Amal Clooney has returned to Malawi three years after her previous high-profile visit, this time to help open new doors for the country’s next generation of female lawyers.
The international human rights lawyer and co-founder of the Clooney Foundation for Justice spent a week in the African nation, where she unveiled a new scholarship program in partnership with the University of Malawi.
The initiative will ultimately allow 30 young women to study law with their education fully funded.
The trip marks Amal’s return to Malawi after visiting the country in November 2023 alongside Michelle Obama and Melinda French Gates. At the time, the women brought attention to child marriage and advocated for girls’ access to education and justice.
© Photos by Dimitris GiannetosDuring her latest visit, Amal met with representatives from Malawi’s ministries of Justice and Gender and visited a girls’ school, where she shared warm moments with students and was photographed holding a young girl in her arms.
The new scholarship program will begin with 10 students this year and is designed to remove some of the financial barriers preventing young Malawian women from pursuing careers in law.
© Photos by Dimitris GiannetosThe initiative also includes a fully funded fellowship for early-career lawyers who will work with the Clooney Foundation for Justice and the Women Lawyers Association of Malawi. Their work will focus on defending women and children affected by violence and improving access to legal assistance.
Speaking about the initiative, Amal said she was proud to launch the scholarship program at the University of Malawi and help talented young women pursue legal studies. She explained that the broader goal is to expand access to justice for women and girls across Malawi in the years ahead.
© Photos by Dimitris GiannetosThe trip came shortly after Amal attended the Venice Film Festival, where her husband, George Clooney, received an honorary Golden Lion recognizing his career.
Amal was accompanied in Malawi by hairstylist Dimitris Giannetos, who documented several moments from the trip and offered a glimpse at the work being carried out by the Clooney Foundation for Justice.
© Photos by Dimitris GiannetosBeyond her glamorous red carpet appearances alongside George, the visit highlighted the work that has long been central to Amal’s career.
A specialist in international law and human rights, she has represented victims of human rights abuses and has used the foundation she co-founded with her husband to pursue justice and accountability around the world.
In Malawi, that mission is now focused in part on helping young women enter the legal profession, with the hope that future generations of local lawyers can advocate for victims and strengthen access to justice within their own communities.
Read the full article here
