Category: Fundraising Africa

Happy New Year & Happy Birthday

Sarah’s blog 2/1/22

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Happy New Year!! I hope this year brings you all health & happiness.

Levison is busy getting young people ready for going to school this next week and I hope to bring some photos soon of them in their uniform before they set off on their big adventure, thanks to their generous sponsors who have paid for them to continue secondary education.

We still have a few young people waiting to be matched with sponsors so if you can help then please get in touch.

It’s my birthday on 4th January… when you have a birthday straight after Christmas you don’t really need any presents. I was very lucky with all the gifts I received for Christmas. So I wouldn’t usually tell people it’s my birthday but, i thought it might be a nice idea to buy something for the orphans in Malawi if you’d like to. There is an Amazon link at the top of the page or if you are at the supermarket and want to put some bars of soap or toothbrushes, toothpaste or pencils in your trolley, they would be very much appreciated. When there are approximately 800 vulnerable children and young people being supported there are never enough pencils or bars of soap!!

Many thanks and best wishes for 2022, thanks for reading, Sarah x

Goodbye 2021 and Happy New Year

Sarah’s blog 31/12/21

It’s been a busy year and a very mixed year. There have been far more positives to outweigh the negatives so that’s what we are concentrating on. People will be able to see by our actions how hard we are working and how committed we are to changing the lives of the most vulnerable who are supported by The Foundation. We are all part of a team, each with our own skills and talents.

Last January, William Stewart, co-founder of The William Stewart Foundation sadly passed away age 93. His friend and co-founder Levison Mlambya continues to work tirelessly to improve the lives of the most vulnerable in his village. It’s been a hard year for Levison but he continues to support his community to the best of his ability. He is an inspiration to many and is improving hundreds of lives.

William used to send a monthly amount to Malawi to help pay for wages until the Foundation was more self-sufficient. Since last January, it has passed to our charity to cover these payments in addition to other fundraising, the feeding programme and the child sponsorship programme. It’s been hard at times, but we’ve managed. We have successfully negotiated our way through difficult circumstances and the situation in Ibuluma keeps on improving.

Can I tell you what has been a tremendous help during difficult times? Your support. I truly mean that. Whether it has been a kind word or a thumbs up, someone sharing one of our posts, a donation of some books or pencils or a few baby clothes…. it shows that you believe in us and that means the world. We couldn’t send money to feed the children without you. We couldn’t send clothes or books without you. Thank you for believing in us and being a part of our team and helping us to change the lives of the most vulnerable in Malawi.

Next year is going to be even busier as we put any negativity firmly behind us where it belongs and concentrate on each child who needs our help. Each of these hundreds of children has a name. They are individuals, now with hopes and dreams of a better future. A better future involving things we take for granted like food and education. Whether it’s playing football or netball, or helping look after the chickens or learning to sew or painting, each of these children feels safe at the Foundation. They can forget the dire poverty for a little while.

We will continue to help feed them. Help clothe them. Help educate them. Working closely with Levison and his team, we will continue to raise funds for what is most needed to improve the extreme poverty in Ibuluma. £300 has just been sent to buy fruit tree saplings for future food and income. We need to provide more but it’s a good start. An extention is being built to house more chickens, thanks to one of our trustees and artist, Christine Cresswell, who donated the proceeds from the sale of her beautiful paintings.

We have over 80 children and young people matched with sponsors and Levison is currently getting lots of them ready for secondary school next week. 17 boxes of books had been delivered to the local primary school recently with more being on the next container which will go to another primary. Children are enjoying reading books in Emma’s Rainbow Library at The Foundation. Education is the key to a better future for each of these children. A better future for them and their families and future generations. To have helped in a small way to make this happen is a privilege and we are very glad to be in the fortunate position to be able to help. We are fortunate and thankful to have you helping us and being part of the team around these malnourished children.

Have a very Happy New Year. We wish each of you health and happiness in 2022 and look forward to you journeying with us in 2022 to continue Changing Lives Malawi.

Thank you for reading, Sarah & the Team x contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com

How food is making a difference

Sarah’s blog 29/12/21

How many times do we say ‘I’m starving’ or ‘I could eat a horse’. But have any of us actually gone a whole day without any food (unless we’ve been ill)?

Most of the children supported by The William Stewart Foundation don’t eat every day, if they do eat then it’s not a proper meal. The Foundation was originally set up to feed 200+ orphans and vulnerable children in the immediate area. Children were missing school to try to find food/work for a pittance/or they couldn’t afford a pencil to go to school. They were wearing rags. How must that feel to only have one set of clothes that are falling apart? To be cold and dirty as you have no soap to wash your clothes or yourself. To be hungry. To look different. To be an orphan. To have been affected by trauma. Existing, not living. Suffering from malnutrition.

As there are no big agencies feeding children that far north, word spread when The Foundation started feeding the orphans and other vulnerable children once a week. They are fed a substantial meal of maize, beans, vegetables and tomato relish which is the only big meal they get each week. It’s not enough but better than nothing. Soon children were walking from other villages for food, some walking as far as 20km for a meal, then 20km home again. It’s a different world. On average 500 orphans and other vulnerable children turn up for a meal each week. It costs approximately £100 each week to feed these children….a small amount per child but it quickly adds up when you are feeding 500 hungry mouths. Sponsored children receive a monthly food parcel in addition to this. It’s enough to supplement the household food but not to replace it…no one wants the villagers to rely on handouts….the people are proud and want to be self-sufficient, they just need a bit of help as things have been so bad.

Teachers started noticing that these children are more alert and can concentrate, even from one nutritious meal a week….imagine if we could feed them more often? Children’s grades are improving because they can concentrate and aren’t quite so tired and hungry.

Also, children are more confident as they’ve been given new clothes and soap to wash themselves and use the new showers at the Foundation. Teenage girls no longer miss a week of school each month as they hide at home in shame. They now have reusable sanitary towels and new pants. All these things are making a difference to children’s education and education is the key to helping them out of the dire poverty they live in.

These are some of the things I am thinking about for this next year and I’d love to hear if anyone has any ideas of ways that we can provide the children with more food.

  1. Should we ask businesses or individuals to sponsor a week of the feeding programme and have their business name displayed or an individual’s name or message for a birthday for example displayed? This could enable us to provide either food for additional people or to have the food programme running more often.
  2. What about if we found at least 25 people willing to donate £5/£10 per month on an ongoing basis to provide extra food for the feeding programme.
  3. I would love to provide a mug of porridge for the school children every day to start off their learning with food in their tummies. No big agencies are in the area that The Foundation is in. This could happen but again would require an ongoing commitment from a few people to feed all children a mug of porridge. Even a couple of times a week would be better than what they have currently. Can you imagine the exam results in a couple of years time after we’ve donated 17 boxes of reading books and were able to provide porridge in addition to that?

For everything we do, we require help and support. We are all part of a team together, each playing our part and using our skills. If you like any of these ideas and want to be involved or have better or different ideas or can raise some funds then please do get in touch contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com . Thanks for reading, Sarah x

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