'Growing up in Malawi' Film Launch
The SMP hosted the launch of episode two of the film series, "Growing Up in Malawi" at Edinburgh City Chambers. This special event brought together an engaged audience to celebrate the continuation of this inspiring project, co-hosted by Marcia Kamanga-Wawanya, MEIRU Public Engagement Award Officer.
The Generation Malawi study is a groundbreaking longitudinal birth cohort project. This initiative, led by the Malawi Epidemiology and Intervention Research Unit (MEIRU), examines the long-term health impacts of early-life exposures and socioeconomic factors in Malawi.
Prof. Amelia Crampin, MEIRU Director, outlined the study’s focus on chronic conditions like hypertension, diabetes and mental health. Collaborating with various institutions, the study tracks participants across urban (Area 25, Lilongwe) and rural (Chilumba, Karonga) settings to better understand health outcomes. Professor Crampin emphasised the critical role of community engagement in ensuring the project’s success.
Dr. Wisdom Nakanga, Generation Malawi Program Manager, elaborated on the recruitment process, which involves expectant mothers and their partners, noting challenges in engaging fathers. The study also highlights the cultural and social influences on teenage pregnancies and health disparities.
Dr. Sharifa Abdulla, Growing Up in Malawi Film Lead, shared how the accompanying documentary series was created as a collaborative effort. Initial consultations with community members, including local leaders and cultural custodians, informed the project’s direction. Participants were trained to document their experiences, ensuring their stories authentically reflected their lives and the study’s impact. This participatory process seamlessly integrated personal narratives with the research’s broader themes.
Attendees viewed two episodes of the accompanying documentary series, funded by the Wellcome Trust, which captures the lived experiences of Malawian families. The episodes provided an intimate look at motherhood, birth and early life, offering a human context to the study’s data.
The event concluded with a dynamic Q&A session, where panellists addressed questions on study design, recruitment and community involvement. Participants were encouraged to provide feedback and continue conversations about the project’s future.
Stuart Brown expressed gratitude to the project participants from Malawi for sharing their stories and truths, as well as to the presenters and team members, including Marcia Kamanga-Wawanya, Prof. Amelia Crampin, Dr. Wisdom Nakanga, Dr. Sharifa Abdulla, Prof. Andrew McIntosh and Dr. Robert Stewart. He also acknowledged the financial support of the Wellcome Trust and UKRI. Stuart highlighted the importance of storytelling in research, ensuring the findings resonate beyond academia and encouraged a continued dialogue on the project’s impact.
Live Recording
Missed this meeting? You can find the recording on this page with the below time stamps.
00:00 Welcome from SMP – Natasha Adodo , SMP Communication and Engagement Officer
01:27 Meeting Overview - Marcia Kamanga-Wawanya, MEIRU Public Engagement Award Officer
05:52 Introduction to MEIRU - Prof Amelia Crampin, Director of MEIRU
09:46 Generation Malawi study overview - Dr Wisdom Nakanga, Generation Malawi Program Manager
17:02 Documentary Screening – Episode 1
32:09 The Production Process - Dr Sharifa Abdulla, Growing Up in Malawi Film Lead
01:02:18 Members’ comments, questions and contributions
01:34:25 Closing remarks - Stuart Brown, SMP CEO
