Staff Highlight – Lester Mwalwenje

1) What is your profession? 

Energy and Environment Program Manager

2) How does your work relate to Orant’s work? 

Energy and Environment relates with Orant in different ways considering projects that are being implemented by Orant Charities Africa, i.e. Health, Agriculture, WASH, FEM, and Education. As a cross-cutting program, expect Energy and Environment to work hand in hand with all the programs Orant is implementing to make sure that there is a good supply of energy and all the programs are complying to Malawi Environmental Act. 

3) Tell us a bit about your career journey and major accomplishments. 

After doing my studies at Mzuzu University in Bsc in Renewable Energy Technologies, 2017, I started working as a secondary school teacher at Kunyanja private secondary school in 2018 (January-July) where I managed to produce good grades in science subjects and many students were selected to different public universities. I was then offered an internship opportunity (Environmental Officer) at Nkhata Bay District Council Undergraduate Internship program (2018- 2021) where I worked with UNDP under Adapt Plan project and also making sure that most of the projects implemented in the district were complying to the Environmental Management Act by monitoring, auditing, and inspecting all the projects in all environmental aspects. Thereafter, I worked for Mzuzu Technical College as a Renewable Energy Instructor (2022-2023) where I produced a 100% pass record for 3rd year students in 2022 and 100% pass rate for 1st and 3rd students in 2023. While there, I also worked with Far Distributions Company (FDC) on a part-time basis as a consultant engineer on Vwaza Marsh and Game Reserve solar powered electric fence installation. Before joining Orant in January 2025, I was working with Sun King Malawi Limited as an Installer and Service Technician on the BEFIT project under Imagine WW through Ministry of Education (2023-2024) where we were able to power 500+ primary schools in 6 months, which led Imagine WW to offer 2 other projects to Sun King Limited in Sierra Leone and Liberia. Out of all the professional positions I hosted I managed to write the success story in every activity I was assigned.

4) What motivates you? What are you passionate about?  

Nature and technology motivate me, that’s why I am passionate about the environment I am in and the energy which is the core of every technology for there  is no technology we can do without energy, and the Law of Conservation of Energy motivates me to achieve more.

5) How do you feel about working for Orant?  

I feel good because I know that I will be making decisions about the things I am passionate about. 

6) What’s something that you are looking forward to accomplishing in your role soon? 

I wish Orant to comply with the Environmental Management Act in all its projects around the targeted catchment area and make sure villages are powered using clean and renewable energy sources like solar energy and other environmentally friendly energy technologies. 

7) Anything else you would like to share? (What would the story be incomplete without?) 

I would love to share that we are the environment and when we comply with the Environmental Management Act, we serve ourselves. Let us all fight against climate change to achieve a better Malawi.