Institute Training (FIT) Project Management Essentials for Creatives in Industry, in 2021, where the cohort led the inaugural Pakhonde Festival
He has since gone on to lead Projects, Festivals and Programmes for multiple creative and cultural organizations across the country, including FI and Grl Pwrd, and still finds time to DJ and Produce, on the side.
His growth... went from, "I don't really know how to use excel," to "I've added an extra column for days in common and oh btw I'm leaving for my new job on Thursday" real quick.

Thank you for your dedication, passion, kindness, selflessness and service! Thank you for ALL YOUR HOURS. We'll miss you Andrew, but for sure we'll be meeting and collaborating in this spaces . That's always a given.
The vision was always to see these young people shine. The mission is a go!
Congratulations Andrew! See you at the Top! The Journey is Yours!
Small steps. BIG IMPACT.
Recieve your Leadership Kudos! You are truly an inspiration to all of us

21/06/2024

Happy World Music Day!

So excited to be sharing our first programme under the Grl Pwrd X Cohort of 2024.
Introducing the Grl Pwrd & Geared-Up Short Course and Mentorship Series which commences tomorrow, 22 June 2024.
Geared-Up is a preparatory course for professional industry managers across various disciplines.
The Programme provides various training workshops which include practical training in basic ICT management including Administrative Management, Budget Management and Office Systems Management to prepare young professionals for professional careers across various industries.

With our continued focus on capacitating young female leaders across sectors, through our Grl Pwrd activities, The First edition of Geared-Up will be a special edition, tailored especially for our Grl Pwrd X, cohort of 2024.

This Special Edition programme will include peer mentorship sessions with experienced leading female industry professionals.
Administered as part of the Grl Pwrd X, Extended Training Programme for Girls in Technical Production. Our cohort, which has now grown in number to a total of 19 Grls, will become the first beneficiaries of the Geared Up programme which will be facilitated by Kimberley Zakiyah Kaunda and I as well as a host of impressive mentors we will be unveiling over the next few weeks.

In a very full-circle moment, we're delighted to introduce our first Grl Pwrd & Geared-Up Mentor, the fantastic Ms Angellah Zulanga. Angie Zulu

Full-circle, because, Angellah is a former beneficiary of The Festival Institute's FIT Programme and one of our favorite former students, Angellah has grown to be an industry force in her own right, since she started her journey in Arts and Cultural Management.
Now Programs Manager for Music Crossroads Malawi and Project Coordinator for Pakhonde Festival she is also committee chair for Ethno World, a global Music Programme by JM International, that spans across 43 campuses in 41 Countries.

She is the first person of colour to hold that position.

Also Full-Circle because Angellah actually designed the Grl Pwrd Concept note and made its first Project Pitch as part of an Assignment during one training session, many years ago now.

Angellah will be sharing her projects and vision with the Grl Pwrd X cohort, and focussing on the topic:
Taking Up Creative Spaces: Opportunities and Access to Global Creative and Cultural Markets.

We can't wait to unlock that door!

We're so excited to hear what she has to say.

12/06/2024

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A message of condolence from team FI, team and Partners.

"We are shocked and deeply saddened by the sudden and tragic passing of Dr Saulos Klaus Chilima, Vice President of the Republic of Malawi. We pray comfort on the bereaved and mourn for the young leaders he inspired."

And a beautiful think piece by FI Director Tammy Clare Mbendera

08/06/2024

Good morning! We're very excited to be launching Grl Pwrd X today, an extended edition of our Grl Pwrd Creative Training Programme in Technical Production.

The programme which commences today, welcomes a cohort of 15 multidisciplinary Malawian girls who will spend 6 months with The Festival Institute in partnership with The Diamond Standard as well as various stakeholders. The extended training programme takes the shape of an apprenticeship and is jointly directed by FI Director, Tammy Clare Mbendera and TDS Director KIM of Diamonds who will lead and mentor the cohort as they take on various creative products, services and productions over the next few months.

Follow our pages to keep up with the Journey! The Future is Grl Pwrd and we're excited to be on the forefront!

03/01/2024

Creative Malawi is taking the bull by the horns and we're here for it! Check out School Days, a hilariously heart-warming and nostalgic film by Films and tell us what you think!

OUT NOW! YouTube link below.

School Days Movie

27/12/2023

💝