Author: Sarah Black

Preparing & Planting

Sarah’s blog 27/12/21

Work never stops at The Foundation. Whether it’s looking after the animals or preparing the fields, farmers the world over will know that there’s always something to do, something to plan ahead for. Over the last few days, the fields have been prepared and today maize and groundnuts have been planted. The rainy season is just starting so it’s the perfect time for planting seeds. As you can see, people are working hard and would love to be self-sufficient. Because there are so many mouths to feed and the situation has been so bad, they need our help for a while.

We have money for approximately 100 fruit tree saplings that have been bought as Christmas gifts for which we are very grateful. Levison will choose which fruit varieties are best to buy for future food and sustainability. Again, this is the perfect time to plant them. If anyone would like to contribute towards seed costs or fruit tree saplings then please do get in touch contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com Even a small donation would help feed the hundreds of malnourished children.

We still have 5 young people looking for a sponsor to help them get to secondary school. Sponsorship is £25 per month and one of the best things you can every do for one of these children. Thank you for reading, Sarah x

We wish you a Merry Christmas!

Sarah’s blog 24/12/21

From the small team of volunteers at Changing Lives Malawi and Levison and his team in Malawi, we all wish you a very happy and peaceful Christmas. Thank you to those of you who have supported us and helped us through the last year.

With your help, we’ve continued support The Foundation to feed over 500 children every week, provided clothes and shoes, books for the library and the local school, provided a monthly donation for the nursery to run, provided money for a shower block, matched more children with sponsors, have more young people attending secondary school, provided clothes and blankets for the babies at the local maternity ward at the health centre. And that’s just a few of the things that have been happening. None of it can happen without you being part of the team and we very much appreciate the role everyone plays.

We still need to get 5 young people matched with sponsors to pay their secondary school fees….if you can help with this then please get in touch contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com With very best wishes and thanks, Sarah x

Christmas Party Time!

Sarah’s blog 23/12/21

Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, over 500 orphans and other vulnerable children were able to have a Christmas party in Ibuluma today.

The children, who all suffer from varying degrees of malnutrition as they don’t eat properly every day, all enjoyed a substantial, nutritious meal cooked by volunteers. Food is always cooked and served in batches as there aren’t enough pots or plates to cope with those numbers.

Games were played and fun was had by all.

Please look at the faces of these children. In the next few days, when we will be eating delicious food and snacks, when we will be exchanging gifts, when people receive far more than they actually need, please remember these children. Look at the joy on some of their faces. This is the spirit of giving at Christmas.

The older children received a pencil and a bar of soap. Thanks to donors for this as even bars of soap for this many children costs a lot of money.

The younger children all received a brightly coloured rain coat as the rainy season has just started. A family, who support the charity, had bought over 100 rain coats in a sale and it’s lovely to see the children receiving these gifts and the joy that receiving a coat for the very first time brings.

600 lollies had been sent on the container so each child received one of these too.

As you can see in some of the photos, the children, cooks and Levison all enjoyed wearing the Christmas hats that were sent by Julian Chenery from Wear a Sports Shirt Day. Thanks Julian for your contribution to the party atmosphere.

If you’d like to contribute to funds to feed the children or provide for them please do get in touch. Links are on our website and Facebook page. There are e-cards and e-gifts available too for last minute gifts. Thanks for reading and enjoy the photos. Sarah x contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com

Last minute gifts & cards?

Sarah’s blog 22/12/21

Don’t panic! We can help. Follow this link to buy lots of e-cards and e-gifts that are meaningful and will make a big difference to the most vulnerable in Northern Malawi. https://www.dontsendmeacard.com/ecards/charities/changing-lives-malawi

Whether you are sending Christmas cards or buying a blanket for a vulnerable orphan or fruit trees to feed the orphans or even a football for the kids to enjoy playing with and forget their problems for a while… there are lots to choose from… and, of course, you’ll be helping our charity! Have a browse and get your last minute gifts. Get in touch if you need any assistance. Thanks for reading, Sarah x

Would you help someone if you could? Would you like someone to help you if you needed help? Actions speak louder than words…please help

Sarah’s blog 21/12/21

The other day I asked for kind people to sponsor 9 young people to go to secondary school. They have passed their primary school leavers exams and have a place at secondary school…..but no sponsor to pay their fees.

Imagine this was your family, living in extreme poverty, the young people have missed lots of school to try to earn a pittance to buy soap or food. No one in the family eats properly every day. The children have one good substantial meal each week at the feeding programme but they are still hungry through the week. Unfortunately, there are no big agencies feeding children in schools that far north. How are the children in your family going to complete their education? How are they ever to get out of the extreme poverty that the village is living in? Some young people are orphans, living with grandparents or older siblings. Some orphans have even been matched with foster families. If this situation is to improve, then education is the key.

Thanks to three sponsors who have come forward, we only have 6 young people left who are desperately needing a helping hand this Christmas. Because the secondary school is so far away, the young people will need to board. So sponsorship will pay for their school fees, boarding, uniform, exercise books, soap, bedding etc and transport to and from school at the start and end of each term.

Please, can you sponsor one of these young people this Christmas? It will be the best present you could ever give them. Can you share the £25 monthly payment with family or a friend? It’s less than 50p per day if you share sponsorship. Please help. Only 6 young people left to be matched with sponsors. Or can you share on social media or tell your friends? This is my Christmas wish that all these young people’s dreams come true and that together we can change their lives for the better. Thanks for reading, Sarah x contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com

Looking for 8 kind people

Sarah’s blog 20/12/21

Yesterday, I put a shout out for sponsors for 9 young people so they could continue their education. Imagine not having the money to send your children or grandchildren to secondary school or to afford their uniform? Despite the fact they have passed their exams, their education is over because of poverty. How are they ever supposed to escape the dire poverty they live in without education?

Thankfully, I’ve managed to match one young person with a sponsor who made contact today….so that leaves 8 to find. I believe that we can do this. Together we can be the team these children and young people need. Their situation is so bad that the villagers don’t eat every day, we need to change that. By being their helping hand we can make changes. The villagers want to be self-sufficient. We believe that they will be but they need us, who are able, to help them.

So what qualities does a sponsor have? You don’t have to be mega rich….although we would be very pleased if you know people like that who can help us. All you need to have is empathy, kindness and compassion. You can be as involved or not as you wish…some sponsors are very invested in the children they sponsor, others are content to hear how they are getting on and give their sponsor money every month. We need YOU to help us please. If you are already a sponsor, can you spread the word at your work, or amongst your friends and family? Or if you would like to sponsor but can’t commit to £25 per month, could you find a friend to split the cost with so you are each only paying £12.50 a month? Can you share our posts? 8 young people need our help….that isn’t a lot but when you are desperate for someone to take a chance on you it seems impossible.

So can you take a chance on one of our young people please? Can you give the gift of education for £12.50 or £25 per month and change a child’s life and improve the future of a whole village? We would love you to be part of the team that supports these children. Please find a small place in your heart for one of them. contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com the new school term starts in January. This could be the best gift you ever give. Thanks for reading, Sarah x

Fourth Sunday in Advent and 9 young people needing your help please

Sarah’s blog 29/12/21

The fourth advent candle is often called the Angel Candle, announcing the birth of Jesus. Also the theme is peace and joy. We wish all our supporters a peaceful and Happy Christmas and thank you for your continued help.

Linking with the Angel Candle theme, we are looking for 9 angels….people who have it in their hearts to help us change the lives of 9 young people. They have passed their primary school leavers exams, have got a place at secondary school but have no hope of a better future as they have no sponsor to pay their fees. If you are able to spare £25 per month (less than £1 per day) to change the direction of the lives of these young people, they and we would be so grateful.

You can sponsor as an individual, split the cost with a friend or family or through your business and, for that young person, it will be one of the most important things you will ever do.

Education is the key to changing the future of the community in Ibuluma where The Foundation is. Young people don’t usually go to high school. No one can afford it. People find piece work where they can. They are untrained and mostly unskilled. They have to take what work they can to try to feed their families. Traditionally, children miss school to help bring a pittance into the family home to try to buy some food or soap. People aren’t eating properly every day. Most suffer from malnutrition. This can change. With your help. Education and skills can change this community….with your kindness and support. The community wants to be self-sufficient. Things have just got so bad that they need a helping hand. We are the fortunate ones. We can be that helping hand.

The young people needing a sponsor to change their lives are; Steria Msachi, Margaret Ng’ambi, Lawrence Mwale, Lameck Ng’ambi, Richman Nyondo, Benjamin Sibale, Brian Sichamba, Elisha Sichamba, Stanley Sinkhala. Do you have it in your heart to help change the lives of one of these young people? contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com thanks for reading, Sarah x

Congratulations on passing your exams!

Sarah’s blog 17/12/21

The exam results were published yesterday for the young people who have just finished primary school. The results were very good. Most of the sponsored young people passed and will be starting secondary school on 3rd January. There are young people who passed their exams who aren’t sponsored, so their education is over unless they can be matched with sponsors. It’s heartbreaking to see a list of children who have passed but cannot access secondary school purely because of their backgrounds, because they live in poverty. Every child should be supported by adults to be the best they can be. I hope we can match some more of these young people with sponsors to continue changing lives.

The fact that sponsored children have passed these exams is amazing. It shows how much they value education. All have missed school due to having to earn money to try to buy food. All do not eat properly every day, most went days without food until being sponsored. How can you concentrate when hungry? When you only have rags to wear and feel shame? SPONSORSHIP IS CHANGING LIVES IN MALAWI. SPONSORSHIP IS GIVING THE GIFT OF EDUCATION AND IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS YOU WILL EVER DO FOR A YOUNG PERSON.

For the three sponsored girls who sadly did not pass their primary school leavers exams this time, their sponsors have been contacted and have kindly agreed to continue supporting them to resit their last year at primary school. The fact that they have the extra support, a monthly food parcel as well as the feeding programme and stationery for school, will hopefully mean they have what they need to get to secondary school next year.

I’ll do another post when I know which secondary school each young person is going to. Thank you to the sponsors for their support. These young people are lucky to have a team supporting them….we couldn’t do it without you. Together we are Changing Lives Malawi. Thanks for reading, Sarah x

Did you know…..?

Sarah’s blog 15/12/21

I thought another few facts might be helpful as sometimes I forget that not everyone has seen all the posts from the past couple of years. If you ever want to know about anything in particular then please let me know and if I don’t know then I’ll try and find out for you.

  1. Approximately 800 orphans and other vulnerable young people are supported by The William Stewart Foundation in rural Northern Malawi.
  2. The age range is from age 4 to early 20s.
  3. There are no other big agencies feeding children in that area.
  4. Most children suffer from malnutrition and their one substantial, nutritious meal of the week is at the Foundation.
  5. At the moment we can only afford to run the feeding programme once a week.
  6. It costs approximately £100 to feed 500 children and young people.
  7. We fundraise for The William Stewart Foundation and raise awareness of the wonderful work going on to improve the lives of the most vulnerable.
  8. The cost of maize, cooking oil and so many other things have risen in Malawi recently.
  9. Changing Lives Malawi is a small group of 7 volunteer trustees, with a few others who help us, trying hard to change these children’s lives for the better.
  10. We have over 70 children and young people matched with sponsors now but there are many more waiting in desperate need. It only costs £25 per month to give a child the gift of secondary education and food.
  11. Nursery schools and secondary schools charge fees in Malawi and the majority only attend primary school.
  12. Dependant on exam results, there are 36 young people whom the Foundation supports and who now have sponsors, who will be going to secondary school in January. Before the Foundation, and sponsorship, young people didn’t go to secondary school. This is a huge achievement and is something to celebrate.
  13. Changing Lives Malawi sends money from a donation to The Foundation each month to help run the nursery for 50 children age 4-6. This meets 3 times a week and the children are given some food at each session.
  14. A clean water supply has been installed and a shower block thanks to fundraising and generous donations.
  15. We are looking for your help. Can you buy some e-cards or e-gifts? Providing a football will make a big difference as will fruit tree saplings to provide future food and income. Can you share our posts? Do you have a jar of coins or a drawer full of coins that you could donate to us please? As there are so many orphans, vulnerable young people and the elderly needing help and support, it does cost a lot to feed and support them until the Foundation becomes more self-sufficient. But we do not take any money for admin costs here…all the money you donate is used and the small team of volunteers cover the cost of petrol for taking boxes to the container, buying boxes and buying certain things to send.
  16. We are fully committed to the Foundation that the late William Stewart and Levison Mlambya founded. It is amazing what has been achieved in a few short years. So much has been done but there is so much more still to do to change the lives of some of the most vulnerable people in the world. Will you join us on this journey? Whether you have £5 to spare or £25 per month, we need you to help us please. It’s about being part of a team of helpers and we’d love you to help us Changing Lives Malawi. Thanks for reading, Sarah x contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com

Waiting for exam results

Sarah’s blog 14/12/21

Four of our sponsored girls (Telinah, Jean, Milliam & Dinales) have all left school now and are busy helping at The Foundation until their exam results are announced in the new year. They can then decide if they want to stay and work at The Foundation, get a job elsewhere or if they want us to try to help them into further education.

36 sponsored young people will be heading to secondary school in January. This includes 22 who have just finished primary school. As long as they pass their exams, which should be out later this week, 22 will be starting first year, 12 young people will be going into second year and 2 into fourth year. This is a huge achievement for a village where it was just accepted that children and young people do not get the chance to go to secondary school. This is one of the many ways that sponsors are helping to change the lives of these young people. SPONSORING A CHILD gives the gift of education and gives these young people chances that they never thought were meant for them. Sponsoring a child is probably one of the most important things you will ever do. £25 per month can change the future for a young person. We still have lots of primary school leavers whom we haven’t found sponsors for yet, so if you can help as an individual, two friends, a family or a business then please do get in touch contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com

As soon as Levison hears exam results and that all our children have passed we have a big list of shopping to get. Uniforms, shoes, bedding, buckets for washing clothes, bags, plates, cups, towels, flip-flops, soap, exercise books and pens and the list goes on…… Usually, the school term starts in February but this time it’s January 3rd to catch up from schools being closed due to covid last year. So if you do have £25 to spare (or two friends with £12.50 each) could you give one of these children, who still don’t have sponsors, the gift of education? Thanks for reading, Sarah x

The Third Sunday in Advent

Sarah’s blog 12/12/21

There’s been no rushing around for me shopping and meeting people this advent season. I am so grateful for the care and attention I received from all the NHS staff when I was in hospital recently, but it’s going to be a while before I’ll be back to normal…whatever normal is!

Advent season is about waiting and reflecting and the third Sunday is about love. Who do we love and care about? How do people know that we love and/or care about them? Hopefully, by our actions. Also by our kind words.

How do the hundreds of orphans and vulnerable children supported by The William Stewart Foundation know they are loved and cared about? by our actions. A new football means the world to them. A blanket for two children to share to help keep them warm at night. Reusable sanitary towels, pants and soap giving a teenage girl her dignity back and enabling her to attend school all month like her male peers. There are so many ways we can show these children that they are important and cared about.

So in this season of giving, we would be so grateful for an extra football, or a blanket, or soap for the children. Can you help feed them an extra meal or provide some fruit tree saplings. By your actions they will know they are loved and not forgotten. Thank you for reading and supporting us. You can donate through our website, or by contacting us contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com or through the link below. Thanks for reading, Sarah x

https://www.dontsendmeacard.com/ecards/charities/changing-lives-malawi

Sit back & relax & shop with us

Sarah’s blog 11/12/21

We never have as much time as we think we do at this time of year, there’s always an extra couple of gifts that we hadn’t thought of, or what do you buy for the person who has everything? Do you really want to sit and write 50 Christmas cards?

Relax. Here’s how we can help.

https://www.dontsendmeacard.com/ecards/charities/changing-lives-malawi

By following that link, you will see the great selection of e-cards that have been uploaded. So you simply pick your card design and the amount you wish to pay and put in the recipient’s details and it will email a card to them from you. There is also the option of sending the same card to lots of people, saving you so much time and effort and, of course, people know you are supporting the orphans and vulnerable children in Northern Malawi with any purchase.

All of our e-gifts are available by following that link too. So you could buy a child a wind-up torch so they can see to do their homework for £5, or buy a blanket for a vulnerable child for £5, a football for £10, soap for 100 children for £50, a meal for 500 children for £100 and as many fruit tree saplings as you want starting at £10 for 4. All the quantities can be altered to suit your gift needs, but every single purchase is going to make a meaningful difference to the hundreds of orphans and vulnerable children we support in rural northern Malawi.

If you aren’t very computer literate….that’s ok. Let us know what you’d like and we will help you tick off your list! Together we can change lives. contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com . Thanks for reading, Sarah x