Marcia Tamanda Kamanga works closely with communities in urban Lilongwe and rural Karonga, engaging youth and women affected by mental health issues and non-communicable diseases. Through participatory workshops, storytelling forums, and advisory groups, she co-creates public engagement strategies that centre lived experience and foster inclusive dialogue between researchers and the communities served.

Marcia is proud of founding two ventures—a skincare business and a farm—that have grown into multi-million kwacha enterprises employing several young graduates. She also volunteers with Let’s Talk Mental Health Malawi and serves as a career mentor, supporting young graduates as they navigate the job market.

In her current role, Marcia co-leads the Mental Health Data Prize Africa project, overseeing the community engagement work package and ensuring the inclusion of people with lived experience in research. She has co-produced a longitudinal documentary following 20 families in MEIRU’s Generation Malawi birth cohort and led arts-based workshops for primary school students, using creative expression to foster early engagement with health concerns.

Marcia is committed to health equity, striving to create inclusive spaces where marginalized voices shape research, policy, and practice. She draws inspiration from John C. Maxwell’s wisdom: “A leader is great, not because of his/her power, but because of his/her ability to empower others,” reminding her that meaningful leadership is rooted in uplifting others.