Eluby Kawelama graduated from LUANAR in 2022 with a BSc in Irrigation Engineering. She joined PlantVillage straight after graduation, working on the Malawi Digital Health Services (MaDiPHs). All the while, she kept searching for scholarships to study abroad.

The search was long and often discouraging. Application after application brought no positive response, until she came across the NORSTIP scholarship, funded by the Norwegian government. Today she is studying for a Master’s in Agroecology at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), a programme that takes a holistic look at how the world can build more resilient and sustainable food systems.

Research with Malawi in Mind

Although she has not yet started her research, Eluby already has a clear direction. Her Master’s project is expected to explore how digital advisory tools can help smallholder farmers in Malawi adopt agroecological pest management practices. It will look at how platforms such as MaDiPHs give farmers timely information on pest management, reduce reliance on chemical pesticides, and support sustainable agriculture.

The topic speaks directly to challenges facing Malawi, including crop pest outbreaks, limited agricultural extension services, the environmental effects of pesticide use, and the ongoing need to improve food security among smallholder farmers.

Advice to Current Students

Eluby is candid that her degree was a pass, but she says being an engineering graduate opened doors well beyond her field of study.

“You don’t have to limit yourself to irrigation engineering after your bachelor’s,” she says. “There are many interesting fields that you can explore. Be open to learning, stay curious and pursue opportunities beyond your comfort zone.”

She also has a light-hearted word for her juniors: while being an engineer is fun, they should “tone it down a notch” on campus.

A Message to Scholarship Seekers

For students currently searching for scholarships, Eluby speaks from experience about how draining the process can be. “Sometimes you apply over and over again and still receive rejection after rejection,” she says. “Whether you eventually get the scholarship or not, be kind to yourself throughout the journey. Patience is important, but so is self-compassion. Your worth is not determined by an application outcome.”

Her closing encouragement: “Keep showing up, keep trying, and remember that the opportunity you’re hoping for may be closer than you think.”

Eluby’s story is part of the LUANAR Alumni Association’s work to celebrate graduates making an impact in Malawi and around the world.