Tag: changing lives malawi

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.

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

Advent Calendar – highlighting projects & children – 23 & 24

Our last two advent photos; 23 – clean water, 24 – decent work & economic growth. http://www.changinglivesmalawi.com

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Sarah’s blog

Fundraising Calendars 2023

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Sarah’s blog 6/10/22

I am so happy that the calendars are finally here! There are some lovely photos on each page and some information about the projects we are supporting. They will make great Christmas presents or just to treat yourself to a calendar for next year.

The calendars are A4 size and will be £10 each plus postage. All money raised will go towards the first phase of Bright Futures Secondary School.

Please email me if you’d like one or more fundraising calendars. I can either post them to you or directly to the recipients if you’d prefer. contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com Thank you for your support and helping us continue Changing Lives Malawi. Sarah x

Our fundraising calendar for 2023 – £10 plus p&p goes towards Bright Futures Secondary School

This year’s p8 students

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Sarah’s blog 21/08/22

These young people have been really busy and have recently taken their primary school leavers exams. We have our fingers and toes crossed for them that they all pass and have good enough grades to continue onto secondary school.

They have all written letters to their sponsors. They aren’t confident at writing letters as they don’t have many opportunities so this is good practice for them.

Hope you enjoy the photos and reading what they have written. Thank you to all their sponsors for changing their lives and giving them new opportunities. Sarah x

A little boy in need of your help – Brighton Ng’ambi

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Sarah’s blog 5/6/22

Levison has visitors every day. People in need who are looking for work or food or clothes. He can’t always help but if he can help then he will. Everyone is welcome at The Foundation. Levison and his team always try their best.

Little Brighton Ng’ambi turned up this morning. He doesn’t usually come to The Foundation. He was clearly traumatised, malnourished, wearing rags, dirty and with lice in his hair. He has been orphaned and is living with relatives. Either they aren’t financially able to look after him or he is just being left to fend for himself. He has told Levison that some days he eats once a day…other times he just has to look in bushes to see if he can find any fruit to eat.

Levison will go to talk to the people he is living with to see whether it’s best for Brighton to stay there or if Levison should find a kindly person in the village to foster him.

Brighton was taken to have a shower by one of the volunteers, Charity Banda, to have the lice and dirt washed from his hair. (They will shave his hair for him another day). Brighton was then given new clothes that had been donated and Levison took him to the library, where it was quiet, so he could eat his lunch. He told Levison that he didn’t expect all this.

This little boy’s story has touched my heart. There are many, many more children like Brighton who need our help, who need your help. We work hard to improve the lives of the hundreds of orphaned and vulnerable children whom The Foundation helps. This is our passion. To change lives. To bring hope. To give these children the gift of education. A chance to reach their potential.

Will you help Brighton? Please? He needs a sponsor to be a helping hand. It’s only £25 per month to sponsor a child. That will mean he has a monthly food parcel wherever he is living, and a blanket and new clothes. Individuals can be a sponsor. Families can sponsor. Two friends can share the cost of sponsoring a child. Or even a club or business can sponsor a child…it’s only 85p per day to change a life. Can you help Brighton today? Can you change his life? Thank you for reading, Sarah x contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com

Brighton Ng’ambi is an orphan living with relatives and fending for himself

Brighton sometimes eats once a day…other days he has to look in bushes for a bit of fruit
Brighton was traumatised, hungry, dirty and with head lice in his hair

Brighton had a shower and was given new clothes and shoes
Brighton couldn’t believe he was given a lovely lunch…some days he goes without food….other days he just eats once.

One of the volunteers, Charity Banda, helps Brighton to get rid of the lice in his hair.

31 Days in May – Sarah’s Challenge – Day 23

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Sarah’s blog 23/5/22

Today has been a better day…no nosebleeds or headaches 🙂

I went out for a drink with two good friends this morning. That’s the first time this month that I have been out to a cafe/restaurant. I had breakfast before I went so I was fine with just having a drink… that was good planning and good willpower and, of course, good company.

Also, I have just been on my exercise bike. I managed to do a 20km cycle today! Really pleased with that although I am wondering if I will be able to move tomorrow. 32 minutes, 20km and 460 calories! Glad I am nearing the end of the challenge but I will try to keep going with the cycling….as long as I am reading a good book on my tablet….otherwise it’s really boring!

So if you think I’m still doing a good job on my challenge to raise funds for a much needed school then please donate https://gofund.me/ca9c1629

Thanks for reading and supporting me and the children, Sarah x

Music & Dancing

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9/5/22

I think you’ll love these photos and videos from the music group that took place this afternoon. It’s great to see the children having fun with their friends and forgetting about their difficulties for a while. What is even more amazing is that a few children made the guitar by themselves! How clever is that? Enjoy and share with your friends. Thanks, Sarah x

playing homemade guitar

Sponsored – Granda Nyondo

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Sarah’s blog 31/3/22

Each of the children who are supported by The Foundation is an individual. Each child is important. We don’t know all their names. Levison does, but there are approximately 800 (up to age approx 22) who have been or are supported by The Foundation through one project or another. Maybe they’ve been given a blanket and some shoes. Or they also attend the feeding programme or the Christmas Party.

My local high school is in the village where I live. I suppose providing for all those children whom The Foundation supports might be like me having to help every single child in our local high school with clothes because they were all wearing rags. Having to provide shoes for every child at my high school as they are barefoot. Having to feed all those children as they are all suffering from malnutrition to varying degrees Imagine if all those children at my local high school just had one substantial, nutritious meal a week? And how would we feel as parents, grandparents, carers if we couldn’t feed or clothe our children?

Granda came to The Foundation asking for help because her family was absolutely desperate. Because they were hungry. Because she saw her mum’s struggle. Because Granda herself was at risk of being married off as a child bride as her mother couldn’t provide for her children. Granda is the oldest child of four. Their mum is bringing them up alone.

Immediately, Levison visited the family to chat to the mother as well as the children. Some maize and soap was given to them as well as clothes for the children. We put out an appeal for sponsors to help this family. Luckily Granda and one of her brothers, Isaac, were matched with kind sponsors who came forward to help. The family are doing far better now. Yes life is still a struggle but they have regular food coming into the home to supplement what mum earns. Granda will have her secondary school fees paid so her education will continue and thankfully she will not be married off too soon as a child bride. I can’t imagine what it must be like to have that threat hanging over you. Thankfully, for Granda she no longer has to worry about being a child bride.

Look at these photos to see how being sponsored is making a difference to her phyiscally and mentally. Her smile, on receiving some gifts from her sponsor, is just beautiful to see. Her sponsor also said it made her day to see Granda smile like that. Thank you to all our sponsors and if you would like to make a difference to a child like Granda then please get in touch contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com It’s always about teamwork and we need your help to help us continue Changing Lives Malawi. Thanks for reading, Sarah x

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