bright futures secondary school Archives

BFSS S4 Graduation

In today’s blog, I am sharing some amazing photos and videos from the BFSS S4 graduation ceremony and party.

Sarah’s blog 26/6/26

In Scotland, where I live, for most, today is the last day of school before the summer holidays. For the S4 students in Malawi, it is their last day of school before their final school exams start on Monday. Today, I am sharing some amazing photos and videos from the BFSS S4 graduation ceremony and party.

The BFSS S4 graduation ceremony and party happened on Sunday afternoon. The teachers did a fantastic job of giving these students a great send off. This is the first lot of students from Bright Futures Secondary School to have completed all four years of education at Bright Futures and be sitting their MSCE exams (Malawi School Certificate of Education). We wish them every success in their exams and for their futures. We are so pleased to have these photos and videos of the BFSS S4 Graduation.

We are all so proud of the young people they have become. Whilst at BFSS, as well as learning the curriculum subjects, they have better numeracy, literacy, they have learned how to grow vegetables and care of chickens, pigs and goats, they have learned how to sew and do some basic carpentry. The students have enjoyed playing football, netball and rugby with their friends.

Above all, they have had the opportunity for a brighter future. Who knows if the girls would have been married off at age 12 or 13 and have had babies by now? Who knows if the boys would have been having to steal to feed themselves? Thankfully, because of the opportunity they have been given, they now have more choices and chances for a brighter future.

Thank you to their teachers for all their hard work. Thank you to the parents and caregivers for encouraging the young people to attend school. Most of these students are either from single parent families or living with extended family. They are all living in extreme poverty and know that education will give them and their loved ones the opportunity of a brighter future.

So we thank their sponsors for supporting these young people through school. Your monthly donation of £25 has provided a nutritious school lunch each day which, for most, is the only food they eat each day. You have also helped provide the stationery that the students need. Periodically, the young people receive new clothes and shoes. As you can see in these great photos and videos, the young people have been given new clothes. The t-shirts were donated by All Saints Junior School in Maidenhead.

So as we say ‘goodbye and good luck’ to these wonderful young people, we are looking for people to sponsor and support students who are looking for a place at Bright Futures Secondary School in September. The more people who want to help, the more young people can be offered a place in S1 in September. We really do need your help to give other deserving young people the opportunity of a brighter future. Will you join us? contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com It’s only 85p per day to change a life.

Enjoy the photos and videos and do get in touch if you would like to support a young person like one of these amazing students graduating from Bright Futures Secondary School today. Thanks for reading and supporting the students, Bright Futures Secondary School and Changing Lives Malawi, Sarah x

S4 exams

7 students standing in front of a wall on graduation day at school

The Day of the African Child

Sarah’s blog 16/06/26

This year, The Day of the African Child, is highlighting the need for clean water, sanitation and hygiene for all children.

Unfortunately, there are many children who are having to go to the bushes to relieve themselves. This puts, especially girls, at risk of being attacked and isn’t good for their self-confidence or self-esteem.

There are too many who do not have clean drinking water and soap and water for handwashing. Too many do not have soap for washing themselves and their clothes because they cannot afford a bar of soap.

Too many girls miss a week of school each month because they do not have reusable sanitary pads. They miss out on education just because they are female and because of a natural bodily function. it’s even more important that they have the soap they need to clean themselves and wash their pads and clothes.

I don’t think any of us can ever comprehend being so poor we cannot afford to buy a bar of soap. It’s especially important when there are outbreaks of disease like cholera and to protect children from diseases that can kill them or make them extremely ill.

With the help of our supporters, there are latrines, showers, clean drinking water and soap available at Bright Futures Campus. There is now clean water for drinking and handwashing at Chambo Primary School and a girls’ latrine block.

Students at Bright Futures Secondary School have been making reusable sanitary pads for all who need them.

We are grateful for the donations to our fundraiser. We were able to buy many bars of soap. We took some to Chambo Primary School for handwashing and also took some to the new mothers at Chambo Health Centre.

We will be keeping our fundraiser open so that we can continue supporting the most vulnerable children with soap and notebooks. We’d love it if you could make a small donation please. https://gofund.me/08d75b415

Also, the headteacher at Chambo Primary has asked if we could appeal for sponsors to support these vulnerable children. It will mean they will be given a food parcel and soap each month which will help ensure they are better fed. They will also continue to have access to the weekly feeding programme and be given clothes and shoes when available. It’s still only £25 per month to sponsor a young person and give them a brighter future. Could you help us help them please? contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com

And yet despite all the challenges these children face, you can see from the photos and videos how amazing they all are. They deserve our help and support. They just need a hand up. So on The Day of The African Child, will you lend your hand to one of these children? Thank you again, Sarah x

could you please support one of these children?

clean water for drinking and handwashing

Boys from Chambo Primary entertaining everyone on the Celebration Day

Girls’ from Chambo Primary singing and dancing at the Celebration Day

Everyone enjoyed the netball and football on the Celebration Day

Great excitement from the fans!

Students from Bright Futures Secondary School waiting for the Celebration Day to start…they had been busy ensuring the campus was tidy and they had moved lots of chairs for the visitors

Children at Bright Futures Nursery

Only 3 sleeps to go…

Join us for an incredible journey to Malawi! Packing for this adventure has been a challenge in itself, but we’re almost ready to make a difference. Thank you for your incredible support! #MalawiJourney #GivingBack #kindnessmatters

Sarah’s blog 17/5/26

We can’t believe how quickly the last part of the countdown to our first visit to Malawi is going! Only 3 sleeps to go….

The bags have been packed, unpacked, repacked, things set aside to go on the next container as there’s not enough room…. This is certainly the most complicated packing for a trip I’ve ever done!

It’s going to be very surreal as we’ve been looking forward to this trip for so long… but it’s finally here.

Like the famous film title ‘planes, trains & automobiles’, our trip is going to be ‘automobile, train, plane, plane, automobile, plane, plane, train, automobile.’

That is a lot of travelling! We will hopefully be able to post updates on Facebook, instagram and do some blogs too. Please do join us in following our journey as we meet the people whom we have been supporting and working in partnership with for the past few years.

Thank you to everyone who has supported us with words of encouragement and kindness. Thank you to everyone who has contributed to our fundraising. Our aim is to be able to provide more food to malnourished children while we are in Malawi, buy at least 1.000 bars of soap and buy notebooks for students. The more donations we receive, the more we can do to help.

When people cannot even afford to feed their families every day, they certainly don’t have money for soap and notebooks. Will you help us please? Together we can make a difference!

You can contribute through our GoFundMe page https://gofund.me/70a4091dc or through our website, or you can email contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com for bank details.

Lots of photos and videos will be taken and posted and hopefully some good insights into what is working well and what we can do to improve other projects.

Many thanks again for your support for the hundreds of children who live in extreme poverty, Sarah x

Bunches of Bananas

Students at Bright Futures Secondary School are reaping the rewards of their hard work.

Sarah’s blog 2/5/26

Last week Levison had the devastating news that lots of maize had been stolen from one of the fields. All their hard work gone. Future food for the children gone. Can you imagine how heart breaking this would be?

But here is some wonderful good news to share. The banana tubers that the students at Bright Futures Secondary School worked hard to plant, now have some bunches of bananas! Hard work is reaping rewards for the students in this project. This is a fantastic boost for them. Remember most of these students are orphans, living in extreme poverty with extended family. Their only food is the free lunch they are given at school each day. So this is a big deal for them.

Also banana tubers were shared with Chambo Primary School and they too have bananas… hopefully we will get an update from Chambo Primary next week.

The students at Bright Futures Secondary School are going to keep some bananas to eat but are going to sell the majority. They have been asked to think about what they should purchase with the funds from the sale of their bananas. And we look forward to hearing some of their ideas. I wonder what they will suggest?

This practical agriculture lesson has taught the students how to grow bananas should they wish to become farmers after they leave school. However, their learning is being extended by teaching them business skills and how to become self-sufficient. They will only be able to spend what someone is prepared to pay for their bananas.

Here are some quotes from students at BFSS.

Lloyd told Levison, ‘I am happy to see the saplings we planted a few months ago giving us fruits. I will make sure I plant some bananas for my family.’

A quote from Hilda, ‘I am just happy to be part of this gardening team.’

Saviour added, ‘Thanks to our supporters for giving us this opportunity to learn how to grow bananas. The skills will help me to earn money when I finish school.’

Will they choose to buy more banana tubers? Or some seeds or fertiliser? Or something they need for their classroom? A vote will be taken so that the students know their voices are being heard and that they are involved in shaping their own education and brighter future. Hope you enjoy these photos. Thanks again for supporting us to continue Changing Lives (in) Malawi, Sarah x

PS it’s only just over two weeks until Liz and I head off to Malawi for a fortnight. We are so looking forward to meeting everyone there and seeing projects like this. Will you support us to help vulnerable children while we are in Malawi? You can click on the link here and read about our trip and make a donation https://gofund.me/5d34c8533 . Alternatively, send an email to contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com for bank details or make a donation through our website. Every little helps as the saying goes! And we are very grateful to all of our supporters. Thanks again, Sarah

Bananas – a sustainable project

Liz and Sarah’s trip to Malawi

It’s less than 6 weeks until Liz and Sarah head to Malawi…. still lots of planning to do and vaccinations to get.

Sarah’s blog 9/4/26

Liz and Sarah’s trip to Malawi isn’t far away! Liz, who is another trustee of Changing Lives Malawi, and myself are counting down now to our two week trip to Malawi. It’s just over 5 weeks time until we set off and it’s all starting to feel very real.

I’ve had my second lot of injections today, Liz has had her first today. We are both going for yellow fever injections on Saturday…not really a fun day out in Stirling…but you have to have a vaccination certificate to show to enter Malawi.

I have been collecting supplies for the new nursery classroom and Liz has been on a camera course and we have our train tickets and flights all booked.

We will hopefully be able to blog from Malawi and take lots of photos and videos at Bright Futures Nursery and Secondary School to share with you. Meeting the people we have been helping to support is what I am most looking forward to.

We have paid for our own train tickets, flights, vaccines, travel insurance, visas etc… but we would like to be able gift a bar of soap to each young person at the nursery, secondary school and feeding programme. Also, we would like to be able to provide bars of soap for each new mother at Chambo Health Centre.

This will be approx 1,000 bars of soap at approx 30p-40p per bar. So that is at least £300. Costs have risen hugely in Malawi and none of the families we help to support can afford to buy soap…they are living in extreme poverty and struggling to buy food every day.

You can click on the link to our fundraiser https://gofund.me/e2cc483aa to find out what other projects we are trying to raise funds for….any small donations will be very gratefully received. Or you can donate via our website or email for bank details contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com .

Many thanks for your continued support, Sarah x

Giving out gifts from the Balfron 10k

Thank you for the donations from the Balfron 10k last year. Some great photos from Malawi. We will be collecting preloved shoes at this year’s event too.

Sarah’s blog 3/3/26

We were at the popular Balfron 10k race last year collecting preloved training shoes to send to the vulnerable people we support in rural northern Malawi. We were given almost 100 pairs of training shoes (children’s and adults) to send. Over the last few days, Levison and team have been giving out gifts from the Balfron 10k event.

There were t-shirts left over from previous races and the organisers kindly gave these to us. As you know, it takes a long time for things to arrive at their destination. However, last week, trainers and other shoes were given out to students at Bright Futures Secondary School and also to staff and volunteers. Everyone was very thankful for these gifts.

Yesterday, staff and volunteers were gifted the Balfron 10k t-shirts. On behalf of everyone who received these gifts, thank you so much. They are delighted to have been thought about. A small gift like a t-shirt means a great deal to the people who are living in extreme poverty.

We are going to be at this year’s Balfron 10K race again on Sunday 3rd May…exactly two months from now. Changing Lives Malawi will again be collecting trainers and other shoes of all sizes (no heels please). We must ask that all footwear is in good CLEAN condition. Would you be still happy to wear them? Do they have holes in the soles? The people receiving your preloved shoes and trainers walk miles every day, so the footwear needs to be functional and clean.

Can you tell your friends and spread the word so that we collect more than 100 pairs this year? There are hundreds of children and adults that we help to support and they would all love a new (to them) pair of shoes. Also, we would be grateful for a donation of £1 per pair of shoes to help towards transport costs. We are based in Balfron so this is our ‘home event’. Lets make it another successful one this year. Thanks also to Shoe Share Malawi who also donated training shoes to us and put us in touch with the organisers of the Balfron 10k event. Thanks so much, Sarah x

Also, some other news to share, myself and another trustee, Liz, are visiting the projects we support in Malawi for the first time in May. We are very excited and you can read about our plans here https://gofund.me/866bf18f0 and if you’d like to get in touch, our email is contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com Enjoy the photos. Thanks again, Sarah x

Balfron 10K – collecting shoes

Lichfield Spires Netball Club

Lichfield Spires Netball Club – your donated kit has arrived in Malawi. Thank you so much for helping to make a difference to vulnerable young people.

Sarah’s blog 19/2/26

Last summer wrote a blog about a huge donation of netball kit that we received from Lichfield Spires Netball Club. I will attach that blog so you can read about how the kit made the first part of the journey to Malawi.

Netball and football are the two national sports and young people very much enjoy playing these team sports. We have had lots of donations of other sports kit. But, apart from some netball bibs, this is the first proper netball kit that has been donated for use by vulnerable children and young adults. We bought some velcro squares with players positions to stick on to the kit. We also bought a couple of netballs and boxed everything up to go to Malawi.

This week, some of the girls at Bright Futures Secondary School tried on their new netball kit. This kit will make such a difference to their confidence levels and self-esteem. They know that people care about them to send such lovely netball kit. They play netball in school and amongst other local schools and at weekends. It is hoped in future that they will be able to join a netball league. Some of the girls are a bit shy as they’ve never worn netball kit before and aren’t used to being the centre of attention.

So to everyone at Lichfield Spires Netball Club – thank you for making a difference to these vulnerable young people. Most of them are orphans living with extended family. To Paul and Stuart who met halfway between us (central Scotland) and Lichfield, thank you for ensuring that this wonderful donation was able to reach us and then to Dundee in time for the container going to Malawi.

We will continue to share more photos and videos from actual netball matches but, for now, thank you again for making a difference and helping us continue Changing Lives (in) Malawi. If you’d like to get in touch, our email address is contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com . Enjoy the photos, follow us on social media, sign up for my blogs and watch out for more photos! Sarah x

Lichfield Spires Netball Club Supports Malawi Youth Sports

BFSS Students’ Favourite Subjects

BFSS Students’ Favourite Subjects

Student at Bright Futures Secondary School have written about their favourite subjects. Have a read of today’ blog.

Sarah’s blog 17/2/26

Here are some great photos of the students at Bright Futures Secondary School. Also, in today’s blog, is writing about BFSS Students’ favourite subjects at school. Thank you to the teacher who organised the photos and the students’ writing. Thank you to the sponsors who support these very vulnerable teenagers to be able to attend secondary school. Because of you, these vulnerable students are having opportunities that they wouldn’t have had. As well as free education, free uniform and stationery, they are receiving a free nutritious lunch each day. For most, this is the only food they eat.

If you’d like to be a sponsor, it’s only £25 per month. You can sponsor as an individual, two friends splitting the cost, a family, a club or a business. Will you make a difference to a young person’s future? Will you help them to have a bright future? contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com Thank you to everyone who helps us to continue Changing Lives (in) Malawi. Your kindness is much appreciated. Thanks, Sarah x

Sunday Sports for Students

Thanks to teachers at Bright Futures Secondary School for organising Sunday sports for students!

Sarah’s blog 10/2/26

We were delighted to receive these photos and videos yesterday from the deputy head teacher at Bright Futures Secondary School. It was a day of Sunday sports for students and we are grateful to the teachers for organising this event. It looks like everyone had great fun playing football and netball.

Yesterday taught these vulnerable teenagers, who are mostly all orphans living with extended family, that they are important. It shows that people care about them enough to organise events for them. It shows that people care about them enough to send preloved sports kit for them. These young people are enjoying opportunities that they wouldn’t previously have had. As well as having fun with their friends, team sports are good for their confidence and self-esteem. Students at Bright Futures Secondary School are also learning skills and self-discipline.

Everyone also received a nutritious lunch to make the day even more special and to ensure they had enough energy to take part in the team sports. We are thankful for those who support us to send preloved sports kit to those who need it. If these are photos of preloved kit from your club then why not share with your friends and ask them to follow us on social media?

Sports kit (depending on sizes) is shared between primary and secondary schools and grassroots sports teams. Everyone is delighted to receive smart, matching kit. Julian Chenery, whose charity is ‘Wear a Sports Shirt Day’, spends his weekends travelling to various football grounds collecting preloved kit, watching football matches and enjoying the odd pint! We are so pleased that he includes the young people we are helping to support on his list of recipients of the preloved kit he collects.

In these photos kit is being worn from Bromley and Beckenham Hockey Club, Maidstone United Football Club, Borden Village Football Club and Seaton Town Football Club. As you can see, these preloved sports kits have a new lease of life and young people are enjoying wearing them proudly and confidently. Acts of kindness like this make a huge difference. There will be photos in the near future of more sports kit that has arrived on the latest container.

Would you like to help to pay for a box of sports kit to go on the container or would you like to contribute to providing food for a sporting event like this? Please do get in touch contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com or you can donate via our website or QR code. It’s always about teamwork. Thank you for being part of our team, Sarah x

Gifts for Students

Thanks to one of our supporters who sent these gifts for students at Bright Futures Secondary School to make their lives a little bit better.

Sarah’s blog 5/2/26

Thankfully, the contents of boxes, soaked by heavy rain due to the tarpaulin being ripped, have now been dried out. That took three days to do and created so much work. You can read the story of what happened below if you didn’t see my last blog. Yesterday, the first gifts for students were distributed.

One of our supporters had kindly bought these gifts for students at Bright Futures Secondary School. The young people can arrive at school soaked through during the rainy season. Whilst these gifts for students aren’t going to solve all the issues the students face during the rains, this act of kindness will go a long way to helping the young people feel valued. Their journeys to and from school will be a little bit easier.

Some students homes have a leaking roof, some students cannot cross swollen rivers after the heavy rains. Some students, who have a thatched roof on their basic homes, have bugs and mosquitoes living in the twigs and branches.

Here are a few photos from yesterday when students were surprised and delighted to receive these ponchos. Kindness matters and small acts of kindness go a long way to helping people feel valued and making the world just a little bit better. Thank you to everyone who continues to support us to help these vulnerable young people. Sarah x

A Difficult Journey

Tree Planting

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.

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 sapling

students holding tree saplings prior to planting

you 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.

International Day of Education

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.

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