The Beginning of Our Story: A Young Volunteer’s Dream in New Delhi
Every great movement begins with a single person who dares to dream of change. Our story started in 2003 in the bustling streets of New Delhi, India, where a young Malawian volunteer named George Mwika Kayange was working as a media intern for the Global March Against Child Labour. What began as a simple idea to help nonprofit organisations build websites would eventually grow into a continent-wide movement that has transformed how African communities access digital tools and opportunities.
George’s vision was both humble and ambitious. He recognised that civil society organisations in India and Malawi were struggling to harness the power of the internet to amplify their vital work. Children needed protection. Communities needed voices. Nonprofits platforms required to share their stories and attract support. With nothing but determination and a laptop, George founded First Web Foundation as an online business entrepreneurship focused on developing websites for nonprofit organisations.
The driving force behind this initiative was deeply personal. George had established the Child Rights Information and Documentation Centre (CRIDOC) in Malawi in 2004, an organisation dedicated to creating access to information on children and youth rights. First Web Foundation became his Income Generating Activity, a way to fundraise for CRIDOC whilst helping other organisations strengthen their digital presence. Every website built, every nonprofit supported, contributed to a larger mission of protecting vulnerable children and empowering communities.
Growing Our Story: Expansion Beyond Boundaries
As our story unfolded, First Web Foundation’s impact began to extend far beyond simple website development. The organisation evolved into a comprehensive communications powerhouse, expanding its expertise to include television and video documentaries, radio productions, public relations, and media strategy development. Each new service area represented another way to amplify the voices of those working to create positive change in their communities.
The transformation was remarkable. What started as a one-person operation in India had become a full-service communications initiative that was legally registered in Malawi in 2006 under the Business Names Act. The proceeds from these diverse consultancy services flowed directly into CRIDOC’s growth, creating a sustainable cycle of impact that demonstrated the power of social entrepreneurship.
This period of our story showcases the importance of adaptability and vision. George and his growing team understood that effective communication comes in many forms. Whether through compelling documentaries that brought hidden stories to light, radio programmes that reached remote communities, or strategic communications that helped organisations articulate their missions more effectively, First Web Foundation was building the infrastructure for social change across Africa.
Our Story Takes a New Direction: Recognising the Untapped Potential
By 2019, a beautiful milestone had been reached in our story. CRIDOC had grown into a self-sustaining organisation, capable of standing on its own feet. The fundraising mission that had originally inspired First Web Foundation’s creation had been fulfilled. However, this success revealed an even greater opportunity and responsibility.
Across sub-Saharan Africa, countless nonprofit organisations were struggling to effectively leverage web and mobile technologies that were rapidly transforming how communities connect, learn, and grow. The digital divide wasn’t just about access to technology—it was about knowledge, skills, and resources. Small community-based organisations, faith-based groups, and grassroots movements had brilliant ideas and unwavering dedication, but lacked the digital tools to amplify their impact.
George recognised that First Web Foundation’s story needed a new chapter. The organisation had proven that strategic digital support could transform individual nonprofits and communities. Now, it was time to scale that impact across the continent. The countless opportunities that mobile and web technologies bring to nonprofit work were not being fully exploited, yet ICT for Development (ICT4D) could contribute significantly towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals globally.
Our Story Becomes a Collective Journey: Building the Team
He led the team in facilitating the registration of the First Web Foundation in South Africa.
The next phase of our story required more than individual vision—it demanded collaborative leadership.
George reached out to three entrepreneurial-minded colleagues in South Africa who shared his passion for using technology to drive social change.
Simon Manda, Mpho Given Mahlatsi, and Pumza Makanya joined the mission, bringing their own expertise, networks, and unwavering commitment to the cause.
Together, this founding team worked tirelessly to transform First Web Foundation from a successful business into a registered nonprofit organisation. On 5 September 2019, their efforts culminated in the official registration of their organisation under the Non-Profit Organisations Act, 2017, of South Africa.
The First Web Foundation was registered as NPO Registration Number 234-604, with Simon, Mpho, and Pumza serving as Registered Trustees, while Georgecontinued as a volunteer Technical Adviser.
This transition represents a pivotal moment in our story. The team made a conscious decision not to “reinvent the wheel” but rather to build upon the solid foundation that had already been established. They understood that the most sustainable approach was to redefine and reposition First Web Foundation to serve the nonprofit sector more effectively, whilst maintaining the core values and proven strategies that had driven success for over a decade.
Redefining Our Story: From Service to Empowerment
The rebranding of First Web Foundation marked a fundamental shift in our story’s focus. The organisation evolved from a profit-making initiative concentrated primarily in Malawi to a charitable organisation dedicated to addressing the digital needs of nonprofit organisations across Africa. This transformation involved redefining the mission, vision, and objectives to become more relevant to the diverse needs of African nonprofits whilst maintaining the personal touch and deep understanding that had always characterised the organisation’s approach.
Most importantly, our story shifted from a model of “service provision” to one that emphasises “empowerment.” Rather than simply providing digital solutions, First Web Foundation began focusing on building capacity, sharing knowledge, and creating sustainable systems that enable organisations to maintain and expand their digital presence independently. This approach recognises that true transformation happens when communities have the tools, knowledge, and confidence to continue growing long after external support ends.
The organisation also made a strategic decision to prioritise smaller nonprofits with limited resources but ambitious visions. These organisations—community-based groups, faith-based initiatives, and grassroots movements—often have the deepest connections to the communities they serve and the most innovative approaches to addressing local challenges. By focusing on these “under-resourced but over-ambitious” organisations, First Web Foundation could maximise the impact of every resource invested whilst ensuring that digital transformation reaches the communities that need it most.
Our Story Today: Filling the Gap, Creating the Future
Today, our story continues to unfold with renewed purpose and expanded impact. First Web Foundation has identified and is actively working to fill a significant gap in the African nonprofit ecosystem. Very few specialised charitable initiatives exist across the continent that are dedicated to supporting other nonprofits in achieving their goals through digital literacy and technology empowerment.
Our current story is one of bridge-building. We connect skilled volunteers from around the world with African nonprofits that need digital support. We provide free and heavily subsidised services including website development, social media strategy, online fundraising support, and comprehensive digital training. Most importantly, we share knowledge and resources that help organisations understand how web and mobile technologies can amplify their community impact.
The scope of our story has expanded beyond individual organisations to encompass entire communities. When we help a girls’ education programme in Ghana develop an effective online presence, we’re not just improving their marketing—we’re creating pathways for more girls to access education. When we support a water project in Tanzania with crowdfunding strategies, we’re not just teaching fundraising techniques—we’re helping bring clean water to families who desperately need it.
Our Story’s Mission: Reaching 10,000 Organisations by 2030
The current chapter of our story is defined by an ambitious but achievable goal: reaching 10,000 small, community-based nonprofit organisations, social enterprises, and individual social influencers by 2030. This target represents more than numbers—it represents 10,000 communities that will have enhanced capacity to address poverty, improve education, provide healthcare, protect the environment, and create sustainable economic opportunities.
Our story today demonstrates that digital transformation is not just about technology—it’s about human connection, knowledge sharing, and collective empowerment. Through our non-cash grants programme, volunteer matching initiatives, and comprehensive training resources, we’re building a network of digitally empowered changemakers across Africa and beyond.
Every organisation we support adds a new dimension to our story. Each website launched, each social media campaign that connects communities with resources, each crowdfunding effort that exceeds its target, becomes part of a larger narrative about what’s possible when technology serves humanity’s highest aspirations.
Our Story’s Impact: Beyond Technology to Transformation
The true measure of our story’s success lies not in the number of websites built or social media accounts managed, but in the communities transformed and lives improved. Our story has become interwoven with thousands of other stories—stories of children who gained access to education, families who received clean water, women who started successful businesses, and communities that found their voices on the global stage.
This interconnected narrative demonstrates the multiplier effect of strategic digital support. When we help a nonprofit organisation develop an effective online presence, we’re not just improving their communications—we’re amplifying their ability to serve more beneficiaries, attract more resources, and create more sustainable impact in their communities.
Our story proves that the digital divide can be bridged through partnership, knowledge sharing, and strategic support. It shows that organisations don’t need massive budgets to create professional digital presences that attract international attention and support. Most importantly, it demonstrates that when we combine African innovation with global connectivity, the possibilities for positive change are limitless.
The Next Chapter of Our Story: Your Role in the Journey
Our story is far from complete. Every day brings new opportunities to support organisations that are working to address some of the world’s most pressing challenges. The next chapter of our story includes volunteers who share their expertise, donors who support our mission, and partner organisations that amplify our impact.
Whether you’re a skilled professional who wants to volunteer your time, a supporter who believes in our mission, or an organisation that could benefit from our services, you have a role to play in our story’s continued evolution. The transformation of African communities through digital empowerment is not just our story—it’s a story that belongs to everyone who believes in the power of technology to create positive change.
As we look toward 2030 and beyond, our story continues to be written by every nonprofit that gains the tools to amplify their impact, every community that gains access to resources they need, and every individual who discovers that they have the power to create positive change in their world. This is our story, and we invite you to become part of it.
Join Our Story: Be Part of the Transformation
The most exciting aspect of our story is that it’s still being written. Each day brings new opportunities to support organisations that are working to create positive change in their communities. Your skills, your passion, and your commitment can become part of our story’s continued evolution.
Whether you’re interested in volunteering your professional expertise, supporting our mission through donations, or learning more about how your organisation can benefit from our services, there’s a place for you in our story. Together, we can ensure that the next chapter is even more impactful than the last, as we work towards a digitally empowered Africa where every nonprofit has the tools they need to maximise their community impact.
Our story continues to unfold every day. To learn more about how you can become part of this transformative journey, explore our volunteer opportunities, apply for our non-cash grants programme, or discover ways to support our mission as we work towards reaching 10,000 organisations by 2030.
