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.
“Since the beginning of the Beekeeping Project, BFSS students are taking a great responsibility and full participation of the activities taking place.” Quote from a teacher at Bright Futures Secondary School.
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Sarah’s blog 11/12/25
I am excited to post these photos and videos of the first finished beehive. As an educator, I am genuinely delighted by the amount of cross-curricular learning that this beekeeping project has encompassed so far. Obviously, there is more learning to happen as the project continues. I apologise that I am sharing so many videos and photos…but they all help to tell the learning journey of the project and students at Bright Futures Secondary School. Look what can happen when we invest in the next generation and give them choices and chances for a brighter future. This is the story of vulnerable students and how they have worked together, learning new skills to create their first finished beehive.
Firstly, beekeeping was identified by staff as a project that might help the school towards self-sufficiency. Beekeeping will be part of the agriculture lessons which are a core subject on the Malawian curriculum. I then engaged with potential sponsors to raise funs for some carpentry tools. Also I asked for funds to buy wood to build beehives. I posted short videos that had been made by school staff and students.
Once the money had been raised and transferred, the supplies were bought and the project got underway. Firstly students researched beehive designs in books that we had sent which are in Emmas’ Rainbow Library on Bright Futures Campus. They then drew their preferred design. Students were supported by teachers and a carpenter to learn how to use the tools. Then they cut the wood to size and constructed the first beehive which has happened over a few weeks.
This week, students found a good place in the nearby woods and, with the help of their teachers, were able to place the first finished beehive to wait for the bees. Students had also been tasked with searching for some beeswax to put in the hive which will help to attract bees.
As well as learning to use carpentry tools for the first time, students have researched, collaborated, designed and supported each other to achieve. You can see from the photos and videos how much they are enjoying the project and the responsibility that they have been given. It is wonderful to see how much they are growing in confidence during their experiences at Bright Futures Secondary School.
One of the teachers who has been supporting the students told me;
“Since the beginning of the Beekeeping Project, BFSS students are taking a great responsibility and full participation of the activities taking place. So far, they have learnt the following;
knowing the requirements for beehives through research
designing the beehive through technical drawing
making the beehive with full use of carpentry and joinery skills
installing the first beehive in the nearby forest
The students are appreciating so much for the establishment of this project and wish to see the fruits of the project.” (Teacher)
I shared information about the first finished beehive with people who donated funds to enable the beekeeping project to happen. One of them made the following encouraging comments which I have shared with the teachers and asked them to pass on to the students.
“Very exciting to see how this project has been progressing. I genuinely appreciate you taking the time to update us. You might suggest that, as their next step, they research how to plant a ‘pollinator friendly’ garden, which kinds of flowers bees like (eg blues rather than pinks), the importance of keeping some flowers in bloom at all times throughout the year etc.” (Donor)
Who knows what these young people will do when they leave school? They are all living in extreme poverty and have been suffering from lack of food in their early years and have faced the trauma of losing family members and lots of other hardships. This has affected their ability to learn. If their basic needs haven’t been met then we cannot expect them to learn in the classroom.
Not all of these vulnerable students will pass their final exams at the end of S4. It wouldn’t be fair that we expected them to. Some might get grades good enough to go to college or university but cannot go because they have no funds to support themselves or to pay for their studies.
However, what we do know is that, because of the rural location, many students will find work on the land. They have had a secondary school education so, even if they don’t pass their final exams, they have had so much more education and great learning experiences than they would have if they had not had the chance to attend Bright Futures Secondary School.
Because they are attending secondary school, students have avoided the high teen pregnancy rate. They have also avoided being married off too soon. Their literacy and numeracy levels are greater than if they hadn’t had support to attend secondary school.
Some of these students may become beekeepers. Or perhaps carpenters and farmers with the skills they have learned and will continue learning through projects like the beekeeping project. With the new skills they have developed, they will be confident about their futures. Thank you to everyone who has and continues to support Bright Futures Secondary School and the vulnerable teenagers who are students.
We need to raise funds for rubber wellington boots for students to wear during their practical agriculture lessons at Bright Futures Secondary School. The rainy season has started and soon the ground will be very muddy. It’s the ideal time for planting fruit tree saplings and pine trees (which have been ordered) but will be extremely muddy underfoot. Also boots will help protect feet from the tools they are using. You can make a small donation to our appeal on DonorSee here https://donorsee.com/project/29707?share=1 or via the website Donate money and gifts to Changing Lives Malawi or message me for our bank details contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com .
I have attached the previous two posts about the beehive projects at the end of this blog in case people haven’t seen the drawings and the start of the carpentry work. I hope you enjoyed reading about the first finished beehive. Thank you again to everyone who helps us support these vulnerable teenagers to be the best they can be.
Because of your support we can continue Changing Lives (in) Malawi. Sarah x
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
Today’s blog has great photos of happy children on World Children’s Day!
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Sarah’s blog 20/11/25
World Children’s Day …what does it mean? And is there a point? None of these children know about World Children’s Day. And does it apply to them? Or is it for children not living in extreme poverty?
World Children’s Day, November 20th, marks the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. It is for all children around the world. However, many children still do not have all the rights that they should do. UNCRC_summary-1_1.pdf
How many do not have a safe home? How many do not have enough to eat? How many do not have safe drinking water? How many do not have proper health care? The list could go on.
We are doing what we can to help hundreds of the most vulnerable children, living in extreme poverty, in rural northern Malawi. Things are better, but they aren’t good enough, there is still so much to do. That is why we are very grateful for all our supporters as it is always about teamwork and together we can continue Changing Lives (in) Malawi.
These are some great photos that were sent to me a couple of days ago. These children are in p5-p7 at Chambo Primary School. There are so many children needing support that the best way is to help a few at a time. They all received new clothes. The team cannot give out too many things at once as families are so desperately poor they would sell some of the clothes to try to buy some food. So, periodically, Levison and his team give out clothes to those most in need.
I can see donations from Balfron Primary School, Strathblane Primary School, Cherry Tree Nursery and All Saints C of E Junior School in Maidenhead. Can you see any other schools or nurseries I have missed? If you message me then I’ll add them in contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com Many thanks to everyone who has donated clothes and school uniform to make the lives of these children a little bit better.
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
There’s been lots to reflect on this week. Please read today’s blog to catch up on what I have been writing about today.
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Sarah’s blog 16/11/25
For a few different reasons, it has been a difficult week. I’m feeling the weight of responsibility heavy on my shoulders with family and with the charity. Here are a few of my ramblings and what I have been reflecting on and thinking about.
Our friend and colleague, Alan Laverock, who organised (with other volunteers) the sending of containers of vital aid to Malawi, sadly passed away this week. I have been thinking about him and reading the tributes and condolences from so many people. Also, I have been reflecting on a life well lived. Alan made a difference. You can read more about Alan here Alan James Laverock: a tribute | Scotland Malawi Partnership
One consequence, and obviously this is of secondary importance, of Alan’s passing is that the Bananabox Trust containers have stopped. Currently, we have no means of sending any boxes to Malawi.
We realise that many people in Malawi are extremely concerned about this and hope that, in time, that someone else may take this on. Medical and dental equipment gets shipped regularly along with shoes, clothes and sports equipment to name but a few.
I am particularly reflecting on our School Literacy Project. Thanks to the support of Alan and his team at Bananabox Trust, we have been able to make a big difference to children’s reading by sending over 100 boxes of books.
The first 17 boxes of books that were donated to Chambo Primary School
Bright Futures Secondary School has benefited from fiction books as well as text books and bibles. Emma’s Rainbow Library (named after the late Emma Buchanan of Balfron whose family helped raise funds for the library) is well stocked. It has floor to ceiling shelves of books for all age groups.
Bright Futures Nursery has been able to give at least two books per child to take home to read and look at the pictures with their families. This is ensuring all those households have access to books of their own and looking at books together is a special everyday activity.
Chambo Primary School and then Kalanga Primary School have benefited from the gift of many boxes of books. Boxes of both factual and fiction books have been sent for different age groups. These schools have hardly any resources and p8 leavers exam pass rates were well below the national average.
Since we, with the help of our supporters, started putting books into these primary schools, the pass rate for primary school leavers certificates has gone up by 19%. This is a huge achievement for these young people. We are so proud of them and proud of the part we and our supporters have made to their literacy levels, reading comprehension and helping young people pass their exams. Without passing these primary school leavers exams, students are not allowed to attend secondary school.
We hope there will be a way to continue sending books (and other boxes of aid) as other primary schools are asking and waiting to be included in The School Literacy Project.
The rains have started in Malawi and some school buildings in Chitipa District have been damaged (thankfully, not ours). Families are also suffering because their homes are so fragile and open to the elements.
A food crisis has been declared for the whole of Malawi. I don’t think any of us realise just how dire the situation is. Prices continue to rise. There is a continued fuel shortage, meaning many goods aren’t available to purchase rurally. Levison has told me that people are suffering more than usual and it will get worse.
I have been thinking about this over the past few days and wondering how we can make a difference and protect the most vulnerable from the worst of this crisis.
What can we do? What can we do differently? There are projects helping to support sustainability in the future, however, these are for the future and people also need help now. All the fruit tree saplings will make a big difference in a few years time, and we will continue planting more, but they won’t help now.
What can we do now? Instead of sending Christmas cards ( or as many Christmas cards as usual) could you make a donation to help us buy food?
Could you organise a coffee morning or event for your friends on our behalf? Or could you organise a bonus ball competition before Christmas?
Could you purchase an alternative gift for the person in your life who has everything? Or an alternative gift for a teacher who doesn’t really need another mug. Let me know if you’d like to help or if you’ve any good ideas contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com
Levison had a funeral to attend earlier last week. He took a photo of Bright Futures Campus from near where the funeral was taking place. It’s a great photo. You can see the Mafinga Hills in the background and beyond that is Zambia.
Once there was nothing where these buildings now stand. Now there is Bright Futures Campus with a secondary school, a nursery, a library, offices and a staffroom and accommodation for teaching staff. Vulnerable children know this is their safe place where they can receive support, where they can play. Where there is someone to listen. There are fruit tree saplings growing and crops have been planted….nowhere near enough but it is a start. There is hope for a brighter future.
This has all been achieved with a lot of hard work and determination to ensure that the most vulnerable children have a better and brighter future. They have choices and chances that they wouldn’t previously have had. Thanks to our supporters, we are Changing Lives (in) Malawi. However, there is a great deal more to do. Will you help? Thank you for reading my ramblings. I hope you can feel the love and concern I have for the people we are supporting and how, together we can give them a helping hand until they can have a sustainable future. Thank you, Sarah x
Bright Futures Campus with The Mafinga Hills in the background. Beyond the hills is Zambia.
Today’s blog has photos and videos from a visit to the maternity ward at Chambo Health Centre.
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Sarah’s blog 7/11/25
There is a maternity ward at the local health centre. Many of the new mums are living in extreme poverty and don’t have clothes & blankets for their babies, hence the need for the Mother & Baby Project.
We have some lovely supporters who are talented at knitting and crocheting and others who have donated clothes that their babies have outgrown. So we have been able to send lots of baby hats, clothes and blankets.
The idea is that, as well as receiving clothes at birth, if mum and baby return after a few weeks to collect some more clothes, the health care staff will have an additional opportunity to check that mother and baby are well.
Students from Bright Futures Secondary School visited Chambo Health Centre with some of the boxes of donated baby clothes & blankets. Everyone was very thankful for their visit and delighted to receive gifts for their babies. The new mothers are exhausted and in pain but had expressed their gratitude on receiving the lovely gifts for their newborn babies.
After students had helped sort out some gifts for the babies, they also helped by tidying and sweeping round the exterior of the health centre.
The lady speaking in the video is a relative of one of the newborn babies. She said she wished that when she had her babies that there were gifts like these and help available. It is her prayer that changes like this continue to happen in her grandchildren’s lifetime. She is speaking the local language, Chichewa.
The young man who is speaking in English is Mphatso, one of the students at Bright Futures Secondary School.
Many, many thanks to everyone who is supporting this very important project and letting new mums know that they, and their babies, are important and special. Without your help and ongoing support there would be no Mother & Baby Project.
I am planning to visit Malawi in June next year. The Mother & Baby Project is one of the projects I am passionate about. It’s making a difference to the vulnerable mothers and their babies. I would also love it if we were able to gift bars of soap to the new mums. This is one of the projects I am raising funds for in my GoFundMe ahead of my visit next year. It would be amazing if you could make a small donation to make a big difference. https://gofund.me/b8e7bf36c
I hope you enjoy the great photos and videos, Sarah x
Tidying and sweeping outside the health centre Students from Bright Futures Secondary School outside Chambo Health Centre
To donate to the sewing project to purchase more material for sewing reusable sanitary towels to beat Period Poverty here is the link https://donorsee.com/project/29253?share=1
Sewing classes at Bright Futures Secondary School are helping S3 and S4 students learn extra skills.
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Sarah’s blog 26/10/25
Levison Mlambya, the Director of Bright Futures Secondary School, has sent these great photos and a video of S3 and S4 students who are taking sewing lessons and carpentry classes to learn skills for life.
In the sewing lessons they are learning to use the sewing machines that have been donated and sent on the container via The Bananabox Trust.
Learning skills for life will equip these vulnerable students, who are all living in extreme poverty, with a way to earn money in future, giving them choices and chances they wouldn’t have had previously. Many thanks to the donors of the sewing machines & sewing supplies.
The plan is that during sewing lessons at BFSS, they make reusable sanitary pads and bags to put these in and, when there are enough, give them out to those who need them in various local schools. Your financial support will be so helpful.
Celebrating success at Bright Futures Secondary school is becoming a tradition. All students in S3 had passed their national exams at the end of S2 – Junior Certificate of Education. They were given a party on Friday. Other students joined in at lunchtime but the S3 class were given the afternoon off and were free to continue celebrating and having fun.
Knowing that hard work and effort is celebrated at Bright Futures Secondary School helps to motivate the S1 and S2 students as they look forward to having a party to celebrate their success.
None of these young people have enough food at their homes. Most are orphans living with extended family. All are living in extreme poverty and have suffered trauma. None have money for school fees, new clothes or shoes, stationery or school lunches. That is all free at Bright Futures Secondary School, thanks to their sponsors.
So celebrating their achievements is important. Helping them feel valued is important. Raising their self-esteem is important. Nurturing them to be the best they can be is important. Counselling students and listening to them when they are struggling is important. Supporting these students holistically is important.
A student at Bright Futures Secondary School can expect more than just lessons and passing exams. They can expect support. They can expect understanding. They can expect encouragement. They can expect to be listened to. They can expect the best at Bright Futures Secondary School.
That’s why the staff at BFSS are far more than teachers. We are so grateful for the care and understanding they give to these vulnerable students who have been through so much already. These teachers can and do make a difference and their support and encouragement for the students in their care and the ethos of the school will give these vulnerable teenagers a much brighter future. They are positive role models for these students and we are pleased that they want to help students be the best that they can be.
There are still some new students in S1 who are waiting for a sponsor to help us support their education. Could you give the gift of education and help us continue Changing Lives (in) Malawi? contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com
Celebrating success at Bright Futures Secondary School is important… and look at these smiles which are wonderful to see. Thank you for reading and supporting our work. We need you as part of the team supporting these vulnerable teenagers. Enjoy the photos and videos, Sarah x
We have some projects on fundraising site DonorSee for Bright Futures Secondary School. You can donate via the link or email us for bank details. https://donorsee.com/project/29095?share=1
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.
Here are just some of the reasons why vulnerable girls in Malawi need our help today. You can also read about some of the success stories!
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Sarah’s blog 11/10/25
Whilst we are supporting both boys and girls of all ages, girls living in extreme poverty are still living in a very unequal world. International Day of the Girl Child highlights some of the inequalities they face and how we can support them.
Many of the young people we help to support are living with extended family or with one parent. In Malawi it is illegal to marry girls off when they are children. It still happens. Girls are at greater risk of dying during childbirth as well as missing out on their education.
We have matched several girls with sponsors whose families couldn’t afford to feed them. They thought it was better to give their eldest daughter away to get married at age 11 or 12 as they would get a dowry and therefore be able to feed the rest of their family. Having a sponsor means that these very vulnerable girls are still in school, receive a monthly food parcel (if at primary school) or free secondary education with free school lunches (if at Bright Futures Secondary School). The impact of education, food and having a sponsor is huge. We are highlighting these inequalities and the challenges girls face on International Day of the Girl Child, to draw attention to how difficult things are for these vulnerable girls.
If girls do not have access to sanitary towels, they are not welcome at school for one week every month whilst they have their period. Imagine the shame they must feel for having a normal bodily function. Since we sent some donated hand turn Singer sewing machines, girls have been making reusable sanitary towels which have been given out to all who need them. This gives girls and young women confidence, dignity and the same access to education as boys have.
In Chitipa District in the far north, where the community we are partnering with is situated, teenage pregnancies are very high. Thankfully, by being able to keep teenagers in education and giving them opportunities and having choices and chances they wouldn’t normally have had, at Bright Futures Secondary School there have only been two teenage pregnancies since the school opened. (the statistics are in the link below).
In the link to another blog below, you can see we celebrated with a party for Catherine, Emily and Naomi, passing their secondary school leavers exams and also the s3 students who had passed their junior certificates of education (s2 national exams). None of them would have had this opportunity if it wasn’t for them having sponsors to support their education. We are so grateful for each and everyone of our sponsors. Thank you!
We have girls in S1 who are each needing a sponsor to help support the cost of their education at Bright Futures Secondary School. This is a small school which was built specifically to meet the needs of the very vulnerable teenagers in the community who can’t pay for their secondary education at local state run schools. Sponsorship helps cover; free education, free school lunches, free uniform, shoes and other clothes, school bags & water bottles and free stationery.
We have managed to match two girls in S1 with sponsors but these girls are still waiting for your help. It is still only £25 per month to sponsor a young person. You can sponsor as an individual, a family, friends sharing the cost, or your church, school, club or business could be a sponsor. Will you give the gift of education and a brighter future today? contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com Imagine the difference 5 friends could make to a girl if they each paid £5 per month to support her education. Could this be you and your friends? Thanks to everyone who supports us through sponsorship and donations. Together, on International Day of the Girl Child, we can continue Changing Lives (in) Malawi, Sarah x
(I had a short video chat with the S1 class last week, thanks to their headteacher, and asked each of the students a couple of questions. I’ve written their replies under their photos. Sarah) contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com
Schollastica helps at home by sweeping the inside of her home and the surrounding area and enjoys playing netball with her friendsLusubiro’s favourite subject is biology and she loves playing rugbyEthel loves to read and so far at school is enjoying having school uniform and booksTusalifye is enjoying being at Bright Futures Secondary School and lives a short distance away. She helps at home by sweeping and fetching water. Veronica said she likes all the books at school and that they get a free school lunch each day. Her favourite sport is netball.Susan said she really likes school so far as the uniform, shoes, bag and lunches are all for free. Her favourite subject is maths.At home, Nellie helps with digging their small farmland and fetching water. She likes reading books and her favourite subject is geography.
Thanks so much to All Saints CofE School, Maidenhead and to the charity Sal’s Shoes for making a difference to these vulnerable teenagers.
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Sarah’s blog 8/10/25
When I was a teenager, I always loved going to choose new stationery ready for returning to school after the summer holidays and, most years, I’d get a new school bag and unform and shoes too…although I really disliked our brown school uniform! There was no question that, although there wasn’t lots of spare money, there was always enough to buy the things that my siblings and I needed.
The students that have just started in S1 at Bright Futures Secondary School are living in extreme poverty. Their families cannot afford enough food, let alone any money to buy school uniform, shoes and stationery. So, last week, they were overwhelmed when gifts were handed out to each of them. They’ve never had presents like this, that we and our children all take for granted.
Thanks to individual supporters, we were able to send new and preloved school uniform; shirts and blouses and skirts and trousers. I got in touch with a wonderful charity called Sal’s Shoes who have helped us out once before. They kindly agreed to give us shoes for the students at Bright Futures Secondary School. We (and the students) are so grateful for this support. Thank you for the wonderful work you do at Sal’s Shoes, collecting and sorting preloved outgrown shoes and sending them on to protect vulnerable children’s feet.
Also, All Saints C of E School, Maidenhead, had contacted us to see if we could use some uniform that they no longer needed as they had changed their school badge. Of course we said yes and were delighted with everything that they sent. The S1 students were delighted to receive their new back packs which they had no idea they would be getting. Thanks so much for these! The clothes from All Saints C of E School, Maidenhead, will be distributed over the next few weeks amongst other vulnerable children.
I had bought water bottles for the new students which I filled with; toothbrush & toothpaste, small bars of soap, pens, pencils, rulers, erasers and sharpeners. Each student was also given some exercise books. They were amazed as they’ve never had a day of receiving this many gifts all at once and certainly not lovely new presents like this. These donations will really help to motivate them to work hard. You can see in one of the photos, one of the girls is overcome with tears of happiness because she didn’t expect to receive all these lovely gifts.
There are two videos in which the S1 students are thanking Sal’s Shoes for their new shoes and also thanking All Saints School for their school bags. If you have donated school uniform, shoes, pencils etc…you can see where your donations are going and how much it means to the recipients. Thank you everyone.
We try to match each of these vulnerable students with a sponsor to help support financially with their education. As well as paying the teachers, part of the sponsorship money goes towards providing a substantial free school lunch each day. For most of these students, it is their only meal of the day and their families can share the small amount of food they have with the remaining family members. Many of these students are orphans, living with extended family. Many in the community have been affected by AIDS and HIV.
We still need to match the following students with sponsors; Veronica, Susan, Nellie, John, Wakisa, Lindwell, Schollastica, Robert, Brian, Lumbiro, Esther, Tusalifye and Ethel. That’s 13 vulnerable young people who need your help. There is an old saying ‘It takes a village to raise a child’…..can we be part of the ‘village’ for these teenagers who really need our support? It’s only £25 per month to sponsor a young person. You can sponsor as an individual, share the cost with a friend or sponsor a young person through your club or business. Get in touch to make a difference and give a student a brighter future contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com Enjoy the photos and videos and I look forward to receiving your email if you’d like to give the gift of education to one of these students. Thank you, Sarah x
Students thanking the charity Sal’s Shoes for their new shoes
The S1 students are thanking All Saints School, Maidenhead, for their new school bags
