HiM History

When Christa Roby, founder of Health in Motion (HiM), settled in Nkhata Bay in 2015, she embarked on a transformative journey rooted in community engagement. Spending years immersed in rural areas, she traveled to remote locations to observe firsthand the vulnerabilities caused by limited access to rehabilitation services. Through these experiences, she uncovered critical barriers shaped by societal norms, cultural perceptions, and limited resources.

Driven by a deep commitment to understanding and addressing these challenges, Christa worked alongside communities, employing surveys, discussion groups, and visual tools to explore behavior, mindsets, and cultural dynamics around rehabilitation. She trialed ergonomic tools, movement training, and exercise programs to develop practical strategies tailored to the communities’ unique needs. This rigorous process became the foundation for the HiM model and its programs, which now empower rural communities through accessible, sustainable, and impactful rehabilitation solutions.

Founder

Christa Roby is a Canadian manual therapist with over a decade of experience working in diverse multidisciplinary healthcare settings. Since 2010, she has lived and worked in rural communities across Sub-Saharan Africa, where she has gained valuable insight into the daily lives, traditions, and cultural practices that shape physical health and wellness. Driven by a desire to address the challenges faced by individuals in these communities, Christa founded the Health in Motion organization in Malawi in 2017. By 2019, she had established the HiM model and programs, grounded in a holistic approach to injury prevention and rehabilitation tailored to the unique needs of rural populations.

Through her work, Christa has dedicated herself to fostering sustainable, community-focused solutions that empower individuals to overcome barriers to physical health. Her commitment to understanding the interplay between culture, behavior, and rehabilitation continues to guide the evolution of HiM’s initiatives, bringing meaningful impact to rural communities.

Meet Our Team

Kondwani Msofi and Flora Manda

These two work in the field as our M&E specialist and field officer. With over 5yrs each working with HiM, they ensure the training and implementation of all programs are well oversighted and adopted within each community.

Vision

Envision communities where improved physical movement fosters productivity, well-being, and dignity for all.

Mission

Empowering rural communities to improve physical well-being through rehabilitation, training, and strategic partnerships.

Values

Our values are summed up through a concept of C.A.R.E.

C- Compassion

The foundation of all we do. Acting with compassion means embodying the ‘Christ-like’ call to build meaningful relationships with others.

A-Awareness

We strive to recognize the needs of the voiceless, particularly in areas of pain often left unspoken.

R- Respond

Engaging with communities to stand where no one else stands, working for the betterment of all.

E- Educate

Empowering others through knowledge. True change is sustained by an individual’s informed choices.