Sarah Black, Author at Changing Lives Malawi

Each child deserves a chance

Sarah’s blog 6/4/22

These amazing children need a helping hand to reach their potential. To be the best they can be. Isn’t that what we all want for our children? Each of these children suffers from malnutrition. They need more food, clothes, education. Can you be a helping hand for one of these children? It’s only £25 p/m to sponsor a child. contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com please look at each photo and help a child today. Thanks for reading, Sarah x

Sponsored – Melise & Mwiza – update

This story is about the Mtambo family, living in rural northern Malawi. Not many of us can imagine just how tough life is for this family.

Sarah’s blog 4/4/22

This family has four children and a mum and a dad. That sounds a good way to start a story. Depending where in the world this family live they might have a big house and 2 cars and plenty of money in the bank or a smaller house with the children having to share bedrooms and only one car in their family. Life might be a bit more of a struggle for them but they still have enough to get by.

But this story is about the Mtambo family, living in rural northern Malawi. Not many of us can imagine just how tough life is for this family. Not many of us can imagine just how poor they are. Mum is trying to earn some money to feed her family and hold everything together. Dad is ill and unable to work or help her with housework or the care of the children. There are three girls and a boy. Mwiza, the boy is disabled. He is left to his own devices a lot of the time, sitting on a mat, as mum cannot spend all day with him as she is working and the girls are at school and nursery. Grandma sometimes comes to help.

The story of this family and the mother’s struggle touched people’s hearts and two kind people came forward to sponsor Mwiza and Melise. The other two girls, Thokozani and Eliness, still need to be matched with sponsors. Melise’s sponsor also wanted the mum to have some money to spend on food or what she needs so she pays an extra £5 for the mum which Levison gives her and for which she is very grateful.

Having two out of the four children sponsored has made a big difference to this family. They have two monthly food parcels which supplement what mum can earn, so it takes a bit of pressure from her knowing that her children and herself and her husband have something to eat. The four children have been given new clothes and blankets and Mwiza has received a mattress and lots of toys and books to stimulate him and build up his muscles as he reaches for them. A chair is on the next container for him too.

Mum has said to Levison that she is amazed at the difference in Mwiza since the family started to have regular food and he had books and toys to stimulate him. Also, Melise although just 5 has been given a place at primary school as she is very bright. Usually children start primary school in Malawi at age 6. The extra food is obviously helping her concentration and growth and also the books sent for Mwiza will be helping all three of his sisters too. Families like these do not have the luxury of books so children miss out on lots of literacy that our children have from a very young age. It is great that the books that have been donated and sent are having a positive impact already.

This family still need a lot of help and support but the difference so far is great to see. Having the ongoing support of The Foundation and the two sponsors is helping to change these children’s lives. I hope you enjoy looking at the photos and if anyone feels they would like to join the team around this family by sponsoring Thokozani or Eliness then please do contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com Thank you for reading and for all the support we receive helping us to continue Changing Lives Malawi, Sarah x

Some of the most vulnerable children

These are the most vulnerable children and most in need of a sponsor. Can you be a helping hand to one of these children?

Sarah’s blog 5/4/22

I wanted to highlight some of the orphans and vulnerable children that Levison has taken photos of previously. He’s done this as they are some of the most vulnerable and most in need of a sponsor. It’s only £25 per month to sponsor a child and you can do that as an individual, a group or two friends. 85p per day will mean the world to these children.

I’ve highlighted each child with a coloured background because I think they deserve to be seen. They deserve to have the same chances our children have. They deserve to have food, clothes, education. They deserve to reach their potential. They deserve to have a helping hand. They deserve to know that someone cares.

Please…can you be a helping hand to one of these children? It might be one of the most important things you ever do. It might be one of the most rewarding things you ever do. contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com thank you for reading and I hope to hear from some of you and match you with a child. Sarah x

Did you know….. some facts about Malawi

Sarah’s blog 1/4/22

I’ve had a little look round the internet to find some facts and figures that I hope you find interesting. Thanks for reading, Sarah x

Malawi is 118,484 square kms. Malawi stretches about 840km from north to south and varies in width from 10 to 160km.
It is known as the “warm heart of Africa” due to the welcoming nature of it’s people.
It’s capital is Lilongwe and Malawi’s population is approximately 21,200,000.
Malawi is one of the poorest countries in the world. 85% of the population live in rural communities.
Lake Malawi is the third largest fresh water lake in Africa and the ninth largest fresh water lake in the world and is a tourist attraction with it’s beautiful beaches and varied wildlife.
Lake Malawi contains the largest number of fish species of any lake in the world. There are between 500 and 1,000 fish species, and it is home to a vast array of Chichlids. These Chichlids are popular all over the world as aquarium fish because of their bright colours.
High Girl dropout rate from education. In Malawi less than 10% of girls earn a high school diploma. Approximately 20% of school aged girls are prevented from continuing their education or miss one week a month as they lack menstrual health education and access to sanitary pads.
Adult literacy rates (people over 15 years of age) are 62.14% ; male literacy 69.75% and female is only 55.2%
Primary school is compulsory and children start at age 6 for 8 years. Class sizes are on average 75 children per class.
Malawi has one of the highest rates of child marriage in the world, with approximately 1 in 2 girls married and/or raising children by age 18.
Nsima is a staple Malawian food. It is made from ground corn and served with side dishes of meat or vegetables.
The currency is the Malawian Kwacha. Approximately 1,000 mkw = £1.00.

Care packages from sponsors

Sarah’s blog 1/4/22

Sponsoring a child is probably one of the most important things anyone will ever do for them. They will know that someone they have never met cares about them enough to want a better life for them. Sponsor money provides food, education, clothes and shoes for these vulnerable children.

Some sponsors choose to also send gifts for their sponsored child. This isn’t a necessity at all but a choice over and above their sponsorship. Whenever any gifts are sent, Levison will also make sure that any siblings receive some clothes and soap at the same time so they aren’t left out. Here are a few more children who have received gifts recently. NB Amos is still waiting for a sponsor but his sister Roda’s sponsor kindly sent gifts for Roda, Amos and Manuel, their cousin who lives with them. Thank you so much to the sponsors for changing their lives. If you would like to sponsor a child, it’s only £25 per month so please get in touch contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com Thanks for reading, Sarah x

A boy and his backpack

Sarah’s blog 30/3/22

I know I’ve been blogging a lot recently…sorry about that….but not sorry really as there is so much going on and I’m just trying to pass on all the good news stories to our supporters.

This story started last July. A boy at The Foundation making things out of old cardboard boxes. Levison observed what he was doing as he was absorbed in his task. He made himself flipflops and a backpack out of cardboard as he didn’t have real ones.

Asante is a clever boy who loves using his hands to make things. Levison took photos and sent them to me. We decided that he should receive a real backpack of his own. I put a post up to show people what Asante had been making and how good his cardboard rucksack was.

Two ladies, mother and daughter, were quick to offer to sponsor Asante. A while later they put together a parcel for him and he has received it today. Levison told me how happy Asante is and he is very, very thankful. I’ll put up the original photos for you to see what he had made using cardboard and his imagination. Compare those to today’s photos. His smile says it all. Thank you ladies for sponsoring Asante and for making him smile. It’s made my day too. Thanks for reading and supporting us to support the children and continue Changing Lives Malawi, Sarah x

This year’s S3 and S4 students

Sarah’s blog 30/3/22

Here are the thoughts of Angela, Naomi, Chancy and Tamiwe. Education features in most of the young people’s answers to the questions they’ve been asked and it’s interesting that the majority want to be able to help others who are in similar situations to themselves. Hopefully, because of the generosity of their sponsors, they will then pay that forward as adults by providing a helping hand to the vulnerable in their community. Thank you to the sponsors for enabling these young people to have the gift of education. Unfortunately, Angela wasn’t there on the day photos were being taken but we will get another photo of her soon. If you can help us with fundraising, a financial donation or would like to sponsor a young person for £25 per month then email contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com thanks for reading, Sarah x

This year’s S2 students

Sarah’s blog 30/03/22

Yesterday we had an update from the new S1 students so now it’s the turn of those in S2. It’s lovely to see photos of them and to hear their views via answering a few questions. If you are a sponsor then a big THANK YOU as you are making such a difference to the young person you sponsor. You are giving them new opportunities they wouldn’t otherwise have had. You are giving them the gift of education. Their self-esteem is growing because of you. Thank you so much. Hope you enjoy the photos and writing. Thanks for reading, Sarah x

This year’s S1 students

Sarah’s 29/03/22

Whilst the first year students were back from secondary school for the school holidays last week, they each had their photo taken and were asked to write their thoughts by answering a few questions. I hope you find their answers interesting. If you’d like to sponsor a young person to help them achieve their potential then please get in touch contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com it’s only £25 per month to change a child’s life. Thanks, Sarah x

Fundraising – The Kiltwalk

Sarah’s blog 28/3/22

So here’s a reminder that The Kiltwalk is coming up. There are different distances to walk, different locations and dates and even a virtual one. The Hunter Foundation adds 50% onto the total raised. We are one of the registered charities and this could be a big fundraiser for us. The more people who get involved, the more money is raised and the more we can send to Malawi. Please can you and your friends walk for Changing Lives Malawi? Could a couple of families do the Wee Wander? We will help with sharing posts and getting more sponsors for you if you walk for Changing Lives Malawi. Can you help us help the vulnerable children in Northern Malawi? You can register on the Kiltwalk website and make sure you register for our charity. Then let us know and we will start helping you to get sponsors. contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com thanks so much, Sarah x

Author: Sarah Black

Did you know….. some facts about Malawi

Like this:

Care packages from sponsors

Like this:

A boy and his backpack

Like this:

This year’s S3 and S4 students

Like this:

This year’s S2 students

Like this:

Fundraising – The Kiltwalk

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this: