Poverty to Possibility: TKA’s Sustainable Development in Malawi

PARIS, France — In Katore Village, Malawi, access to clean water has transformed daily life for thousands of people. The change began with a simple idea shared by friends who wanted to create lasting solutions to poverty rather than short-term aid. That idea became TKA, an organization focused on building sustainable development in Malawi.

Co-founders Daniel Rotstein, Elad Romano Barzilay, and Bailey Pickford work with local communities to build infrastructure that supports long-term opportunity and sustainable development. Together, they aim to move beyond short-term aid by creating opportunities that allow communities to generate their own income.

In an interview with The Borgen Project, Co-founder Daniel Rotstein shared his perspective on turning poverty into possibility in rural Malawi. The name TKA comes from a hypothesized proto-human language believed to be the origin of modern spoken languages. The word “tka,” meaning “earth,” reflects the organization’s mission to connect people across borders and focus on shared human needs. With founders from Israel and South Africa working on development projects in Malawi, TKA represents a global collaboration supporting communities where help is needed most.

Rotstein and his partners approach poverty reduction through sustainable economic development. Rather than focusing solely on aid distribution, TKA works to help communities create long-term opportunities for growth.

The organization’s goal is to establish an economic zone by strengthening infrastructure in one village before expanding to neighbouring communities. With reliable infrastructure in place, residents can begin building small businesses by farming, brick-making, and distributing crops to larger markets.

By 2035, Africa’s population could grow by 450 million people, creating one of the world’s youngest and largest workforces. This rapid growth highlights the urgent need for job creation and economic development, especially in rural areas. TKA is responding to this challenge by building infrastructure and supporting local entrepreneurship. One village at a time, their approach lays the foundation for sustainable growth and development, while empowering communities in Malawi to take control of their future.

Partnerships are at the heart of TKA’s work in Katore Village. By combining local knowledge with international support, the organization addresses multiple Sustainable Development Goals, including reducing poverty and hunger, improving health and education, promoting gender equality, ensuring clean water, and building infrastructure.

Among these, Rotstein emphasizes SDG 17—partnerships for the goals—as the most important, reflecting TKA’s belief that collaboration is essential for lasting change. Through close work with village leaders, residents, and private-sector partners, TKA strengthens the local economy and promotes economic empowerment, helping the community become self-reliant.

“People need water. Nobody can deny that. People need infrastructure. Without basic infrastructure, you cannot build anything else,” explains Rotstein.

TKA’s first project took place in Katore Village in May 2025. Discussions with the village chief and residents revealed the most urgent need: access to clean water. Before the project, women began their day as early as 4 a.m., carrying 20-litre buckets for over a kilometre to the closest borehole. Long walks and wait times force some families to use Lake Malawi as their water source, which is contaminated with the parasitic disease bilharzia.

Partnering with local engineers, TKA built a borehole in just two weeks. “The moment the water came out was one of the most heartwarming moments of my life. Seeing the children and women dancing and smiling was life-changing,” Rotstein recalls.

The new borehole now provides clean water to 5,000 residents, drastically reducing wait times, improving hygiene, and supporting economic growth and community development. Families have more time to work, attend school, and grow crops—laying the groundwork for sustainable economic growth in the village.

When TKA first arrived in Katore Village, they found a “graveyard” of past projects—boreholes and other initiatives that had broken down after a year because the original organizations expanded to other regions, and lacked the resources for maintenance.

TKA’s approach is different. Rather than spreading resources across multiple regions, they focus on developing one village thoroughly before moving to neighbouring communities. Local engineers built the borehole and trained villagers to perform minor repairs and source replacement parts, shifting the village toward self-sufficiency.

TKA maintains daily contact with Katore residents to monitor progress and learn community priorities. One year later, the borehole continues to serve 5,000 people, with a flourishing crop garden surrounding it. Seeing the villagers celebrate access to clean water—something Rotstein and his co-founders have always taken for granted—was perspective-changing. It reinforced their commitment to sustainable projects that empower communities and foster local leadership.

Inspired by the impact in Katore Village, TKA has partnered with Reichman University in Israel, known for its focus on entrepreneurship and innovation. Each year, the program will bring together a diverse group of students from different faculties. Together, they combine their skills and perspectives to plan and build sustainable infrastructure projects from start to finish.

The program will unfold in three phases. In the first semester, students will gain hands-on experience with Israeli companies in their respective fields. During the second semester, they will work together to design a project tailored to the needs of Malawian communities. At the end of the semester, the students travel to Malawi for two weeks to implement their project and learn more about the village’s evolving needs.

By working side by side with local communities, students contribute to lasting infrastructure while gaining a deeper understanding of sustainable development and community empowerment in practice.

Looking Ahead to Expand Impact In Malawi

TKA’s work in Katore Village shows how thoughtful, sustainable projects can transform communities. From building a borehole that provides clean water to partnering with local engineers who taught villagers how to handle minor repairs, the organization demonstrates that lasting change comes from collaboration, not short-term aid.

TKA is preparing for its next trip in April 2026, when it will drill another borehole in a different area of Katore Village, providing clean water to 5,000 additional residents. These efforts reflect TKA’s commitment to sustainable development in Malawi, reducing poverty through community empowerment, and proving that one idea, paired with dedication and collaboration, can change thousands of lives.…Read more by Naida Jahic