Our friend, doing the work.

About Anzathu

Why this exists, what the name means, and where it's headed.

What Anzathu Is

Anzathu is an international development platform focused primarily on the work of charities and NGOs. The Development Spotlight takes an honest look at the development organisations working on the ground across the region: what they do, how they fund it, and what it actually achieves.

It's not a charity yet. For now it's a platform, built to tell better stories and lay the groundwork for something bigger.

Why "Anzathu"

Anzathu means "our friend" in Chichewa, one of the main languages spoken in Malawi. I chose it because that's the relationship this platform is trying to have with the people it covers, not a distant outlet parachuting in for a story, but something closer to a friend who stays and pays attention. It's also a small nod to where this all started for me.

Ubuntu

Ubuntu: "I am because we are." A Nguni Bantu concept expressing the belief that a person is defined through their relationship with others. It sits alongside Anzathu as a second thread running through this platform: the idea that none of this work happens alone.

Who's Behind This

I'm a university student studying International Relations and Anthropology, with a strong interest in Sub-Saharan Africa and international development. That interest came from time I spent living and volunteering in Malawi, where I worked with local organisations supporting children and community projects. Being there made everything feel a lot more real. I saw both the challenges and the impact of the work being done on the ground.

Since then, I've wanted to understand this space properly: not just through my degree, but by learning from the people actually doing it. I'm aiming to build a career in international development, and this project is a way to connect, learn, and share what I come across along the way.

Jamie Oliver Read, founder of Anzathu.
Where We're Going

The end goal is a fully registered foundation: resourced, community-led, and built on a decade of real work on the ground. This platform is how we get there.

Suggest A Story

Know someone we should be writing about?

If you're part of an organisation doing real work on the ground, or you know someone who is, tell us about it. You can also just email jamieoliverread@gmail.com directly.