No bees in the new beehive…yet. Students have been to check the site where they placed their newly made hive.
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Sarah’s blog 16/1/26
On Wednesday, a group of students went to look at the beehive they had built and placed in the local forest. Unfortunately, there were no bees…yet. They will check regularly. They will research if there is any more they can do to encourage bees to take up residence in their new hive.
We have received some funding so that more wood can be bought so students can make additional beehives. Thank you to the donors for supporting this project. If you would like to make a financial contribution to enable the students to make more beehives then please email contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com The aim is that, as well as learning new skills, the school can become more self-sufficient. Projects like this can bring in an income and give students skills to be more confident about their futures. All they need now is bees!
Thank you also to the teachers who have supported the students to research, design and build the beehive. There is so much learning involved in this project. It’s great to see the students gaining skills and becoming more confident. They will be learning business skills too as well as becoming better at carpentry and beekeeping.
So, despite there being no bees…yet, I hope you enjoy the photos and videos I was sent by the teacher this morning. Let’s hope it isn’t too long before bees move in. Thanks, Sarah x
“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
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
It’s Independence Day in Malawi. Here are some facts and a couple of ways that you can help students living in extreme poverty become independent and self-sufficient.
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Sarah’s blog 6/7/25
Happy Independence Day to all of our friends in Malawi. Here are a few facts about Malawi;
Malawi’s Independence Day is celebrated on 6th July.
It is their 61st Independence Day today.
Malawi gained independence from the United Kingdom.
Malawi was previously known as Nyasaland prior to gaining independence.
Dr Hastings Banda played a significant role in leading the country to independence and later became the first president of Malawi.
Independence Day is a national holiday in Malawi marked with celebrations.
The flag of Malawi features three horizontal stripes of black, red and green, with a red sun in the black stripe, symbolizing the rising sun of freedom and the unity of the country.
Malawi is sometimes referred to as the “Warm Heart of Africa” due to the friendly nature of its people.
Malawi is one of the poorest countries in the world, with a high percentage of its population living in poverty. Over half the population lives in poverty, this is much higher in rural locations.
We are pleased that, with the help of our supporters, we are making a difference to the hundreds of children and their families who live in extreme poverty. Our end goal is always self-sufficiency and sustainability. The difficulty is that children need feeding now which we have to address as well as supporting the community towards self-sufficiency. The situation is extremely serious in the rural far north of Malawi and most children and young people are suffering from malnutrion. All are hungry. No children are fed in primary schools in the far north of Malawi.
Through educational projects like our School Literacy Project, where we collect and send books to primary schools which hardly have any resources, exam pass rates at the end of primary school are rising. The young people know that education is their way out of poverty and are keen to learn.
We also match vulnerable young people with sponsors to help pay for their secondary education at Bright Futures Secondary School. Secondary education has to be paid for in Malawi and none of these young people would have been able to attend. Thanks to our supporters, we have built BFSS which is bringing hope for a brighter future for young people living in extreme poverty. We are appealing for more sponsors to join us in supporting new students going into S1 in September. It is only £25 p/m per student. If you would like to help a young person gain a secondary education please get in touch contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com
At Bright Futures Secondary School, students study agriculture as a core subject and they are learning skills for life through practical agricultural lessons. They are growing their own fruit and vegetables to help supplement their free school lunch that they get each day. This is a really important meal as, for most, it is their only meal each day. Their families can share the small amount of food they have amongst the other members of the family, knowing that young person has already been fed.
We are appealing for help to buy more fruit tree saplings for future food and for a sustainable income as excess fruit can be sold at the market. We are also appealing for money to buy extra gardening tools so that all students are able to join in with practical agricultural lessons instead of just having to wait and take turns. Also we are hoping that, if we can provide funds for carpentry tools, then students can learn how to make simple furniture.
Will you help these students towards independence please? They are keen to work hard to help themselves. They just need a helping hand then they can be independent and proud of their achievements.
Thanks to everyone who has helped so far. If you can give a little then it would be very much appreciated by us and the students at Bright Futures Secondary School. Please sign up to receive my blogs and you can follow us on Facebook to keep up to date with the most recent news. Together we can help a community towards independence and self-sufficiency. Thanks so much, Sarah x
A lovely photo taken at Chambo Primary School when boxes of books were donated recently as part of our School Literacy Project.
New books donated to Kalanga Primary School as part of our School Literacy Project. Literacy rates are increasing now they have more books to read.
Students at Bright Futures Secondary School have planted banana tubers.
Students at Bright Futures Secondary School queuing up for their free school lunch. For most of them this is their only meal each day. It also helps their families to share their small amount of food between the remaining family members and not worry about including the students as they have already had a substantial and nutritious meal.
For Fathers’ Day… will you buy your Dad a sustainable gift which will make a big difference to the hundreds of children who are living in extreme poverty in rural northern Malawi?
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Sarah’s blog 7/6/25
It’s Fathers’ Day next Sunday the 15th June. Would your Dad like a sustainable gift? Does your Dad really need another pair of socks? What do you buy for the man who has everything? We have the perfect gifts that will be special and a bit different. We need your help. We need to help the young people help themselves to a better and brighter future.
We are appealing for funds to purchase more agricultural tools to help the students during their practical agricultural lessons. They already have a few hoes, spades, slashers, watering cans and a wheelbarrow. However, more are needed so that all the students can take part in the lessons which are a core part of the curriculum. We’d like them to be able to have another wheelbarrow, more watering cans, more spades and hoes. Will you help please?
This appeal for tools also covers carpentry tools so that students at Bright Futures Secondary School can learn basic woodwork. This will be another skill for life for those living in a rural community and a possible way to earn money for some. If you’d like to donate on behalf or your Dad, you can either email me a name or leave a message on the DonorSee appeal with the name you’d like written to appear as donors of the carpentry equipment. https://donorsee.com/project/27684?share=1
Our other appeal is for more fruit tree saplings. Approximately, 500 orphans and other children and young people living in extreme poverty receive a nutritious meal at the Feeding Programme once a week. There are no big charities feeding children in primary schools in the rural far north, meaning most children are suffering from malnutrition and all are hungry. Families cannot afford to feed their children and prices continue to rise. This is an amazing chance to support these children and their families. To help them become self-sufficient.
By planting more fruit tree saplings, the orchard will continue to grow. It will provide much needed food for years to come. Any surplus fruit will be able to be sold, providing a sustainable source of income. Will you help by purchasing some fruit tree saplings please? https://donorsee.com/project/27708?share=1
There is the opportunity to leave a message on the two DonorSee appeals with the name of your Dad or other important man in your life. Names will be written on a board for the new area of Orchard or, for the carpentry tools, on a wall at Bright Futures Campus. We rely on the generosity of our donors. Let’s do this together. Let’s make a real difference to hundreds of children and young people who do not have enough to eat.
Or would you like to make a donation in memory of a special person? Let me know and their name will be added. Donations can be made by clicking on either of the two DonorSee links or by emailing for our bank details contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com Together we can continue Changing Lives (in) Malawi. Thank you so much, Sarah x
One of the first saplings planted..this guava tree is now bearing fruitPlanting bananas which are now growing wellStudents at Bright Futures Secondary School have also planted pine tree saplings to help prevent soil erosion, replace trees used for firewood and to help protect the planet.
