bright futures secondary school Archives

International Women’s Day

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Sarah’s blog 8/3/24

The theme for this year’s International Women’s Day is ‘Invest In Women: Accelerate Progress’.

‘There is no limit to what we, as women, can accomplish.’
Michelle Obama

Thanks to our wonderful supporters, Changing Lives Malawi is making a difference to hundreds of orphans and other young people each day.

Because we believe in equality and inclusion, girls and women have needed more help and support due to the dire poverty they live in. The women and girls are strong; grandmothers caring for grandchildren, widows bringing up six children alone, mother’s caring for disabled children whilst being judged by society as it must be their fault that their child is disabled. When things are so bad, these brave women, who have been strong for so long, need a helping hand to get back on their feet. We try to get their children matched with sponsors so that their is some food going into that home to supplement the meagre amount they have.

The end goal is that all families will have enough to eat, all children will be thriving and in education and the community will be self-sufficient through employment and sustainable projects.

One of the first things that happened is that we sent hand turn sewing machines and fabric to Malawi. A group of girls were shown how to make reusable sanitary towels for all who needed them. This is an ongoing project. Hundreds of girls have and will continue to attend school ALL MONTH the same as the boys. Previously they had to stay at home for one week each month so missed out on a quarter of their education. So equal access to education is improving for girls.

Another way that girls are being helped is that, although illegal, some girls are still at risk of being married off too young, whilst still children, as their families cannot afford to feed them. By matching them with a sponsor, they have food coming into their home and have welfare checks and, of course, access to quality education.

All the young people are desperate for education. They know that this is their way out of poverty. We are ensuring that girls, as well as boys, who wouldn’t normally be able to go to secondary school, receive a quality secondary school education and a cooked school lunch each day. This is free of charge as we match them with sponsors whose monthly contribution of £25 helps pay for their place at Bright Futures Secondary School.

In September, there will be the next intake of S1 students to Bright Futures Secondary School from pupils who are in p8 at Chambo Primary. Very few families can afford to pay for their child’s secondary education at one of the state secondary schools, which is why it was so important that Bright Futures Secondary School was built. However, each of these young people will need to be matched with a sponsor to enable them to attend Bright Futures Secondary School.

If you would like to help a young girl, in her last year of primary school, have the opportunity to be the best she can possibly be by sponsoring her through secondary education then please do get in touch. It’s only £25 per month and the cost can also be split between two friends or a group. contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com On International Women’s Day 2024, this might be the most important thing you ever do for one of these girls.

We have good, strong role models in female teachers and staff and, of course, this offers employment and makes women independent in their own right. Also, there are wonderful women who volunteer their time to support the work in Malawi and of course here in Scotland and internationally. I personally want to thank them. I have strong women supporting me everyday and I am grateful and want them to know how much I appreciate them.

So on this International Women’s Day, will you invest in a young woman and accelerate progress? Will you stand up for girls’ education?

‘Each time a woman stands up for herself, she stands up for all women.’
Maya Angelou

Thank you for your support and hope you enjoy the photos from Bright Futures Secondary School and nursery this morning. Happy International Women’s Day, Sarah x

Miss Chisenga is the humanities teacher at Bright Futures Secondary School.

Miss Mkumbwa, Head Teacher and English Teacher.

Group discussions outside. It’s good to see some sunshine after the heavy rains.

Miss Chisenga, humanities teacher, Miss Mkumbwa, Head Teacher & English Teacher and Miss Siyame, nursery teacher. All are good role models for the vulnerable girls we help to support.

The preschoolers (4-6) enjoy coming to nursery and are fed at each session.

Introducing Our x 4 Charity Firewalkers – please show your support!

Introducing our four amazing firewalkers; Alistair Blair and David Braid – teachers at Balfron High School and Joanne Byrne and Alison Rennie. Good luck and thank you!

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Sarah’s blog 27/02/24

Have you ever fancied walking across hot coals? Not me….I’m not brave enough for that! Luckily we have four (willing) volunteers who are going to do just that!

Allander Rotary Club are organising a Firewalk on Sunday 24th March in Milngavie and Changing Lives Malawi is one of their three chosen charities. We are very fortunate to have their support and it’s much appreciated.

Let me introduce our fearless firewalkers!

Team 1 – Joanne Byrne & Alison Rennie

Joanne Byrne (right) is my sister and has raised funds for us before for the shower block and a latrine block. Alison Rennie is Joanne’s best friend and didn’t even hesitate when she was asked if she wanted to take part in this challenge!

All of the money raised by Joanne & Alison will be going towards building a staffroom at Bright Futures Secondary School and buying more textbooks for the next intake of students. https://gofund.me/c127c5e9

Team 2 – Alistair Blair & David Braid

DHT Mr Braid (left) and Mr Blair (English Dept)

Mr Blair is a teacher in the English Department at Balfron High School and Mr Braid is one of the Deputy Head Teachers at BHS. We are delighted that they have agreed to do this challenge and we are very grateful for their support.

You can read more about Mr Blair and Mr Braid’s fundraising by clicking on their Go Fund Me link, but half the money they raise will come to Changing Lives Malawi towards the new staffroom and purchasing more textbooks for Bright Futures Secondary School. https://gofund.me/9430b2af

The other half of the money that the teachers will raise is going to the Zanzibar School Trip in 2025. Twenty current S4 students at Balfron High School will be going to work with three local communities supported by Mr Blair and Miss Vickers.

There will be more posts and more information but, as this event is only just over a month away, please donate, please share, please tell your friends and with teamwork we can make a difference to young people who are living in extreme poverty. Education is the way out of poverty and by donating a few £££ these children and young people will have choices, chances and opportunities that they wouldn’t previously have had. There are more photos and information on each team’s Go Fund Me link.

Thank you Joanne, Alison, Alistair and David for agreeing to this challenge and thank you to you all in advance for donating and sharing. You can keep up to date with progress by signing up for my blogs on our website or following us on social media. Thanks, Sarah x

https://changinglivesmalawi.com/blog/

Introducing Our x 4 Charity Firewalkers – please show your support!

Introducing our four amazing firewalkers; Alistair Blair and David Braid – teachers at Balfron High School and Joanne Byrne and Alison Rennie. Good luck and thank you!

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Sarah’s blog 19/02/24

Have you ever fancied walking across hot coals? Not me….I’m not brave enough for that! Luckily we have four (willing) volunteers who are going to do just that!

Let me introduce our fearless firewalkers!

Team 1 – Joanne Byrne & Alison Rennie

Team 2 – Alistair Blair & David Braid

https://changinglivesmalawi.com/blog/

Int. Day of Women & Girls in Science

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Sarah’s blog 11/2/24

On 11th February, it is a day to celebrate the contribution women have made to science and also to celebrate the fact that girls have far more opportunities now to study and have science related careers than previously. I’d like to take this opportunity to talk about girls’ education in Malawi and what we are trying to do to support them to succeed. Education is the way out of poverty and brings choices and chances that they wouldn’t otherwise have had. So before we even address what they are learning in school, here are some of the challenges they face;

Reusable Sanitary Towels – did you know that girls weren’t welcome at school whilst they were menstruating? They used to have to stay at home for one week every month. How is that fair? Just because they are female they miss out on a quarter of their education. We sent hand turn sewing machines and a group of girls have been learning how to use these. They have been making reusable sanitary towels for all who need them. No longer do teenage girls have to miss school because of their periods.
Extreme Poverty – there is so much food insecurity in the rural far north, most children and young people are suffering from malnutrition. Many do not eat a proper meal every day. There are no big charities feeding children in schools that far north. We can only afford to feed 500 a proper meal once a week and some are walking 15km – 20km each day to receive this. It’s not enough but all we can do whilst we try to work with the community towards self-sufficiency and sustainability. contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com if you’d like to help.
Child Marriage – did you know that many families think they have no choice but to give away their daughter/niece/grandaughter to be married at a young age if it will be one less mouth to feed? Many of the young people we help to support are orphans living with extended family or they are in an extremely poor one parent family. By sponsoring a girl, you will have ensured that this does not happen to her. She will be safe from being married as a teenager or even younger. Many of these child brides die in childbirth. Could you sponsor a girl please? It might be the most important thing anyone ever does for her. It’s less than £1 per day.
Risk of Attack – Girls try to stay in groups when they are walking long distances to and from school for their safety. It is a real risk that they might be attacked and raped. Many of the students are older than they should be as they have missed a great deal of school to be working for a pittance. Groups of girls can be seen walking to the maize mill a few kilometres away – not with their own maize, but they are earning a few coins by carrying someone else’s maize to be milled. It’s a long, hard journey with hazards, which is why they walk in groups for protection. No water to drink and no food to eat and missing education.
No Money for School Fees – secondary education must be paid for in Malawi. None of the young people we support could afford to attend secondary school. Our supporters helped fund the building of Bright Futures Secondary School which is for these vulnerable teenagers who wouldn’t otherwise have had a secondary education. However, Bright Futures Secondary School is only half full at the moment…we need more sponsors to match with more teenagers to give them the chance of a brighter future. Could you sponsor a teenager today please? It’s only £25 per month and you could always split that cost with a friend! Sponsor money covers the young people having a nutritious cooked lunch each day….their only proper meal each day.
Long Walk to School – Whilst we have built Bright Futures Secondary School, there is no funding yet for dormitories. Girls (and boys) are having to walk a long way to school and home again. Some are walking for a couple of hours each way. As mentioned, safety is always a worry but also the four hours spent walking to and from school could be spent studying and either doing chores or relaxing. These young people are exhausted. Life is not easy. In the rainy season, the shallow rivers flood and it isn’t safe for some of the students to cross the rivers. Bridges are another thing on our list of jobs needing to be done when the money is available.
Education – so once all these challenges have been faced, education at Bright Futures Secondary School provides equal opportunities for girls as well as boys. They all do all subjects including sport, agriculture and, of course, science. There are only three years of students currently as Bright Futures Secondary School was only built recently. In September 2024, there will be four years of students and more teachers will need to be employed. The school is now a registered exam centre. Students take national exams in p8, S2 and S4. Last year, the school made national news in Malawi as there was 100% pass rate in these national exams! A great achievement for these young people who have had every challenge and obstacle thrown at them.
Photos – I hope you enjoy the photos of girls (and boys) enjoying science at Bright Futures Secondary School and also the other photos showing just how challenging life is for these young people. If you have it in your heart to help a young person, please do get in touch and you will be making a huge difference in their life. Together we can lift these children and young people out of extreme poverty and give them opportunities for a brighter future. Thank you, Sarah x contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com

We were really worried about Maria but thankfully we managed to find a sponsor for her and life is much better for her now.

A lovely smile from Maria when she collected her monthly food parcel. All sponsored students who are still at primary school get a food parcel, clothes, stationery, welfare checks etc. Young people at Bright Futures Secondary get a cooked school lunch every day, uniform, stationery and of course their education for free. Can you make a difference to a vulnerable young person please?

Granda is happy and healthier and enjoying opportunities she wouldn’t previously have had.

Monica is one of the lucky ones as we were able to match her with a sponsor to support her education.

Monica is working hard and enjoying her first year at Bright Futures Secondary School thanks to her sponsor. There are many other girls in their last year of primary school who will need a sponsor in order to continue their education to secondary school. Can you help?

Maria (right) in a science lesson at Bright Futures Secondary School

Girls (nearest) have the same opportunities as boys at Bright Futures Secondary School

BFSS – S1 & S2 Students

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Sarah’s blog 08/02/24

Photos have been taken of the S1 and S2 students at Bright Futures Secondary School. However, there are some students who are struggling to attend just now.

It’s currently the rainy season and when it rains it really rains. Streams or small rivers that the students cross to get to school are swollen and too dangerous to cross. Some of the young people (as in the recent S3 essays) walk for a couple of hours to get to school and some up to 20km. They are that desperate for an education. They are desperate to climb out of the extreme poverty they live in. If you don’t see your sponsored young person then they must be one of the ones who lives a bit further away and we will try to get a photo of them soon. Getting funding to build bridges is on our list of things to do…but, unfortunately, we can’t do it all at once.

There are some students in these photos (names in black writing) who do not yet have sponsors. All of the students have missed out on education to work for a pittance to try to get some food for themselves and their families. The older they are the worse their home situation is. Bright Futures Secondary School is their last hope for a better and brighter future. They really need someone to sponsor their education. Please could you help? It’s only £25 per month to sponsor a young person…that’s less than £1 per day. Will you help? contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com Thank you for the continued support we receive to help these vulnerable teenagers. Sarah x

BFSS Essay Competition S3 – January

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Sarah’s blog 1/2/24

The S3 class at Bright Futures Secondary School were asked to write about ‘my journey to school’ and the content of some of these essays was really difficult to read.

Some students are walking a huge distance to get to Bright Futures Secondary School, others cannot get to school when it has been raining as it isn’t safe to cross the swollen rivers. Risk of girls being attacked and also being bitten by snakes are some of the difficulties these young people face. Even having no raincoat to wear is just something we cannot comprehend when it is the rainy season. Yet they are desperate for a good education. They are desperate to have the chance to have a better life.

Obviously the answer to a lot of the issues that have been mentioned is to build dormitories at Bright Futures Secondary School. These are already on the list for future projects as we knew about the difficulties the young people were facing. However, reading their essays makes their struggles more real. How we wish we had the money to build dormitories immediately, but we have to be realistic. Unfortunately, we cannot do everything at once. Things are improving for these young people but it makes me sad that they still have huge challenges and struggles. Nothing is straightforward or easy for them. Dormitories will be built but not this year (unless someone wins the lottery or has a magic wand!!).

Mathius Nyondo was the winner of January’s essay competition. I hope you enjoy reading his, and the other S3 students’ essays. Thanks, Sarah x

Fundraising Firewalk!

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Sarah’s blog 31/01/24

Introducing our first team of Firewalkers!

Joanne Byrne, my sister (on right of photo) and her best friend, Alison Rennie, decided in a moment of madness that they were up for the challenge of firewalking!! Thank you so much to both of them for being brilliant sports.

Alison Rennie (left) and Joanne Byrne are our first team of firewalkers!

Allander Rotary Club in Milngavie is hosting this Firewalk event on Sunday 24th March. Alison and Joanne will be doing the firewalk on behalf of Changing Lives Malawi. We are raising money for a teachers’ staffroom at Bright Futures Secondary School – teachers are currently using classroom four as we only have students in years 1-3. However, in September, with the next intake of students, all four classrooms will be needed. More teachers will be employed, hence the need for a dedicated staffroom. We are also needing S4 textbooks as we don’t have any of these yet.

So here is the link to Joanne and Alison’s fundraiser. We will be sharing more information about them and our goals over the next few weeks. https://gofund.me/c127c5e9

We are very fortunate to have two teams of firewalkers…the second team will be introduced next week.

We know we ask a lot of our supporters and we are extremely grateful for all the help we get…it is a real team effort and we appreciate each and every one of you. However, if you can share posts so we can reach a wider audience that would be really helpful and if you are able to make a donation to support the girls, that would be amazing. Thanks everyone, Sarah x

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

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

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.

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