It’s been four years since Assistant Professor of Sociology Linda Semu visited her hometown in Malawi. But even from her desk in Lewis Hall, she is able to touch lives in the tiny country in the south central region of Africa after joining the academic support network for Raising Malawi. The non-governmental organization co-sponsored by Madonna and Michael Berg, Raising Malawi seeks to help orphans and start programs for children traumatized by HIV/AIDS, poverty, malnourishment and disease.

“This is something close to my heart,” Semu says. “I am grateful to be able to impact Malawi’s children. For me to be able to contribute in a small way is a big deal, and I feel humbled to be a part of it.”

Each day, 190 children become orphans in Malawi, and an estimated 300 people are infected with HIV, according to statistics from Raising Malawi. Communities already reeling from disease are also suffering from famine and poverty.

Semu joins the group’s academic support network, a team of 12 professors nationwide who study social issues either in Malawi or in other developing countries. The academic support network provides input on Raising Malawi’s upcoming plans and projects.

“Dr. Semu brings a rare combination of talents to this work, as a native of Malawi and an expert on the sociology of the African family,” says Provost and Dean of Faculty Tom Falkner. “This sounds like a project that has enormous potential for good.”

The panel is tackling subjects that bear directly on Semu’s dissertation, “The Interplay of State, Family Structure and Land: A Study on Women and Children’s Well- Being in Matrilineal Households in Southern Malawi.” In that work, for which she earned her Ph.D. from Indiana University Bloomington, Semu examined family structures, state policies, and how they affect women and children.

“The problem of orphans is a major issue in Malawi because of HIV/AIDS and poverty,” Semu says. “Families are stretched to the limit. This is where Raising Malawi comes in.”

The humanitarian aid program supports already-existing organizations in providing food, clothing, medical care, child advocacy and education. It has pledged $1.5 million over five years to create economic, medical, education and social sustainability for the residents in the village of Gimulara on the Zambian border. Currently, Raising Malawi is building an orphan care facility that will serve up to 4,000 children. Additionally, the group distributed items that will benefit tens of thousands of Malawian children – everything from blankets and toothbrushes to soccer balls and musical instruments.

“This is something I can share with my students,” says Semu. “In my course, ‘Global Social Change,’ we look at global problems and focus on what we can do as individuals. I emphasize that there is no magical solution and that we all need to take responsibility.”

The lesson’s impact is felt throughout the Department of Sociology, according to Department Chair and Associate Professor of Sociology Debra Lemke.

“Dr. Semu has broadened the scope of the classes she teaches to include a truly international comparative perspective,” says Lemke.

To learn more about Raising Malawi and how you can get involved, click here. Watch a video about Raising Malawi’s journey to Malawi by clicking here.