Launched in September last year, the 'Zili Mwa Ife Malawi adalira inu' a corporate social responsibility campaign recognizes Malawians making a difference in communities through their works for the benefit of others.

Airtel Malawi’s Marketing Director for Kiosk Thokozani Kamkondo Sande, expressed satisfaction with the progress made so far.

To-date, Airtel Malawi has given out K63 million to sixteen people for their exceptional contributions in different parts of the country with K37.5 million remaining.

“So this K37.5 will be distributed to the top five winners who have been announced today. The amounts of how much each will get on position one, two, three will be revealed at the grand finale around mid-June.

“As for Airtel Malawi, we are grateful for the response that we have got. We are grateful that we have been able to identify the heroes that could have never been known without this campaign”.

Over 1500 entries came through presenting a challenging task for the judges who had to travel across Malawi to verify if the stories are real ones through the chiefs and the communities they are serving.

The nominees are Malumbo Harawa, a biomedical engineering student who makes oxygen concentrators for use in hospitals.

Stanislaus Sakwiya came up with a Mlimi pay innovation used by farmers to buy farm inputs in rural areas.

A small scale farmer in NkhataBay Chimwemwe Mwenefumbo produces electricity using a pump to villages to supply water.

Elias Matope from Sharpe Valle in Ntcheu sourced funding to which enabled him get shoes for 800 children to wear to school and Juma Ali, a  standard three teacher from Mangochi made an application to help colleagues who have many learners mark examinations with ease.

Airtel customers can vote for the finalists through a toll free number 460 and the one with the most votes will win the competition.

The voting will run from 18th May to 4th June and the winner will be announced in mid-June.