Jul 22, 2025 | written by: Tommaso Ciuffoletti
A country where over half the population is under twenty, agriculture remains the backbone of the economy, and nature offers breathtaking landscapes. But climate change threatens it all. A journey into the “Warm Heart of Africa” to discover why, now more than ever, planting a tree in Malawi can truly make a difference.
All photos in this article were taken by Luca Panzeri.
Population: 22 million
Density: 170 people per km²
Average income per capita: $1,600
Median age: 17 years
Life expectancy: 64 years
In the heart of southeastern Africa, bordered by Zambia, Tanzania, and Mozambique, Malawi is a small country in terms of land area but surprisingly rich in cultural and natural complexity. With just over 118,000 km²—about a third the size of Italy—its history and people speak of a vibrant present and a future still waiting to be written.
A young nation in every sense
Today, Malawi has over 20 million inhabitants, and the median age is around 18. This “young nation” is at a turning point: on one hand, the drive of a new generation seeking education, work, and opportunities; on the other, the pressure of a still fragile economic system, where about 80% of the workforce is employed in agriculture. Agriculture here isn’t just the main economic activity—it’s also a pillar of the country’s cultural and social identity.
An extraordinary yet vulnerable natural heritage
Malawi is known as “the Warm Heart of Africa” not only for the warm welcome of its people but also for the beauty of its landscapes. Lake Malawi, the third largest lake in Africa and the ninth largest in the world by volume, is home to unique biodiversity: over 700 species of fish, many of them endemic. Alongside these waters stretch highlands, tropical forests, savannas, and mountains, making the territory a treasure chest of diverse ecosystems.
However, this natural balance is increasingly under threat. According to climate projections, Malawi will face rising average temperatures and more variable rainfall patterns. Extreme climate events—like droughts and torrential rains—risk damaging crops, worsening deforestation, and reducing soil fertility, endangering food security for millions.
Tradition and community: the thread linking past and future
A sense of community remains a hallmark of Malawi. You can see it in the rituals of the Chewa people, such as the Gule Wamkulu—the “great dance” that enlivens villages and ceremonies—where wooden masks dance to honor the land and ask for protection for the harvests. It’s a spirituality that never separates nature from social life, but rather places it at the center.
Tomorrow’s challenges and opportunities
The challenges remain numerous: economic growth that often struggles to keep pace with population growth; the need to modernize infrastructure; and the urgency to improve access to education and healthcare. But there are also signs of hope: the energy of young people, new policies promoting sustainable agriculture, and reforestation and rural development projects that put communities first.
A concrete gesture for the future
In a country where over three-quarters of the population depend on agriculture, tackling climate change is crucial. Planting a tree, then, becomes much more than a symbolic act: it means offering shade, fruit, soil protection, and concrete support to the families who live off the land.
