Today’s blog is about tree planting taking place at Bright Futures Secondary School as part of their agriculture course. This is an ongoing project so financial donations are always very welcome.
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Sarah’s blog 4/2/26
Last week, students at Bright Futures Secondary School have again been busy tree planting. It would have been hard work digging holes for 120 saplings. On this occasion the tree planting was for pine and acacia.
They are keen to take responsibility for their environment. This will help prevent future soil erosion and replace trees that have been cut down. Of course students want to help with the climate crisis. The tree planting was part of their agricultural lessons which are a core subject in the Malawian curriculum.
Soon they will be planting other types of saplings and we will share photos when that happens. We are grateful to the agriculture teachers at Bright Futures Secondary School for all the extra work they do to support their students. Of course, we are proud of the students and pleased to see them contributing in such a positive way to their community.
Thank you also to everyone who has donated money over the past year to support their tree planting project. As it’s the rainy season now, the ground is easier to dig and plant. Also the saplings won’t dry out so have a better chance of survival. So this is always the best time for planting saplings even though we are fundraising for this project all year round.
If anyone would like to make a donation then please do get in touch. contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com for bank details or you can donate via our website or our QR code. If you would like to donate in memory of a loved one then we are happy to make a sign to place in part of the orchard. Or for a special birthday or anniversary?
Or would your business like to contribute to this project and have some advertising in the orchard? We’d love to partner with any nurseries/garden centres/Christmas tree farms.
Thank you again everyone. Enjoy the photos, Sarah x
One of the teachers and a student planting a saplingstudents holding tree saplings prior to plantinga student planting a pine tree saplingyou can see the rain clouds in the distance
Stuart and I made a donation to buy fruit tree saplings a few years ago in memory of his lovely mum. If anyone else would like a name on a sign and make a donation to the orchard then please do get in touch.
It is International Day of Education. Every young person deserves an education and to be the best they can be. Today’s blog shares photos from our projects.
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Sarah’s blog 24/1/26
Today is International Day of Education. I’m sharing some photos that reflect some of the projects and young people we are helping to support. There is still much to do. But, thanks to the help of our supporters, young people in rural Northern Malawi have a brighter and better future. It is always about teamwork and we’d love you to join our team of supporters. You can help enable even more young people to reach their potential on International Day of Education.
These are just a few of the ways we are involved in supporting the education of the most vulnerable children and young people. If you would like to help then please do get in touch contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com or you can donate via our website. On International Day of Education will you help a child succeed? Together, we can give young people more opportunities and support education. These children are amazing and want to succeed. They want to learn and are hard workers. They just need a helping hand.
Also, I am visiting Malawi for the first time this summer and am getting very excited about my trip. Here is a fundraiser and I’d be grateful if anyone would like to make a small donation. It is to help some of the projects which I will be helping during my visit. https://gofund.me/db5496892 As always, a big THANK YOU for all the support and help we receive, Sarah x
Literacy at Chambo Primary School and Kalanga Primary School is improving thanks to the preloved books we have sent as part of the School Literacy Project. Students are becoming more confident readers now they have a range of books to read and exam pass rates are rising.Young people have been involved in planting fruit tree saplings and pine trees, supporting their education, giving them skills for life and planting future food. Students at Chambo Primary School were delighted to receive notebooks and pensWe have matched some of the most vulnerable children with sponsors and they receive a food parcel each month. Children cannot learn if they are suffering from malnutrition. Unfortunately, the food crisis in Malawi is getting worse.Thanks to everyone who has supported the building of Bright Futures Secondary School. There are now 5 classrooms and a dedicated classroom for Bright Futures Nursery.The newest classroom block has a classroom dedicated to sewing and textiles and another classroom for Bright Futures NurseryChildren walk for miles as they are so hungry and know that they will receive a proper meal once a week at the feeding programme. We need your support to continue feeding them with rising food costs and scarcity of food.There was great excitement when the first boxes of preloved books arrivedStudents at Bright Futures Secondary School have designed and built their first beehive and are now waiting for the bees to move inStudents are learning skills for life at Bright Futures Secondary School. They are also supporting the Period Poverty Project by making reusable sanitary towels for all who need them to ensure girls do not miss school for one week each month.Some of the science equipment bought with a grant received from The Clive Richards Foundation for Bright Futures Secondary SchoolPeriodically, children are given clothes that we have sent. These children in red tops attend Bright Futures Nursery.Students at Bright Futures Secondary School receive free education and free school lunch thanks to their sponsors. They also receive free school uniform, stationery, water bottle, school bag and shoes all free of charge. The more vulnerable teenagers we can match with sponsors, the more teenagers can be helped through education.Happy students with their gifts. They have also received toothbrush, toothpaste and soap.We helped with the introduction of rugby to the north of Malawi. Young people are enjoying learning and playing a new sport.Thanks to the many clubs who have donated preloved sports kit, making a difference to the confidence and self-esteem of hundreds of young people who are now proud to be part of a team.Students at Bright Futures Secondary School are working hard to pass their examsFour of the students at Bright Futures Secondary School with some of the new tools they received
No bees in the new beehive…yet. Students have been to check the site where they placed their newly made hive.
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Sarah’s blog 16/1/26
On Wednesday, a group of students went to look at the beehive they had built and placed in the local forest. Unfortunately, there were no bees…yet. They will check regularly. They will research if there is any more they can do to encourage bees to take up residence in their new hive.
We have received some funding so that more wood can be bought so students can make additional beehives. Thank you to the donors for supporting this project. If you would like to make a financial contribution to enable the students to make more beehives then please email contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com The aim is that, as well as learning new skills, the school can become more self-sufficient. Projects like this can bring in an income and give students skills to be more confident about their futures. All they need now is bees!
Thank you also to the teachers who have supported the students to research, design and build the beehive. There is so much learning involved in this project. It’s great to see the students gaining skills and becoming more confident. They will be learning business skills too as well as becoming better at carpentry and beekeeping.
So, despite there being no bees…yet, I hope you enjoy the photos and videos I was sent by the teacher this morning. Let’s hope it isn’t too long before bees move in. Thanks, Sarah x
Thanks to their teachers, students at Bright Futures Secondary School have been growing and selling maize.
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1/1/26
Firstly we would like to wish everyone a happy and healthy New Year! I had to double check that I’d written the date correctly…it’s going to take a few days to remember that it is now 2026! Bright Futures Secondary School students are learning business skills.
Today’s post is a short one but is filled with hope for a brighter future for students. They are all vulnerable, have nothing and are living in extreme poverty. We cannot begin to imagine just how hard life must be, especially with the current food crisis and the heavy rains which have destroyed homes and crops as well as infrastructure.
However, this post shows that, bit by bit, things can change for the better. This is just a tiny drop in the ocean compared to how things need to change and how much money is needed to help this community back on its feet. It is a start and is a small good news story worth sharing at the start of a new year.
Teachers at Bright Futures Secondary School have been supporting students to grow vegetables. The students had planted a field of maize and have just sold half of the fresh maize (corn on the cob) to traders to sell at the market. The students will use the money to buy more seeds and fertiliser to plant more crops. The students are learning business skills for their futures.
This is such a great cross-curricular learning experience. As well as the agricultural skills they have learned during a complete growing cycle, they are learning about business opportunities and working together as a team.
These students will have far more skills for their futures as they become increasingly confident and learn to be entrepreneurs. They live in such a rural location that it is very likely that many of them will be working on the land in some form when they leave school. Having the opportunity of secondary education means that their numeracy and literacy skills will be better and will help them whatever they do for work in future.
Look how happy they are to have achieved and have been trusted by their teachers to be part of this project. Their self-esteem is growing and, hopefully, there will be more good news stories like this to report. Your support is important to ensure these students can continue learning new skills and continue achieving. The end goal is always self-sufficiency but we need you as part of the team to ensure this can happen.
Levison specifically asked me to mention two teachers who have worked hard with the students on this project. Thank you to Mr Kanyimbo and Mr Msukwa for supporting the students in this ongoing project. Your hard work is greatly appreciated and you must be very proud of what your students are achieving.
Thanks for reading and supporting Changing Lives Malawi. If you’d like to support a specific project like this then please do email contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com Thanks, Sarah x
The first video shows the maize being driven off to market by the person who purchased it. The second video shows students; Levi, Amos, Hilda and Bernard.
Most of these students have been matched with a sponsor, however a few in S1 are still needing a sponsor to help us support their education.
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Sarah’s post 21/11/25
I’ve been sent these great photos of students and teaching staff at Bright Futures Secondary School. Most of these students have been matched with a sponsor, however a few in s1 are still needing a sponsor to help us support their education.
As Bright Futures Secondary School was funded by our supporters and is a private secondary school, part of the money we receive from sponsors goes towards paying the salaries of the teaching staff. Only primary school education is free in Malawi so sponsors play a vital part in the running of the school.
The more sponsors we get, the more vulnerable teenagers can attend Bright Futures Secondary School and receive a free, quality secondary education. It’s only £25 a month to be a sponsor and you can do this as an individual, a family, friends sharing the cost, a club or a business.
At Bright Futures Secondary School, as well as learning core curriculum subjects in the classroom, students are taking part in practical subjects like carpentry, sewing, animal husbandry and growing crops. These will provide students with skills for their futures.
At BFSS each of these students receives free education, free stationery, free uniform and other clothes, free shoes, soap, toothbrush & toothpaste, a free school bag, free water bottle and a free solar lamp to use at home as it gets dark at 6pm every day year round. None of their homes have electricity so, unless they had a candle, they would be in complete darkness after 6pm each night. By having a lamp these students can do some reading once their chores are completed.
A big part of sponsorship money goes towards school lunches. Each student receives a free substantial and nutritious school lunch each school day. For most, this is their only food each day. As many are orphans living with extended family or from single parent families, everyone is living in extreme poverty. Knowing that this student has been fed a decent meal each day means that, at home, the meagre amount of food that they have is shared amongst the remaining family members. There still might not be enough food to make a meal each day.
How can we expect teenagers to walk to school and back, concentrate on their studies and reach their potential without feeding them? Your support plays a vital part in helping these teenagers to have a better and brighter future. So if you would like to help one of these students, send me a message contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com
The first group of photos are of the S1 students, followed by S2, S3 and S4.
In S1 Scholastica, Nellie, Lidwell, Veronica, Tusalyfe, Susan, Ethel, Robert, Brian and John are needing the support of a sponsor.
Thank you so much to all of our sponsors for giving the gift of education. Sarah x
Lusuwiro Msukwa, S1, age 14Veronica Ng’ambi, S1, age 16Tusalifye Nyondo, S1, age 15Esther Kaonga, S1, age 15Myless Ng’ambi, S1, age 16 Susan Kitha, S1, age 16 Robert Kanyika, S1, age 16Ethel Ng’ambi, S1, age 16 Khumbo Nyondo, S1, age 16Brian Nyondo, S1, age 15Lidwell Nyondo, S1, age 16Mitren Nyondo, S1, age 16John Msango, S1, age 16Wakisa Chiona, S1, age 16Nellie Ng’ambi, S1, age 16Kumbukani Nyondo, S1, age 15 Scholastica Banda, S1, age 16Saviour Mnyenyembe, S2, age 15, John Ng’ambi, S2, age 16 Lloyd Ng’ambi, S2, age 16 Philimon Ng’ambi, S2, age 17John Junior Kaonga, S2, age 16Hilda Silwamba, S2, age 17Agness Mnyenyembe, S2, age 16Bernard Ng’ambi, S2, age 16Monica Phiri, S2, 17Ethel Chizumira, S2, age 17Asante Sichali, S3, age 15Mphatso Simwayi, S3, age 17Wongani Kaonga, S3, age 17Brave Nyondo, S3, age 18Aaron Sinyiza, S3, age 17Timothy Kaonga, S3, age 17Leonard Simphosya,, S3, age 17Chancy Mvula, S3, age 17Wongani Mlenga, S3, age 16Phaless Nyondi, S3, age 16Maggie Kabaghe, S3, age 17Martha Mwanyasi, S3, age 17Levi Sichilindi, S4, age 19Agness Nyondo, S4, age 18Mastano Munthali, S4, age 20Gift Mnyenyembe, S4, age 19Amos Simphosya, S4, age 19Pilirani Ng’ambi, S4, age 20Teaching Staff; left to right; Miss V Chilongo, Mr D Msukwa, Miss L Kamwambi, Miss R Thawi, Mr L Silungwe, Miss E Chisenga (HT), Mr P Vitrinyu, Miss F Munthali, Mr E Kanyimbo (DHT), Miss L Mkandawire
As Bright Futures Secondary School wants to become more self-sufficient and have projects that will help with this, we asked our supporters on DonorSee to help with an innovative beekeeping initiative.
Once we sent the funds to Malawi, wood was bought to make the beehives. Firstly, students researched possible designs of beehives from the beekeeping books in Emma’s Rainbow Library. Then they drew their chosen design. Last week they were measuring the wood and cutting it to size.
I’ve been sent some great photos and videos today by one of the teachers at Bright Futures Secondary School. Students decided that one of the hives should be built in the forest. In these photos and videos, it’s great to see the students working collaboratively and problem solving.
Although making the beehives is part of their new carpentry class, students will be studying beekeeping as part of their agricultural lessons. It is also giving them skills for life. Some students may use the knowledge they have gained at school to keep bees and sell the honey when they are older. Or some may become carpenters. It’s thanks to the kindness of strangers that they have had these opportunities. Opportunities for a brighter future.
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https://donorsee.com/project/29253?share=1 This is one of our other projects on DonorSee to provide material for the students to make reusable sanitary towels for all who need them, ensuring girls have the same access to school all month like the boys in their class. Or you can message me for bank details or donate via the website contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com
Hope you enjoy seeing the progress they are making. Your help is making a difference to these students who are living in extreme poverty. Together we can continue Changing Lives (in) Malawi. Thank you for the support, Sarah x
Today’s blog looks at the ways in which we are trying to improve hunger and malnutrition in Malawi
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Sarah’s blog 16/10/25
Today is World Food Day – are you hungry? What happens if you are hungry? Do you have food in your cupboards? Are you able to go to the shops? Most of us are fortunate enough to be able to eat every day. We might not be rich, but we have enough to be able to eat at least once every day. This World Food Day – are you hungry?
Many of the children and young people we are helping to support DO NOT have enough to eat. Many DO NOT eat every day. How can we expect them to learn and concentrate at school if they are hungry? if they are malnourished? If they cannot sleep at night because of pains in their tummies? How can we expect them to grow properly if their bodies don’t have enough nutrients? How can we expect them to thrive when their basic needs aren’t being met?
WE NEED YOUR HELP to support a community, living in extreme poverty, in rural northern Malawi, towards sustainability and self-sufficiency. Please do keep reading to see how we are helping and what you can do.
We are sending enough money to run a feeding programme once a week. It’s not enough but all we can afford whilst we are supporting a better and brighter future. We keep trying to get bigger charities involved but, unfortunately, they aren’t working with children that far north. Up to 500 children, some walking miles, some carrying younger siblings, come every week for their one substantial meal of the week. Could you spare £5 or £10 per month to support the weekly feeding programme please? contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com
Bright Futures Nursery is for up to 70 vulnerable preschool children who are fed at every session. This is making a big difference to their health. Again, it’s not much, but it is better than nothing. You could make a difference by making a one off donation or gifting a small monthly amount to support this project.
During sporting events, we ensure that everyone taking part receives a substantial meal and drink so they have enough energy to take part and the food and drink is part of the excitement of the day. Would you like to make a donation towards providing food at a sporting event? Which sport would you choose?
Students at Bright Futures Secondary School, which was built for vulnerable teenagers who cannot afford secondary school fees, are matched with a sponsor to help pay for their education which includes having a free school meal each day. For many of the students, this is their only meal each day. Their families can share the small amount of food they have in their homes between the rest of the family, knowing that their teenager has eaten at school. It is still only £25 per month to sponsor a young person. You could sponsor as an individual, a group of friends, a club or a business. We have new students at school waiting to be matched with a sponsor. Could this be you? Younger children, not yet at secondary school, who have a sponsor are given a monthly food parcel which helps to supplement the small amount of food they have at home. contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com
How about helping with feeding the children & young people at Christmas? We have already had one donation towards this. Would you like to ensure everyone has a great Christmas party with plenty of food? contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com
We have raised funds to plant fruit tree saplings & banana plants on Bright Futures Campus and at Chambo Primary School. These will provide future food and a source of income. However, as there are hundreds of children in need, we need to keep planting more. This is another project you could support with a donation.
Students at Bright Futures Secondary School are growing their own vegetables which they are able to eat as part of their school lunches. However, the vegetables don’t last as part of many meals, and far more need to be planted. We are raising funds to buy polytunnels to extend the growing season and the types of plants that can be grown. Is this a sustainable project you’d like to help with? you could donate via this link or email for bank details. https://donorsee.com/project/29095?share=1
We are supporting vulnerable people to set up Agribusiness Groups. Through hard work, small groups of people are able to grow crops and sell them and reinvest their money into their business. There are three groups already and we would like to set up another two groups. Again, you can give via this link https://donorsee.com/project/27241?share=1 or by emailing for bank details.
Those are eight ways we are working in partnership with the people we are supporting. It’s better than nothing. It’s better than it was. But it is still not enough. With your help, with your £5 or £10 or sponsorship of a young person, we can and will keep Changing Lives (in) Malawi.
So, on World Food Day, are you hungry? What are you having for your dinner? Can you spare a thought and a small amount of money for the hundreds of children living in extreme poverty for whom we are trying to support to have a brighter future? You can make a difference to a child that you don’t know and will never meet by supporting one of our projects. As we are volunteers, you know every penny goes to the projects you support.
This World Food Day, let’s share with those who need our help. Thank you, Sarah x
To sponsor a teenage girl please click here International Day of the Girl Child there are also a few boys waiting for support with their education.
Some of the younger children being fed at the weekly feeding programmeSome of the happy children at a Christmas PartyOne of the agribusiness groups working hard in their fieldChildren waiting in the rain to be fedPlanting bananas at Chambo Primary SchoolStudents at Bright Futures Secondary School planting sweet potato vines as part of their Agriculture lesson, providing them with education, food and skills for life.
Whilst there is still so much to do to improve the lives of the most vulnerable, here are some of the reasons how being a sponsor can and does make a difference.
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Sarah’s blog 18/7/25
Levison sent me a graph today with information about teenage pregnancies in Malawi. I knew the rates were high but I am shocked by just how high. Chitipa District, in the far north, has one of the highest rates of teenage pregnancies in Malawi. Over half of teenage girls age 15-19 become pregnant. The actual figure is 543/1000. Since Bright Futures Secondary School opened in 2022 there have been only 2 teenage pregnancies.
As well as helping to vastly reduce teenage pregnancies, here are some of the ways that having a sponsor is helping to give vulnerable teenagers, living in extreme poverty, hope for a brighter future:
Secondary School has to be paid for in Malawi. None of the students who attend Bright Futures Secondary School could afford to go to secondary school without having being matched with a sponsor to help pay for their education. There are so many more young people wanting this opportunity.
Being matched with a sponsor means that, as well as their education being free, each student at BFSS, receives a substantial and nutritious school lunch each day. This, for most, is their only meal of the day, and means their families don’t have to worry about feeding them with the family’s very limited food supplies.
Having a nutritious lunch each day is helping students to stay healthy and help them concentrate on their lessons.
Being matched with a sponsor means free school uniform, stationery, shoes and a torch for studying at home.
Being matched with a sponsor means that there is hope for a brighter future through education, instead of doing piece work in the fields for a pittance.
Being matched with a sponsor means that students are kept busy at school and after school activities and less likely to get into trouble.
Being matched with a sponsor means that young people have access to counselling as all have lost family members and lived through trauma. Bright Futures Secondary School takes a holistic approach to caring for the students both in and outside the classroom.
Being matched with a sponsor means that girls are far less likely to be married off too young. Some families are so desperate they consider giving their daughter to an older man in exchange for a dowry to feed the rest of the family. Levison has managed to prevent girls as young as 11 being married off.
Being matched with a sponsor is helping ensure young people are more literate, numerate and have skills for their futures.
Being matched with a sponsor is giving vulnerable young people, living in extreme poverty, choices and chances that they wouldn’t otherwise have had.
We need more sponsors to ensure that more students can have these opportunities and have hope for a brighter future for themselves and their families. Will you help us help them please? It is only £25 per month to sponsor a young person. You can sponsor as an individual, a business or a group of friends or family. It might be the most important thing anyone ever does for that teenager. Will you make a difference to one young person and change their life? contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com .
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our sponsors and supporters for helping to make a difference to each of the students. Also, for the teachers at Bright Futures Secondary School, to Levison and the rest of the team …. a huge thank you. When we see statistics like this it is very clear that, although there is much to do, we are Changing Lives (in) Malawi. Thank you, Sarah x
S2 students received new uniform and stationery when they sat their exams recentlyplanting banana tubers in practical agricultural lessonsStudents prepared the ground and planted sweet potato vines as part of their practical agricultural lessons. This crop helped feed them and their fellow students.
It’s Independence Day in Malawi. Here are some facts and a couple of ways that you can help students living in extreme poverty become independent and self-sufficient.
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Sarah’s blog 6/7/25
Happy Independence Day to all of our friends in Malawi. Here are a few facts about Malawi;
Malawi’s Independence Day is celebrated on 6th July.
It is their 61st Independence Day today.
Malawi gained independence from the United Kingdom.
Malawi was previously known as Nyasaland prior to gaining independence.
Dr Hastings Banda played a significant role in leading the country to independence and later became the first president of Malawi.
Independence Day is a national holiday in Malawi marked with celebrations.
The flag of Malawi features three horizontal stripes of black, red and green, with a red sun in the black stripe, symbolizing the rising sun of freedom and the unity of the country.
Malawi is sometimes referred to as the “Warm Heart of Africa” due to the friendly nature of its people.
Malawi is one of the poorest countries in the world, with a high percentage of its population living in poverty. Over half the population lives in poverty, this is much higher in rural locations.
We are pleased that, with the help of our supporters, we are making a difference to the hundreds of children and their families who live in extreme poverty. Our end goal is always self-sufficiency and sustainability. The difficulty is that children need feeding now which we have to address as well as supporting the community towards self-sufficiency. The situation is extremely serious in the rural far north of Malawi and most children and young people are suffering from malnutrion. All are hungry. No children are fed in primary schools in the far north of Malawi.
Through educational projects like our School Literacy Project, where we collect and send books to primary schools which hardly have any resources, exam pass rates at the end of primary school are rising. The young people know that education is their way out of poverty and are keen to learn.
We also match vulnerable young people with sponsors to help pay for their secondary education at Bright Futures Secondary School. Secondary education has to be paid for in Malawi and none of these young people would have been able to attend. Thanks to our supporters, we have built BFSS which is bringing hope for a brighter future for young people living in extreme poverty. We are appealing for more sponsors to join us in supporting new students going into S1 in September. It is only £25 p/m per student. If you would like to help a young person gain a secondary education please get in touch contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com
At Bright Futures Secondary School, students study agriculture as a core subject and they are learning skills for life through practical agricultural lessons. They are growing their own fruit and vegetables to help supplement their free school lunch that they get each day. This is a really important meal as, for most, it is their only meal each day. Their families can share the small amount of food they have amongst the other members of the family, knowing that young person has already been fed.
We are appealing for help to buy more fruit tree saplings for future food and for a sustainable income as excess fruit can be sold at the market. We are also appealing for money to buy extra gardening tools so that all students are able to join in with practical agricultural lessons instead of just having to wait and take turns. Also we are hoping that, if we can provide funds for carpentry tools, then students can learn how to make simple furniture.
Will you help these students towards independence please? They are keen to work hard to help themselves. They just need a helping hand then they can be independent and proud of their achievements.
Thanks to everyone who has helped so far. If you can give a little then it would be very much appreciated by us and the students at Bright Futures Secondary School. Please sign up to receive my blogs and you can follow us on Facebook to keep up to date with the most recent news. Together we can help a community towards independence and self-sufficiency. Thanks so much, Sarah x
A lovely photo taken at Chambo Primary School when boxes of books were donated recently as part of our School Literacy Project.
New books donated to Kalanga Primary School as part of our School Literacy Project. Literacy rates are increasing now they have more books to read.
Students at Bright Futures Secondary School have planted banana tubers.
Students at Bright Futures Secondary School queuing up for their free school lunch. For most of them this is their only meal each day. It also helps their families to share their small amount of food between the remaining family members and not worry about including the students as they have already had a substantial and nutritious meal.
Here is the proof that your help makes a difference! Thank you to the people who helped fund these two groups of ladies from our DonorSee appeals. There had been a slight delay in them getting started. The land that they are going to be farming had crops growing which had to be harvested. This has now happened so the ladies are ready to start work.
These women are some of the poorest in their community and most in need. As they are living in extreme poverty, they have been unable to provide for themselves and their families. Some of the women have been affected by HIV and are bringing up their families alone.
Maria, in group 2, had been a student at Bright Futures Secondary School. She became pregnant and had her little boy. Maria’s aunt looked after the baby whilst Maria returned to school. She has tried so hard to continue her education but, they live a long walk from school and her little boy was failing to thrive. Maria was sitting in class worrying about him. She was exhausted. Maria decided to drop out of school. She has been working for farmers doing piecework to earn a pittance. Maria is a very hard worker and is delighted to have the opportunity to be part of agribusiness group 2 (she holding the watering can in the photo). Her little boy, Wakisa, now has a sponsor to ensure that he has a food parcel each month.
Agribusiness Group 2
Mrs Ng’ambi, whose house was repaired through another DonorSee project, struggled to feed herself and her four children. She is delighted with the new roof on her house. She has been offered a place in agribusiness group 3. Her future is looking much happier. She is on the left of the photo. Both groups have been given seeds, fertiliser, spades and watering cans. Thank you everyone who helped to give these ladies this opportunity and hope for a brighter future.
Agribusiness Group 3
We have a few projects on our DonorSee site to try to give some of the poorest people a helping hand so that they can help themselves. Everyone wants to work hard and be self-sufficient but things are so difficult for them that they need our support. Will you help please? If lots of us give a little then change will happen.
We know that our supporters care about our projects. We are asking for your help to buy more fruit tree saplings and banana tubers to help feed all the hundreds of orphans that rely on the weekly feeding programme. There are no porridge programmes in primary schools in the rural far north of Malawi. Most children are suffering from malnutrition. All are hungry. How can they concentrate at school when their bodies don’t have the nutrients they need? How can they get to sleep at night when their tummies are empty and sore? Do you want to support children to have enough to eat?
Students are learning skills for life through planting and caring for the saplings that have already been planted. We want them to be self-sufficient in years to come and have fruit to eat and surplus fruit to sell. However, when there are 500+ children who do not have food at home to eat and rely on the weekly feeding programme, that is a huge amount of fruit tree saplings and banana tubers that will be needed. Will you help them have a brighter future? Will you help us try to ensure that less children are suffering with malnutrition? Here is the link to donate https://donorsee.com/project/27708?share=1 or you can contact me for bank details contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com
We are also appealing for more tools to help students with their practical agricultural classes and also start doing some basic carpentry classes. These are all skills for life for students living in such a rural location and will help them earn a living in the future. https://donorsee.com/project/27684?share=1 or send me an email for bank details.
Many thanks for your continuing support of our charity, where you know that all money goes to the projects we support, as we are all volunteers, passionate about making a difference to the community we are helping in rural northern Malawi. However, it is always about teamwork and our donors are a valuable part of our team. We couldn’t do what we do without you. Thanks again, Sarah x
We are delighted to have been able to help Chambo Primary School with this tree planting initiative thanks to receiving a grant we applied for.
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Sarah’s blog 27/1/25
Today’s blog is about the students at Chambo Primary School. Most of the orphans and other vulnerable children who attend the weekly feeding programme, attend Chambo Primary School. There are no big charities feeding children in schools in the far north of Malawi. So, we are trying to support them with being able to grow their own food and also have a sustainable source of income.
I applied for a grant from The CB & HH Taylor 1984 Trust and was delighted and very thankful that my application was successful. Children learn Agriculture as part of their core curriculum in Malawi so were keen to do practical lessons too. Gardening tools and watering cans were bought for use by the school. Children from different classes helped to clear the ground and dig holes.
In December lots of banana tubers were planted by the students. These grow quite quickly. A variety of fruit tree saplings and pine tree saplings were planted last week. The students are learning about the benefits of planting the pine tree saplings as well as the plants that are able to produce fruit. During the rainy season, pine trees will help to prevent soil erosion, will give shade, give shelter to wildlife and be good for the planet. Also, when the pine trees produce pine cones, the children will be able to collect those and plant them to produce more saplings.
Schools are being encouraged to support reforestation so everyone is very excited by this initial stage of the project. The teachers at Chambo Primary are very thankful for the practical support and, once they have supported the children with growing these plants, there will be opportunity to gift additional plants to them in future.
Many thanks to the trustees of The CB & HH Taylor 1984 Trust for their support with this project. What we would also like to support students at Chambo Primary School and Bright Futures Secondary school with is to have a stock of wellington boots that they can use for their practical agricultural lessons. Their footwear is not really suitable for muddy conditions, nor is it sturdy for when they are working with gardening tools. Also children only have one pair of shoes (if they do own shoes) and we don’t want their shoes to be ruined by the mud.
We have set up this small fundraiser https://donorsee.com/project/26186?share=1 so if you are able to help to buy a pair of wellington boots we would be very grateful. Enjoy these photos and videos and thank you for your support, Sarah x
Thank you so much to Malawi24 news for sharing the story of the important work being done at Bright Futures Secondary School during their agriculture classes.
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Sarah’s blog 12/1/25
We area absolutely delighted that my post about tree planting by the students at Bright Futures Secondary School was seen by a news outlet in Malawi. They interviewed Levison yesterday and have published the story today. Levison says he’s had lots of phone calls about the article both from others who are also taking part in reforestation projects and people passing on their congratulations. I hope you are able to read the article below;
Thank you to everyone who has supported this project with financial donations. As you can see, it is a hugely important project and we are delighted that the students at Bright Futures Secondary School are having opportunities like this to make a difference in their community and that they are learning about reforestation, agroforestry, agriculture, climate crisis and being responsible citizens. The students are going to be shown the article tomorrow and I am sure they will be delighted that their hard work is being recognised. Thanks, Sarah x
