Amal Clooney launches Malawi law scholarships for 30 girls - IOL

Amal Clooney, co-founder of the Clooney Foundation for Justice at the launch where her foundation partnered with the University of Malawi (UNIMA) to provide fully funded law scholarships to 30 girls, as part of an initiative aimed at strengthening access to justice and increasing the number of qualified lawyers in Malawi.

The Clooney Foundation for Justice has partnered with the University of Malawi (UNIMA) to provide fully funded law scholarships to 30 girls, in an initiative aimed at expanding access to justice and increasing the number of qualified lawyers in the country.

Under the partnership, the foundation will also establish a fully funded fellowship programme for early-career lawyers.

The fellows will work with the Clooney Foundation for Justice and its partner, the Women Lawyers Association Malawi, focusing on defending the rights of women and children who are victims of violence.

Amal Clooney, co-founder of the Clooney Foundation for Justice, said the scholarship programme would give talented young women an opportunity to study at Malawi's leading law school.

“I am so proud to launch this new Scholarship Programme at the University of Malawi so that brilliant young girls in Malawi can now study law at the nation’s top law school,” Clooney said.

She said the fellowship programme would also support efforts to expand access to justice for women and children across Malawi.

“And I’m excited that our new Fellowship Programme will help the University expand access to justice for women and children across the country, starting now and for years to come,” said Clooney, who is married to Hollywood actor George Clooney.

The foundation said the scholarship and fellowship programmes were designed to expand the pipeline of qualified lawyers while investing in a new generation of legal professionals committed to advancing justice.

University of Malawi (UNIMA) Deputy Vice-Chancellor Dr Sunduzwayo Madise with the co-founder of the Clooney Foundation, Amal Clooney during the launch of the foundation's scholarship for 30 female law students.

The initiative brings together UNIMA, the Clooney Foundation for Justice and the Women Lawyers Association Malawi to strengthen legal capacity and support vulnerable women and children seeking justice.

The foundation described the partnership as part of its broader mission to “wage justice” by supporting people whose rights have been violated.

The engagement began with a courtesy call in the University Boardroom, where Clooney and the CFJ delegation met UNIMA Deputy Vice-Chancellor Dr Sunduzwayo Madise.

Madise welcomed the delegation and commended CFJ for investing in young women and supporting access to justice in Malawi. He highlighted the importance of linking legal education to the practical needs of communities and said the partnership would strengthen UNIMA’s contribution to justice, particularly for women and children.

He also welcomed the fellowship programme as an opportunity to strengthen practical legal education and give young lawyers experience in public-interest law.

The delegation later held a co-creation meeting with students in the Law Boardroom. Students shared their perspectives on legal education and access to justice and explored ways young lawyers could contribute to addressing challenges affecting women and children.

The partnership was formally launched in the Great Hall at an event that included a moderated panel discussion on legal education, access to justice and the role of young lawyers in protecting women and children.