Tag: bright futures secondary school

Progress Report

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Sarah’s blog 30/01/24

We were looking at the layout of the buildings at the Foundation today and I thought it would be a good time to show you again where the community is that we support and how things have changed in a few short years.

Ibuluma Villages are near Chisenga on the banks of the Chambo River right at the top of the map of Malawi. It is a very rural area. When Levison collects boxes from the container he has to travel all the way to Ekwendeni by Mzuzu.

This was the Foundation a few short years ago
This was taken from Google today and the buildings labelled

As you can see there has been a huge amount of achievement and we thank everyone who has helped make these changes happen for this rural community living in extreme poverty. They now have hope for a brighter future.

As well as the four classrooms of Bright Futures Secondary School, there is staff accommodation (the first house is already shown on the map), the second accommodation block will be completed this week and is marked in blue at the bottom of the photo along with a new latrine for the teachers. There is a shower block at the top of the photo and a library and general purpose room in the middle. There are two chicken sheds, office blocks and a kitchen and marked are two more latrine blocks that are about to be started.

The existing latrine blocks, which were build early on, sit at the left of the photos. However, early this morning something happened.

The boys’ latrines that were built a few years ago
The boys’ latrine block this morning

As you can see, sadly, the boys’ latrine block no longer exists. Due to the very heavy rains and termite activity, the ground became unstable and subsided. Thankfully, no one was hurt. Some bricks, doors and roofing sheets have been saved for use in rebuilding and the hole was filled in as a priority to make it safe. All the more recent buildings have been treated to keep the termites away.

Sometimes it feels like two steps forward and one step back when things like this happen. The heavy rains also prevent children and young people attending school as it isn’t safe for them to cross the swollen rivers. Foot bridges are on our list of improvements which sometimes feels like it’s never ending. It will, unfortunately, be a while until we get to that stage.

Thankfully, the latrine diggers and builders are on site already and we had just enough money to be building a latrine block for teachers, a boys’ latrine and a girls’ latrine. Obviously now we will have to build an additional boys’ latrine so the younger boys and older boys have separate facilities.

Although today hasn’t been good because of the boys’ latrine block being destroyed, as the second photo reminds us that, thanks to the continued support we receive, teamwork and a lot of determination, this community is changing. We are grateful to everyone who helps us. Below is a short video of the torrential rain this morning which brings everything to a standstill. We are Changing Lives (in) Malawi. Thanks, Sarah x

This morning’s torrential rain

Fruit Tree Planting Report

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Sarah’s blog 25/01/24

Now is the time to plant trees. Communities all over Malawi are doing this in January. There are numerous reasons for planting trees and obviously for future food, self-sufficiency and because it’s good for the planet all rate highly along with other benefits like helping to prevent soil erosion. Thank you to everyone who contributed to help us send money to purchase these fruit tree saplings.

However, I want to share with you a piece of work that two of the teachers at Bright Futures Secondary School have facilitated. We are delighted to have enthusiastic teachers who understand the need for sustainable food sources and that children and young people will learn more by taking part in practical learning. We are hoping that the saplings grow well and will provide much needed food and also a sustainable income for years to come.

More fruit tree saplings are needed still and also hundreds of pine tree saplings are needing to be planted to replace trees that the community have used for fuel and building. Are you able to help provide some money to buy more saplings? Would your business like to have a sign in the orchard if you sponsor planting some saplings? contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com

I hope you enjoy reading part of the report from the agriculture teachers and looking at the photos of young people busy planting the fruit tree saplings. Thanks, Sarah x

World Education Day 2024

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Sarah’s blog 21/1/24

As you probably know, we are passionate about education. Whether it is the seventy five preschool children in the nursery or the teenagers at Bright Futures Secondary School, these children and young people all have the right to have opportunities and choices and chances to be the best that they can be. They have the right to be supported to achieve their potential and have a brighter future for themselves and their families.

We couldn’t do everything we do without a huge amount of support. It’s always about teamwork. So whether you have donated some preloved books to our School Literacy Project, or donated preloved school uniform, or if you sponsor one of the vulnerable students…..THANK YOU. To the team in Malawi; Levison who oversees everything and whose vision it was, to the volunteer cooks, nursery staff and teachers…. THANK YOU. To everyone working behind the scenes and those raising funds for us to support education in rural northern Malawi…. THANK YOU.

We are achieving great things but many more very vulnerable children and young people are waiting for a sponsor so that they too can go to Bright Futures Secondary School. Secondary education needs to be paid for in Malawi. None of the students at Bright Futures Secondary School would be there without support.

Please will you be a sponsor for one of their friends? Education is the best way out of poverty for this community. It’s only £25 per month to sponsor a young person. We need more sponsors for the new S1 students next year. This might be the most important thing you ever do for one of these young people. contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com . I hope you enjoy these photos of some of the children and young people. We are proud of every single one of them and all they are achieving. Thanks, Sarah x

Some of the children enjoying the selection of books now available in ‘Emma’s Rainbow Library’
Levison Mlambya, Director, presenting Daniel Chombe with a small cash prize for his essay.
A well loved train set was gifted to the nursery. None of the children knew what to do with it to start with but they soon worked it out and have had many hours of fun.
New school, new uniform and new school bags at Bright Futures Secondary School
The first seventeen boxes of preloved books donated to Chambo Primary School as part of our School Literacy Project. Prior to this, they had hardly any resources.
Learning about computers
Agricultural lessons planting fruit tree saplings
Chambo Primary had no water. Thanks to a grant from The Kitchen Table Charities Trust, the children are now able to wash their hands and drink clean water.
Some young people learning from the carpenters whilst building desks for Chambo Primary School. Again, this was thanks to The Kitchen Table Charities Trust
Children in one of the classrooms sitting at their new desks. Changing Lives Malawi donated the exercise books and pencils
Feeding 500 vulnerable children once a week as no big charities are feeding children in primary schools that far north. Once a week isn’t enough but we need more financial donations to increase this. Sweatshirts donated by students at Strathblane Primary School (Stirling, Scotland)
Isaac is one of our sponsored children benefitting from having a sponsor. There are four children in his family with their mum. Granda, Isaac’s older sister was at risk of being married off too young as their mum couldn’t feed them all. We found sponsors for Granda and Isaac and they now have two food parcels going into their home each month to supplement their income. They also benefit from clothes, shoes, soap and toothbrush and toothpaste. Can you help a child like Isaac?
Some students at Bright Futures Secondary School having being gifted new clothes and showing some of the resources that the school had received
After more fundraising classrooms 3 and 4 at Bright Futures Secondary School were able to be built in time for the new term in September
The opening of Bright Futures Secondary School in November 2022 with classrooms 1 and 2. Students were delighted to be given a place at the school free of charge because they were matched with sponsors. They loved receiving new school uniform too.

A few more sponsored children & young people

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Sarah’s blog 20/1/24

We are fortunate that over 80 of the most vulnerable children and young people that we help to support have been matched with sponsors. We can not begin to imagine the impact that this has….just knowing that someone wants to help you out of a situation that must have seemed without any hope. It’s been a very busy year both here and in Malawi and we’ve not taken photos of sponsored young people for a while…sorry. But we are getting back on track and here are a few more of our sponsored young people.

Food is scarce and prices are rising all the time and the currency has been devalued. Things are tough. Most of the children and young people are orphans, living with extended family. We have found foster parents for a few children who had no one. Some children are living with their parents but there is not enough money coming into the home to feed everyone. Children can go days without eating properly.

Having a sponsor means that children receive some food each month to supplement what is coming into the home each month or, for those who are students at Bright Futures Secondary School, they receive free nutritious school lunches. Secondary education needs to be paid for in Malawi. None of the students at Bright Futures Secondary School would be at school if it wasn’t for their sponsors’ support.

Could you help a young person today? We hope to match more young people so that they have the opportunity to go to Bright Futures Secondary School. It’s only £25 per month to be a sponsor. contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com Thanks to all our sponsors and people who donate financially…it’s teamwork and we couldn’t help this community without you. Thanks, Sarah x

BFSS Essay Competition – December

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Sarah’s blog 19/1/24

Just before the school term finished for the Christmas holidays, students at Bright Futures Secondary School, having finished their exams, were asked to write an essay entitled ‘What I like about Bright Futures Secondary School’.

There were several reasons for doing this exercise; so we can find out more about the students and the school, to help students get more used to writing essays and, as there is a small cash prize for the best essay in each class, it is good motivation for all of the students.

We hope you are able to read the essays. The school does not yet have a printer or scanner so a photo had to be taken of each piece of writing and then sent to me.

In S1 Phaless has been chosen as the winner. The S2 prize goes to Alexander. In S3 Daniel’s essay won as it was a very powerful piece of writing. Very well done to all three!

Unfortunately, during the rainy season, not all students are able to attend school if the rivers become too deep and dangerous to cross. This is why some students were absent that day and haven’t written an essay. We are hoping this will become a monthly exercise as it will ultimately help them when writing exams.

Enjoy the photos and the essays and thank you to everyone who helps us make a difference to the lives of these young people. The three winners were overwhelmed and couldn’t believe they’d won. They’ve never won a prize like this. Daniel cried tears of joy. Hopefully they will begin to realise that they are important and deserve our help and that they do have brighter futures. Thank you, Sarah x

PS Alexander doesn’t have a sponsor yet, so if anyone would like to support this bright young man’s education then please do get in touch. It’s only £25 p/m to be a sponsor and you can split that cost with a friend! Thanks, Sarah x contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com

More Sponsored Children & Young People

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Sarah’s blog 10/1/24

It has been so busy with all the projects that are benefitting the many vulnerable children we help to support, that unfortunately we haven’t had as many photos of sponsored children and young people as we would have liked. Thank you to the sponsors for being patient with us and for understanding. Hopefully, we will have a better system in place this year and be bringing regular updates.

If you would like to sponsor a child or young person to make a difference in their lives then please do get in touch contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com It’s only £25 per month to be a sponsor, or you could share the cost with a friend. 

There are hundreds of vulnerable children and young people who would benefit from being matched with a sponsor. Especially those who are in their last couple of years at primary school and hoping to attend Bright Futures Secondary School. With a helping hand from a sponsor, their education is free of charge, they receive clothes and stationery and they have a nutritious school lunch each day. For most, this is their only meal each day. So your help would be much appreciated by us and gratefully received by the young people. Many thanks, Sarah x

A recap of 2023 in pictures

Please read about our successes and challenges and look at all the great photos of the children we help to support.

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Sarah’s blog 31/12/23

Firstly, I would like to thank everyone who has supported us in 2023. As I always say, it’s teamwork. We couldn’t do what we do without our generous supporters. Much has happened in 2023 and we need you even more in 2024 and need to reach more supporters to ensure that the hundreds of vulnerable children we support continue to have brighter and better futures.

Here are just some of the success stories of 2023, thanks to teamwork;

  1. 75 preschool children continue to meet five times a week at nursery and are fed at each session. They each receive a bag containing; a blanket, two red t-shirts, three pairs of pants, toothbrush & toothpaste and soap. They are now also receiving two picture books as part of our School Literacy Programme. This will ensure that all homes have at least two books and that children have daily opportunities for reading and becoming confident readers.
  2. Bright Futures Secondary School opened in November 2022 with two classrooms. Classrooms 3 and 4 were constructed and ready for term starting in September 2023 thanks to fundraising and donations. Education is free to students and they receive a free school meal each day, the only meal for many of these teenagers as they don’t have food at home.
  3. A grant was received for a teachers’ accommodation block for four teachers has been built. Once plastering and painting have been done, will be ready in mid January.
  4. Two plots of land, adjacent to the current land, have been purchased. One for the teachers’ accommodation and one for future building.
  5. Over 100 more fruit tree saplings have been purchased are will be planted by young people during the next couple of weeks. Other projects promoting self-sufficiency and sustainability are being put in place too.
  6. Solar panels were bought with grant to provide electricity to the library and the classrooms and teachers’ accommodation.
  7. Clothes, shoes and books continue to be sent to provide for the hundreds of vulnerable children we help to support. This helps to reuse preloved items to gift to those who cannot afford clothes because of the dire poverty they live in.
  8. Thanks to our supporters, we sent lots of sports kit, paid for and facilitated a two week rugby festival for the local schools led by the Malawi Rugby Union sports development coach, Jack Mphande.
  9. Chambo Primary School had no clean water for drinking or washing hands. They had no toilets. Only one of their eight classrooms had desks and chairs. Thanks to two grants we applied for, they now have a girls’ latrine block, clean water for drinking and washing hands and desks and chairs for another two classrooms. We also donated exercise books and pencils and stationery for the teachers. To date, we have donated twenty boxes of books as part of our School Literacy Project. Bit by bit, life is improving for the most vulnerable children.
  10. We continue to send money for The Feeding Programme. No charities are feeding children in schools in the rural far north of Malawi. Children are being taught to grow crops which are then used to feed them at the feeding programme.

As you can see, there has been a great deal happening and much success. We are so grateful that we have been supported to achieve the above for the children and their community. 

However, the Feeding Programme has got to be our biggest ongoing challenge as, despite having asked for help from several big charities with feeding, none are helping us. Most children are suffering from malnutrition as they do not have enough to eat, the situation is getting worse. We can only afford to send money to feed 500 children once a week. Even this is getting harder as food prices continue to rise and food is scarcer. Children are walking up to 20km for this one nutritious meal of the week which includes vegetables grown by the children. We need your help to feed these children as families are really struggling. If you could commit £5 or £10 per month, it would make a huge difference to us and to them contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com or https://gofund.me/d3cf8c3a

Chambo Primary: Clean Water/Latrines/Desks & BFSS gifts of clothes for students

Thanks to all who helped change lives for the students at Chambo Primary and Bright Futures Secondary School…some amazing photos!

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Sarah’s blog 23/12/23

Levison has had such a busy week this last week as both primary schools and secondary schools have been doing exams recently so visits to the schools had to wait until the students had finished their exams.

I am going to do a proper post on these visits after Christmas as I don’t have enough time today to write them up in detail.

Firstly Chambo Primary School. It’s a government run primary school with approximately 500 students over 8 classes. There are hardly any resources. Only classroom 8 had desks – the rest of the students sit on the floor. No big charities are feeding children in schools in this area. Many children are malnourished. There was no clean water and no latrines. This is the primary school where many of the orphans and vulnerable children that the Foundation supports attend. We had already donated boxes of books through our School Literacy Project, given clothes to students but we knew they needed more.

We were thankful to get a grant for £1,000 from The Eleanor Rathbone Trust to build a girls’ latrine, ensuring that girls have dignity, privacy and safety.

Thinking outside the box with the £6,000 grant we gratefully received from The Kitchen Table Charity Trust, we facilitated clean water being piped from Chambo Health Centre water supply after Changing Lives Malawi paying for a survey to ensure that this was possible. They are now taps outside Chambo Primary School with clean water for drinking and handwashing. Buckets and cups were also bought with the grant money and we provided soap for students and teachers.

Some of the grant money from The Kitchen Table Charity Trust was used for making desks for two of the classrooms, so there are now three classrooms with desks to sit at. A few of the young people that the Foundation supports helped the carpenters with making these desks and therefore were able to earn some money and learn some basic skills. The carpenters still have four bookshelves to make when they are finished working on a project at The Foundation. We provided exercise books and pencils for the students, and for the teachers we provided exercise books, clipboards, pens and boxes of chalk. Everyone was delighted and very thankful. Lots more information and photos will follow next week.

At Bright Futures Secondary School yesterday, students were tasked with writing essays in the morning about what they like about Bright Futures Secondary School and their hopes for 2024. In the afternoon they were given toothbrushes, toothpaste and soap supplied by Changing Lives Malawi. They were also gifted polo shirts from Merchiston Castle School in Edinburgh. We are grateful for lots of preloved sports kit they have gifted to us.

Via, Tony Phillips at Replay Sport Scotland charity in Stirling, we were gifted t-shirts and jackets from Scottish Swimming and also grey trousers from The Queen’s baton relay. We are very pleased to have been able to pass on these clothes to vulnerable teenagers and you can see how happy they are to have these gifts of new clothes. Thank you Tony for gifting these to us.

So as you can see from these photos there are lots of happy children and, with the help of our supporters, we are Changing Lives (in) Malawi. Thank you so much everyone who helps us…. it’s teamwork! Thank you Levison for project managing all the work and taking all the photos. Happy Christmas everyone, Sarah x

Advent Calendar – highlighting projects & children – day 5

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I’ve chosen education again for December 5th as it is a core project and something we all feel very strongly about. Thanks to grants and donations from our supporters, Bright Futures Secondary School was opened in November 22.

Currently, there are three classes S1, S2 and S3. In September 2024 there will also be an S4 class. When there are four classes there will need to be several more teachers employed at the school. Therefore, next year’s running costs will be significantly more than this year’s.

One way that the school is planning to be more self-sufficient and have some income to be able to buy their own exercise books, science equipment and money towards trips etc is to set up a Pig Project. Agricultural classes are part of the core curriculum and particularly S2 have a topic on keeping pigs. Future piglets can be sold; the income will be for the school and the students will have practical experience which will be invaluable in the future. Quality education will be the key to a better and brighter future for these students with choices and chances. If you would like to buy a piglet as a Christmas gift for the person who has everything it only costs £45. https://gofund.me/d3cf8c3a contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com Thank you for your support, Sarah x

Advent Calendar – highlighting projects & children – day 4

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Sarah’s blog 4/12/23

Today, 4th December we are highlighting food poverty and our feeding programme. I know I do go on about feeding children and education but it’s something I’m passionate about. So here are a few facts to read and we really would appreciate any help you can give.

  1. Did you know that there are no big charities feeding children in schools in the area we are supporting in the rural far north of Malawi?
  2. We send money to feed 500 orphans and other vulnerable children once a week. That’s all we can afford.
  3. This feeding programme was just intended for malnourished children in the immediate area, however word spread and the need is so great that some children will walk up to 20km for this one nutritious meal of the week.
  4. Teachers at Chambo Primary School have noticed an improvement in the concentration of these children even from one meal per week. Imagine if we could feed them more?
  5. Food prices are going up all the time and food is getting more scarce now the rainy season has started.
  6. Children are taught how to grow crops as agriculture lessons are a core subject on the curriculum, and important life skills to learn.
  7. Maize, sweet potatoes, cabbage and other vegetables are grown to be used to feed the children. However, these do not last long for 500 hungry children.
  8. Fruit tree saplings were planted a couple of years ago. Some bushes had fruit for the first time this year. However, the nursery children were so hungry that they picked the fruit and ate it. We have sent money to plant more fruit tree saplings now the rains are starting. This will provide much needed food and an income in the future and will, of course, also help the planet.
  9. Children in the nursery are fed 5 times a week.
  10. Students at Bright Futures Secondary School are fed 5 times a week.

Please will you help us as the situation is serious. Children are malnourished and hungry. Can you donate money for food please? or commit to £5 or £10 p/m towards the feeding programme. contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com https://gofund.me/d3cf8c3a Thank you, Sarah x

Advent Calendar – highlighting projects & children – day 3

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Sarah’s blog 3/12/23

On day 3 of our advent calendar we are highlighting education. Secondary education needs to be paid for in Malawi. Did you know that all of the students at Bright Futures Secondary School would not have been able to attend secondary school without support? Their education wouldn’t have gone past primary school. Even if they had passed their primary school leavers exams they would not be able to attend secondary school because they are so poor. Also, the nearest secondary school did not have enough spaces. All these students have missed chunks of education whilst at primary school so they could work for a pittance to try to buy food. They are all older because of that. The older they are, the more vulnerable and poor they are.

Thanks to our supporters and some generous grants, Bright Futures Secondary School was built. At the moment, class sizes are small because we cannot afford any more free places. However, every new sponsor matched with a young person ensures a brighter future for that vulnerable teenager. Education is their way out of extreme poverty. Being a sponsor only costs £25 per month. You can sponsor as an individual or a family or two friends can share the cost.

Students at Bright Futures Secondary School receive a cooked free school lunch each day. This is the only proper meal these young people eat every day, so it is vital for their wellbeing as well as being able to concentrate on their lessons. Could you support us with the cost of feeding the students please? Several people, committing £5 or £10 per month to ensure there is enough food for these teenagers each day will make a big difference. contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com

We were delighted that all S2 students passed their national exams in the summer. The fact that Bright Futures Secondary School had only opened in November 2022, it was an amazing achievement that the whole class passed. This story was even picked up by the national news, putting Bright Futures Secondary School well and truly on the map.

As part of our School Literacy Project, we are gifting books to the preschool children and putting boxes of books into local primary schools to raise attainment and help children be more confident readers. How can children learn to read properly if they don’t have books to practice with? Hopefully, we will start seeing the benefits of this project in the next few years as exam grades continue to rise.

Obviously, if primary school children were receiving food every day then this would make a huge difference too. Unfortunately, we can only afford to feed 500 once a week, with some children walking up to 20km to receive this nutritious cooked meal. Due to food scarcity, their currency being devalued again and prices continuing to rise, it is expected that the number of children attending this weekly feeding programme might increase to approximately 700 children. No big charities are feeding children in the rural far north and we cannot do this on our own without your support. Please help?

Please help us to support the children. Education is their way out of poverty. Thank you for reading and supporting, Sarah x https://gofund.me/d3cf8c3a contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com

Shoes, Desks & a Microscope

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Sarah’s blog 24/10/23

It’s a bit of a photo dump today! There is so much going on that it’s not easy to get photos of everything that is happening. Yesterday, S3 students at Bright Futures Secondary School were able to choose new shoes from the boxes of preloved shoes that www.salsshoes.com kindly donated to us to send to the teenage students. So there were lots of happy young people yesterday receiving new shoes to protect their feet whilst walking to and from school. Thanks to Sal’s Shoes and to all the people who donated preloved shoes to them.

We’d had a donation of money to be used to make desks for classroom 3. The donor wishes to remain anonymous but we are very grateful and thankful for this donation and the difference it is making. Levison was able to take some photos yesterday and you can see that the young people have a great learning environment. Thank you. We have preloved chairs and tables that we had kindly been offered going on the next container for classroom 4. If anyone would like to help towards the cost of transporting these then please do get in touch contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com

When Levison was at Bright Futures Secondary School yesterday, the S1 class were having a science lesson. He managed to get some photos of them using the new microscope that we sent. It’s so good to see these vulnerable teenagers having the opportunities they deserve and a good quality education. We do need sponsors to support more students to have a place at Bright Futures Secondary School so if you are able to commit to changing the life of a young person through education then please do contact us. It only costs £25 per month and you could share that cost with a friend. Or could you commit £5/£10 per month to ensure students have a nutritious, cooked school lunch each day. For many this is their only meal of the day. contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com

Thank you for your continued support. We are still collecting school uniform and shoes and also thin rain jackets if anyone would like to help. Also, any scientific calculators, maths sets or kindles that are still in good working order. If anyone has another microscope or STEM resources (science, technology, engineering, maths) that their children have grown out of eg snap circuits, meccano, magnets, etc please do get in touch to see if we are able to make use of them. Thanks and enjoy the photos, Sarah x

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