I always loved going to the shop to choose a new pencil case and pens & pencils for going back to school. I don’t ever remember getting as excited over a new school bag as these students!
I love seeing the joy in their faces. They have been given a gift that they’ve never had before. Things we take for granted are so precious to them. These photos that Levison sent from this afternoon are amazing and I hope they make you smile like they have made me smile.
Seeing these vulnerable children happy and achieving and having choices they previously wouldn’t have had is what makes the hard work worthwhile.
We do need your help to continue supporting these students and the next group of students each year. With your help we can change lives. With your help we can make a difference. With your help they can have brighter futures. https://gofund.me/44a92444 if you are able to donate to our school fundraiser for the next two classrooms, or email me if you can help with a one off or a monthly donation to help provide free school meals contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com thanks for reading, Sarah x
I wrote the following on my personal page last night… and am very thankful for all that has been achieved and will continue to be achieved through determination, hard work, teamwork, trust and truth, and the help of our supporters.
These photos could be from a school anywhere in the world. From these photos we cannot tell how big the school is, how new the school is, which country it’s in or how well off or poor the children and their families are. We cannot tell how much trauma they have been through, whether they have parents or are orphans living with extended family. We cannot tell whether they have eaten more than the one free school meal they have at school each day. That’s exactly how it should be.
As I keep saying, our little charity runs on a shoestring and, because we are volunteers, takes no money for salaries or admin whatsoever. All money goes to the projects we support. We have had to accept that the building of a school was going to have to happen in stages because of costs involved. I also keep saying that it’s all about teamwork. Some might have time, talents or contacts or spare money. All of us have care and compassion.
Phase 1 of Bright Futures Secondary School opened on 7/11/22. It has been such hard work, here and in Malawi. But we’ve achieved. Two classrooms have been built. Staff accommodation has been built. Desks have been made. Tables and chairs arrived on the container. School uniform and school equipment arrived on the container. Levison bought some basic science equipment when he was in Mzuzu. (We will buy more when funds are available).
There is so so much more to do for which we are relying on the generosity of others. But we are achieving. We are Changing Lives Malawi. These children are not to be pitied. They only require to be nurtured. Education is their way out of poverty. Bright Futures Secondary School will provide them with brighter futures.
I was feeling overwhelmed earlier on today as it has been busy and stressful but I went for a little sleep and am feeling much better now and that’s what prompted me to write this.
I am so proud of our charity and the small team of volunteers and I want to thank them all. I want to thank everyone who supports us and makes everything possible. We couldn’t do what we do without you. However, there is one person who has worked harder, longer hours than anyone else, in order to see his dream become a reality. He was one of these children. He has achieved and wants the same for each and every one of these vulnerable children.
So I just want to say Levison Mlambya I am so proud of you. Look what has been achieved for the children. We are a good team. Thank you all. If you would like to help then please email or message me contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com www.changinglivesmalawi.com or donate at https://gofund.me/44a92444 and feel free to spread the word by sharing this post and others. Thanks, Sarah x
The teenage boys and girls have been working with the new science equipment that was bought at the weekend when Levison was in Mzuzu.
With the money that was available, he was only able to buy the bare minimum but it is a start. We do need to find funds for more expensive items like microscopes so if anyone would like to contribute towards buying more science equipment then it would be very much appreciated or if you are local to me and have a microscope that is no longer needed then please let me know contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com
I have put the links in to our Christmas fundraising – there are still some calendars available to purchase at £10 each plus £2 p&p, we have alternative gift cards as well as cards and paintings to purchase. Why not put a loved one’s name on one of the buildings at The Foundation as a Christmas gift? Any donation over £500 can do this….. a unique gift!
We must keep our fundraising efforts going to ensure that phase 2 of Bright Futures Secondary School will be built next year. So if you can help then please either email me of donate here https://gofund.me/44a92444 One classroom costs approximately £10,000 to build, so it’s a big ask but we know that together we can make this happen for the children. Thanks for your support and enjoy these photos of the boys and girls at Bright Futures Secondary School, Sarah x
These are the photos we are very excited to show you. Now that the boxes, tables & chairs have arrived safely from the container, we have lots of photos that have been taken this morning.
Students at Bright Futures Secondary School are starting class exams today and these will continue over the next few days. Malawi is 2 hours ahead of us and the young people were delighted to be met with gifts of new uniform before school started for the day. The classrooms are looking brilliant with the addition of the new desks in one classroom, tables in the other classroom (that will be replaced by individual desks) and new chairs in both classrooms.
These young people do have Brighter Futures at Bright Futures Secondary School. This school was only a dream this time last year and look what has been achieved with your help. Thank you so much to all involved in helping this to happen for these children. We need to keep looking ahead and are still fundraising for classrooms 3 & 4 so if you can help us, it would be very much appreciated. https://gofund.me/ece5753a or email contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com I keep saying that it is always about teamwork and these vulnerable children need us as the team around them to ensure their futures are brighter and that we continue to be able to change their lives.
To all the students – we are very proud of you. Good luck in your exams and try your best. You can achieve and you will achieve, and you will have chances and choices open to you.
Thank you for reading and supporting us to help the vulnerable children. Hope you enjoy the photos, Sarah x
I have saved writing this until I knew that Levison and his two helpers were back at The Foundation safely.
On Thursday afternoon, they left Ibuluma (in the very far north) to travel to Ekwendeni (near Mzuzu) where the Bananabox Trust container gets unloaded. The message was sent that the container was arriving on Friday morning, so off they set.
They travelled to Karonga firstly then onto Mzuzu where they were able to purchase a small amount of science equipment for Bright Futures Secondary School before being at Ekwendeni for the container being opened and unloaded. The roads, and the fact that it is now the rainy season, slows everything down and they have to travel slowly and carefully.
We had sent more aid on container number 10 as we were offered chairs for Bright Futures Secondary School so there was always going to have to be two journeys made; one with boxes and one with 8 tables and 130 chairs.
The plan was that the driver and assistant took the boxes back on Friday to Ibuluma whilst Levison stayed with the chairs and tables and that the truck would return for him on Saturday. Unfortunately, due to heavy rain, they didn’t make it as far as Ibuluma on Friday night because the roads were unsafe. A safe place was found for all the boxes in Chitipa. The truck then went back to Ekwendeni on Saturday. However, as they didn’t arrive until late, they had to stay overnight and set off with the chairs and tables on Sunday. Again, because of heavy rain, they got as far as Chitipa and slept in the truck and completed the journey to Ibuluma on Monday morning.
The teenagers from Bright Futures Secondary School helped to unload the chairs and tables and were amazed to see the lovely chairs. Levison and the driver then went back to Chitipa to collect the desks that the carpenter had made for one of the classrooms. They brought those back safely and intended to go back to collect all the boxes, however it started raining heavily again. They decided it was safer to have a good night’s sleep and to set off early this morning to collect the boxes. Plans had to change again. The roads weren’t safe to travel because of the rain until mid-morning. Finally, the boxes were collected, and they headed to fill up with diesel before heading back to Ibuluma. Another twist in the tale….no diesel. However, they were told it was on it’s way. So, more waiting.
We really don’t realise how difficult things can be when trying to make plans. The rural location of The Foundation, in the far north of Malawi certainly puts it at a disadvantage and also the community are at a disadvantage too. Fuel is expensive. There are no big agencies feeding children in schools in that area at all. They are very much forgotten. This is why the work that The Foundation does is so important. Children are hungry. Children need education. Children need clothes. Children need a helping hand. Hundreds and hundreds of vulnerable children who need our help to a brighter future and need you to help change their lives for the better.
After a long wait for diesel, they were finally able to fill up and travel slowly but safely back to the Foundation at 9.30pm. Good job done everyone and thank you to everyone who has been involved whether you’ve donated goods, money, packed boxes, driven boxes to Dundee, thanks to our friends at The Bananabox Trust for the work they do itemising everything and packing the container. Another successful mission completed to help some of the most vulnerable people in rural northern Malawi.
Some of the chairs we sentA lot of boxes on the truck!Levison at EkwendeniThe chairs arriving at The Foundation and some of the teens helping unload8 tables and 130 chairs have arrived safelyThere has been lots of heavy rainTeenagers helping to unload all the chairsThe new desks that the carpenter has madeArriving safely with all the boxeshelping to bring all the boxes in safelyA job well done!
“It is absolutely clear that we need to regain the universality of human rights, the indivisibility of human rights, and we need to find a new energy that motivates young people around the world.” Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
What are human rights? Human rights are rights we have simply because we exist as human beings – they are not granted by any state. These universal rights are inherent to us all, regardless of nationality, sex, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, language, or any other status. They range from the most fundamental – the right to life – to those that make life worth living, such as the rights to food, education, work, health, and liberty.
These rights must be considered in any planning for the projects we support. As Malawi is one of the world’s least developed and poorest countries, we are helping ensure basic needs are met first and foremost. However, self-sufficiency and sustainability are always the end goals.
Feeding Programme – All of the 500+ children who are supported are suffering from malnutrition to varying degrees. All are hungry. All don’t have enough food. Unfortunately, there are no big agencies feeding children in this part of rural far north of Malawi. Children are walking up to 20kms to receive a substantial, nutritious meal once a week at The Foundation. This is the only decent meal of week for the majority of these children. We can only afford to send money to support the feeding programme once a week….can you make a monthly contribution of £5 or £10 to help us feed them more often? contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com
Nursery – Up to seventy-five nursery children are fed each time they meet – could you make a monthly contribution of £5 or £10 to ensure this continues? contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com
Bright Futures Secondary School – education is the way out of poverty and a way to a brighter future for these children. As well as providing free education for those most in need, we are providing a free school lunch for them in order that they are fed each day and that they can concentrate on their studies. They are all given blankets to help them sleep better at night and the equipment they need for school. Can you help us support free school meals at Bright Futures Secondary School by making a monthly contribution of £5 or £10 please? contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com If you would like to contribute to the building of classroom 3 and 4 of Bright Futures Secondary School then you can either email me or donate here https://gofund.me/44a92444
Period Poverty Project – teenage girls were having to miss a week of school every month. However, now they have equality and dignity. All girls have been gifted a drawstring bag containing; 3 pairs of pants, 5 reusable sanitary pads, soap and a health information leaflet. The bags and the sanitary pads have been made by some of the teenage girls using the hand turn sewing machines we sent, learning sewing skills for their futures.
Child Sponsorship Project – Girls who were most at risk of child marriage have been matched with sponsors, ensuring they have welfare checks, education and more food coming into their homes each month. Other vulnerable children have been matched with sponsors and are benefitting from this scheme. However, there are many more children who would love to have a sponsor to give them a helping hand. If you would like to become a sponsor it is only £25 per month and you can split this cost with a friend. contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com
The Library – Giving children and young people access to a wide variety of books and information.
The School Literacy Project – how can children learn to read without books to practice with? We are sending boxes of books to the primary schools surrounding the Foundation in order to support literacy.
Clean Water – a clean water supply and shower block are now at The Foundation for all the children to use.
Play – these very vulnerable children, many of whom are orphans, have missed out on the childhood they should have had. Many have lost family members, they have all been hungry and suffer from malnutrition, some have missed a lot of school to work for a pittance to buy some food. All have had a difficult childhood. However, they know that The Foundation is their safe place. They have people who care about them. They have time to be with their friends. They can sit and chat, read books, play or take part in organised team sports, rugby, netball and football. They are given choices. There are opportunities to learn skills for life. These children are important. They need to be nurtured and their achievements celebrated.
I could go on – sorry – but I won’t. I’m sure you will find the thread of human rights and children’s rights in particular through the various blogs and photographs from Malawi. Can you continue to help us to keep supporting these children? Thank you for reading, Sarah x
There is so much going on both in Malawi and here, so I thought I would do a quick update.
Our charity accounts and trustees’ report have been completed and filed with OSCR. We now have three years of completed accounts and our charity is progressing well, thanks to all the support we have received. More grants can be applied for as many organisations require three years accounts from applicants.
I am continuing to try to raise funds to support the projects; education and feeding the orphans continue to be our priorities; and we must reach more people to try to get more awareness and more support to ensure that children are fed and that phase 2 of Bright Futures Secondary School can be built next year. If you would like to contribute to the school project the link is here https://gofund.me/44a92444 or you can email contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com Why not make a monthly donation to support the feeding of 500+ orphans? Or if you are in a position to gift £500 or more then you can have your name, a name or your choice or your business name above a classroom door or one of the other new buildings.
Fundraising calendars – I still have some available. These make great Christmas gifts. These are only £10 plus £2 p&p. As one of our trustees paid for these to be printed, all of the £10 will go towards Bright Futures Secondary School. We have alternative gift cards available, paintings and packs of cards by Christine Cresswell one of our trustees who has donated her time and talents to raise funds for our charity. Have a look and see what you can buy for Christmas without leaving the house! The link to all the fundraising items is in a previous blog post here Christmas Cards & Gifts – Changing Lives Malawi
The container is due in Ekwendeni any day now. Levison is just waiting for confirmation then he will be travelling south to collect the boxes and chairs that we sent. Thank you to everyone who donated items to be sent. There will be great excitement when the chairs and the boxes arrive.
Government schools will close for the Christmas holidays on 16th December. Because Bright Futures Secondary School was a bit late opening, due to having to raise funds as we go, the teachers have kindly suggested that the school remains open for an extra few days. So, the last day of term at Bright Futures Secondary School will be 21st December and a Christmas party, for all the 500+ orphans and other vulnerable children, will be held on 22nd December which they are all very much looking forward to. We thank the generous donors who gifted money to feed the children an extra time to enable there to be a party.
Desks for the classrooms are being made thanks to donations we have received. If you would like to purchase a desk for use by a student, they are £20 each.
As it has been so busy, unfortunately, we have not had as many updates about sponsored children as we would have liked. I have now linked with one of the teachers who will work with me to remedy this and sponsors will be able to hear from their sponsored children a lot more regularly.
If you would like me to come and talk at your club, church or school (or for any event) I’d love to hear from you. I have a laptop, projector and screen and lots of photos to show!
Thank you for reading and supporting us, Sarah x
Our fundraising calendar will make a great Christmas gift – £10 each (all of the £10 goes towards the school project) plus £2 p&pSome of the school desks – £20 eachThe front of the alternative gift cardInside the alternative gift card – just circle or tick the gift you are wishing to purchase. A football is £10, 4 fruit tree saplings £10, soap for 100 children £40 and transportation of a box of books is £20 contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com
We couldn’t help the hundreds of orphans and other vulnerable children we support without the help of our wonderful supporters. We always say it’s about teamwork and we each have our own skills and ways that we can make a difference. That might be volunteering your time, your talents, sponsoring a child or making a one off or regular monitory donation. We need each and every one of you. The children need you. They now have hope and a brighter future because of you. Thank you.
We have been overwhelmed with the support we have received when fundraising to build phase 1 of Bright Futures Secondary School. We said that if anyone donated £500 or over towards the building of the school, they could name a classroom if they wanted to. The two classrooms have been named; Form 1 is named after a girl called Shona and Form 2 is named after Professor Derek Knottenbelt. Thank you very much for your support and help with enabling phase 1 of Bright Futures Secondary School to be built so quickly.
We currently have a new latrine block that needs sponsoring….would you like your company advertised on the wall? And the staff house needs to be named after someone or a business… as the house is split in two, there are two opportunities to have your name painted on one of the walls. If you would like to donate £500 or more, we would be very grateful, and you can let us know what name you would like to be displayed on your behalf. contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com
The fundraiser for phase 2 of Bright Futures Secondary School is open and we would welcome any donations https://gofund.me/44a92444
Thank you for reading and for all your support. It really is a team effort, and we couldn’t help so many vulnerable children without you. As there are no admin costs or salaries in our charity, 100% of what you give goes to the projects we support. Therefore, despite always being on a shoestring, we make the most of what money we have. That’s why your support is vital and very much appreciated. Thanks, Sarah x
It’s been another busy day for Levison. In preparation for the long journey to collect the boxes from the next container, which will hopefully be arriving very soon, Levison took the truck to get two new batteries today.
He also called in at the carpenter who is making some desks for one of the classrooms. We were delighted to have received a donation towards these desks and, as always, we are very grateful for the support. The carpenter agreed to make the desks for £20 each and they will be ready for collection on Tuesday. If anyone would like to purchase a desk for the other classroom, then please do let me know. contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com 130 chairs are in the container that is arriving very soon, so the school is really taking shape and pupils will have more uniform and school bags.
There is still a lot to buy and also continuous costs for Bright Futures Secondary School, so here is the link for our fundraiser https://gofund.me/44a92444 if you would like to make a donation. We are hoping that the builder will be back at The Foundation this week to start measuring out the area for the next classroom block.
Here is the link to the post about our fundraising gifts and cards. We still have some of our lovely calendars for sale and they would make a great gift at only £10 plus £2 p&p with all money going to the school project. Christmas Cards & Gifts – Changing Lives Malawi I hope everyone is having a good weekend and thank you again for supporting us to help the vulnerable children in Malawi. Thanks, Sarah x
We recycled a couple of old trampoline frames and sent them on the container to be used to help build a polytunnel.
Agriculture is one of the subjects on the curriculum in Malawi and, with their teacher, the young people have made the polytunnel and planted mustard, tomatoes and onion. I think it looks very impressive and, hopefully, the food will be able to be used for school lunches at Bright Futures Secondary School.
This is an opportunity that these teenagers have had to learn more skills for life and a better brighter future. How amazing to be able to grow your own food successfully and feed yourself and your friends. Hope you enjoy looking at the photos and thank you for your support, Sarah x
As we are now fundraising for phase 2 (classrooms 3 & 4) here is the link to the fundraiser https://gofund.me/ece5753a If anyone is in a position to donate £500 or more then you can have your name, the name of a loved one or your business name displayed on a building or over a classroom door. Thank you. contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com
At the nursery today, Levison was able to gift some resources that had been sent. There were books and balls to be kept in nursery to be used whilst the children are there.
When the next container arrives (hopefully very soon) there are gift bags to be given to each of the children. Each child will receive a gym bag containing; a blanket, 2 red t-shirts, 3 pairs of pants, soap, toothbrush & toothpaste and a book. This will be an ongoing project so that, in future, whenever a child starts nursery, they will be given a gift bag, and we will have a record of every child who has been given these gifts.
The books that have been donated to the nursery and that will be gifted to each child to take home, form part of The Literacy Project. The children will learn about looking at pictures, turning pages and that the words tell the story. We hope that this will help with learning to read and also that books can be read every day for enjoyment and fact finding. We want every family to have at least one book in their home and, hopefully, older children can read to their younger siblings and adults. If some adults struggle with reading, we aim to have literacy classes for them too.
Although I was glad to see these resources being given to the nursery, I feel really quite sad looking at these photos. I have enlarged some of the photos to pick out three children that I noticed. All of the 500+ orphans and other vulnerable children we help to support, through a variety of projects, are malnourished to varying degrees. These children that I have highlighted have stunted growth and one has an enlarged tummy due to malnutrition. Prices of maize and other food are rising. Families are really struggling. Levison suspects that most of these children are only eating when they are fed at nursery and when they attend the weekly feeding programme.
There are no other charities or agencies feeding children in this area. Feed The Children Charity do occasionally donate some porridge for the nursery children; however, it doesn’t last long. Children walk for up to 20km to receive one substantial nutritious meal from the feeding programme once a week. We wish we had more money to be able to feed the children more often. It’s a huge responsibility trying to fundraise for food for over 500 children.
It costs approx £125 per week to run the feeding programme once a week for 500 children. The nursery children must be fed too. This is approx £50 per week. Bright Futures Secondary School is approx £100 per week to provide nutritious lunches each day. It would really help us and help the children if we had several people committing to pay a small amount of money each month to support feeding the children. If you can spare even £5 or £10 per month then you would be making a big difference. The children need more food. The children need you to help us support them. If other people, all pay a little amount each month then we can feed these malnourished children more often. Please email for bank details contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com
Thank you so much for reading and supporting us to continue helping the hundreds of vulnerable children in rural northern Malawi, Sarah x
A huge THANK YOU to everyone who helps us to support the hundreds of orphans and vulnerable children in rural northern Malawi.
As today is Giving Tuesday, please could we ask that you donate to our charity if you are able?
These are our current priorities, and any donation of any amount WILL make a difference.
To provide a Christmas Lunch for all the children at the feeding programme so they have an extra meal and party – £150
To provide a bar of soap for all the children at Christmas (we have already sent enough pencils for a pencil each) – £200
Bright Futures Secondary School – to provide more desks -£500
Bright Futures Secondary School – to provide more textbooks – £2,000
Bright Futures Secondary School – to provide science equipment – £500
Bright Futures Secondary School – free school lunches – to provide a one-off donation or regular monthly amount towards school lunches – approx £400 per month. Any amount will make a difference to these vulnerable teenagers.
Whatever you are able to give will be very much appreciated. The hundreds of orphans and vulnerable children who we help to support need to know that people care about them. We want for them the same chances, choices and opportunities as our own children have. We want them to succeed and be the best they can be. Will you help us? Together we can make a difference. Together we can help these children out of poverty and onto a brighter future. What can you do today? email contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com for bank details.
The photos below are from last year’s Christmas Party. A donation from Strathblane Guild paid for the food and Julian from Wear a Sports Shirt Day sent the Christmas hats. Can you help us provide a Christmas Party this year? Or make a donation towards Bright Futures Secondary School? Thank you in advance for your support. Hundreds of children will know that people care about them. Thank you for helping us continue Changing Lives in Malawi, Sarah x
