Listening First: What We Learned from an Exploratory Practice Activity on Athlete Storytelling in Malawi

Global Disability Innovation Hub

Dec. 30, 2025

Malawi

Case Studies and Reports

The value of locally produced athlete stories

When the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games took place, Malawi was in an unusual position. The Malawi Broadcasting Corporation held the rights to air daily Paralympic highlights for the first time, however there was very little locally produced footage, video storytelling, or photographic archive of Malawian Para athletes to support that coverage.

At the time, Malawi had only a small number of Para athletes competing internationally. Its first Paralympian, Taonere Banda, was represented through a single video profile produced outside the country by an international NGO. While this played an important role in visibility, it also pointed to a wider gap. Stories connected to Malawian Para sport existed, but they weren’t accessible, shaped, produced, or owned locally.

By the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, progress was visible. Athlete numbers had increased, with two competitors representing Malawi and others moving through development pathways. Photographs of Para athletes appeared more frequently in national media. However, this growth in visibility did not automatically lead to deeper storytelling. There were few opportunities to hear athlete voices consistently and to follow their journeys over time.

This reflected a wider learning emerging through Making Noise, the media and communication strand of Para Sport Against Stigma. Coverage of Para sport in Malawi was increasing, evidenced by the presence of more stories in the press, on radio and TV. But what was noticed, was that the increased visibility didn’t necessarily change how stories were framed or whose perspectives were centred.

Against this backdrop, project partners began asking a practical question: what might be learned by translating this research insight into action and working differently with athlete stories, even on a small scale?

From research to practice

This exploratory practice activity grew directly out of PSAS learning. It focused on applying research insights in a real-world context, paying attention to process, relationships, and reflection.

In the lead-up to the AUSC Region 5 Youth Games in Namibia, partners piloted a short series of athlete profile films. Six athletes took part: Wongani Chawinga, Boyson Maseko, Sean Walker, Sandra Mughogho, Taonere Banda, and Mphatso Saukire. Their stories reflected a mix of sports, personal journeys, and stages within the Para sport pathway.

Production was led by locally based filmmakers and broadcasters working in collaboration with the Malawi Paralympic Committee. The approach prioritised trust, familiarity, and sensitivity to context, enabling the work to be carried out within realistic budgets and timelines.

What the process surfaced

The filming process brought several dynamics into view. Some athletes expressed nervousness, particularly as this was their first experience being filmed. For some, it was also the first time they had spoken openly about the origins of their impairment. Film crews described similar early uncertainty around how to approach conversations about disability, with confidence developing through the interviews themselves.

The activity also extended beyond the athletes. Families and community members became part of the filming environment, and in several cases the process opened up conversations about disability that had not previously taken place. In a context where disability is often treated as private or sensitive, one family member described the experience as therapeutic.

At the same time, familiar expectations surfaced. Some families hoped that the filming might lead to material support or assistance, reflecting common experiences of how disability-focused initiatives are encountered. These moments required careful communication about the purpose of storytelling and the limits of what it could offer.

Key learning for future practice

Several learning points emerged. Working across multiple athlete stories highlighted the value of diversity in narrative form. A single-story structure or tone would not suit every athlete.

The activity also reinforced that storytelling unfolds over time. Space was needed for trust-building, filming, reflection, and follow-up, as well as for distribution and engagement. Without attention to these stages, even strong stories risk remaining isolated moments.

Finally, the work raised questions about archiving and ownership. Locally held footage and photographs can become a valuable resource as athletes progress through competition cycles. Being able to tell stories of journey, rather than starting from scratch at each major event, matters.

Looking ahead

This exploratory practice activity created space to learn through doing and highlighted the value time and facilitation in athlete centred storytelling in Malawi. For AT2030 and PSAS, these insights continue to shape how media is understood in terms of representation and infrastructure that supports participation, voice, and long-term inclusion within Para sport systems.

Athlete story videos

Wongani Chawinga