Sewing lessons at Bright Futures Secondary School are giving vulnerable students skills for life and giving back to the community.
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Sarah’s blog 26/2/26
Students have been busy in their Sewing Classes at Bright Futures Secondary School. To start with, they are helping with the Period Poverty Project. We are very proud of their efforts.
Girls miss one week of schooling every month because they do not have any sanitary pads and therefore have to stay at home. This is wrong that girls cannot access education because of a natural bodily function. We are helping to ensure that as many girls as possible can benefit from the gift of reusable sanitary pads. Will you help us?
Students, both male and female, have been learning to sew. They have been improving their hand sewing skills and using the sewing machines that we sent. They have been making bags and sanitary pads. These students are ensuring that girls will have equal access to education. Why should girls miss out on their education?
The Period Poverty Project aims to give out a bag containing ; underwear, reusable sanitary pads, soap and a health information leaflet. Through the sewing classes at Bright Futures Secondary School, students are giving back to their community. Students are also learning important skills for their futures.
Once enough supplies have been made for the local girls, students will move on to making something of their choice. I wonder what they will decide to make next? The Period Poverty Project sewing can be revisited again when the next group of students start sewing classes at Bright Futures Secondary School.
To get in touch with us our email is contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com . If you like the projects we are supporting and want to contribute financially, you can donate via our website or to our charity bank account – A/C no 21081462, Sort Code 80-22-60, Changing Lives Malawi, Bank of Scotland. The Period Poverty Project is an ongoing project, so more fabric and soap will need to be bought. The more supplies that can be made, the more girls that can be supported.
Thanks to teachers at Bright Futures Secondary School for supporting the students to learn new skills and for sending these photos. Thanks also to everyone who supports the students and projects like this. Together, we can continue Changing Lives (in) Malawi. Thanks, Sarah x
Lichfield Spires Netball Club – your donated kit has arrived in Malawi. Thank you so much for helping to make a difference to vulnerable young people.
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Sarah’s blog 19/2/26
Last summer wrote a blog about a huge donation of netball kit that we received from Lichfield Spires Netball Club. I will attach that blog so you can read about how the kit made the first part of the journey to Malawi.
Netball and football are the two national sports and young people very much enjoy playing these team sports. We have had lots of donations of other sports kit. But, apart from some netball bibs, this is the first proper netball kit that has been donated for use by vulnerable children and young adults. We bought some velcro squares with players positions to stick on to the kit. We also bought a couple of netballs and boxed everything up to go to Malawi.
This week, some of the girls at Bright Futures Secondary School tried on their new netball kit. This kit will make such a difference to their confidence levels and self-esteem. They know that people care about them to send such lovely netball kit. They play netball in school and amongst other local schools and at weekends. It is hoped in future that they will be able to join a netball league. Some of the girls are a bit shy as they’ve never worn netball kit before and aren’t used to being the centre of attention.
So to everyone at Lichfield Spires Netball Club – thank you for making a difference to these vulnerable young people. Most of them are orphans living with extended family. To Paul and Stuart who met halfway between us (central Scotland) and Lichfield, thank you for ensuring that this wonderful donation was able to reach us and then to Dundee in time for the container going to Malawi.
We will continue to share more photos and videos from actual netball matches but, for now, thank you again for making a difference and helping us continue Changing Lives (in) Malawi. If you’d like to get in touch, our email address is contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com . Enjoy the photos, follow us on social media, sign up for my blogs and watch out for more photos! Sarah x
Student at Bright Futures Secondary School have written about their favourite subjects. Have a read of today’ blog.
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Sarah’s blog 17/2/26
Here are some great photos of the students at Bright Futures Secondary School. Also, in today’s blog, is writing about BFSS Students’ favourite subjects at school. Thank you to the teacher who organised the photos and the students’ writing. Thank you to the sponsors who support these very vulnerable teenagers to be able to attend secondary school. Because of you, these vulnerable students are having opportunities that they wouldn’t have had. As well as free education, free uniform and stationery, they are receiving a free nutritious lunch each day. For most, this is the only food they eat.
If you’d like to be a sponsor, it’s only £25 per month. You can sponsor as an individual, two friends splitting the cost, a family, a club or a business. Will you make a difference to a young person’s future? Will you help them to have a bright future? contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com Thank you to everyone who helps us to continue Changing Lives (in) Malawi. Your kindness is much appreciated. Thanks, Sarah x
Female teachers, staff and volunteers were delighted to receive gifts this week. They know their hard work is valued and appreciated. Thank you to our supporter for making these bags of kindness.
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Sarah’s blog 11/2/26
There is a lovely lady who we know called Lilian. She is a person who always thinks of others and likes to keep busy. She is extremely good at sewing and reusing fabric. Lilian uses curtain fabric and other material to make bags. She gave us a box of bags which were on the container that has recently arrived in Malawi. I’m calling them bags of kindness.
Yesterday, female volunteers, staff and teachers were all delighted to receive one of Lilian’s bags of kindness. They also received bars of soap. They were surprised to receive these gifts and so happy as you can see from these photos. We wanted them to have these gifts so they know they are appreciated.
The nursery teacher, Mercy, also helps students at Bright Futures Secondary School with sewing classes. She said she would like to try making this style of bag and then show the students how to make them.
Mercy also said “This is a true sign that people out there think about us here at Bright Futures.”
Thank you Lilian for these bags of kindness and thank you everyone who helps us support vulnerable people in rural northern Malawi.
Kindness does matter. Kindness does make a difference. Even if we think we’ve not got a lot to give – it’s more than they have in Malawi – and together we can make a difference. If you’d like to help then you can email for bank details or donate through our website. Also you can donate via our QR code. contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com Together, we can continue Changing Lives (in) Malawi. Thanks, Sarah x
Thanks to teachers at Bright Futures Secondary School for organising Sunday sports for students!
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Sarah’s blog 10/2/26
We were delighted to receive these photos and videos yesterday from the deputy head teacher at Bright Futures Secondary School. It was a day of Sunday sports for students and we are grateful to the teachers for organising this event. It looks like everyone had great fun playing football and netball.
Yesterday taught these vulnerable teenagers, who are mostly all orphans living with extended family, that they are important. It shows that people care about them enough to organise events for them. It shows that people care about them enough to send preloved sports kit for them. These young people are enjoying opportunities that they wouldn’t previously have had. As well as having fun with their friends, team sports are good for their confidence and self-esteem. Students at Bright Futures Secondary School are also learning skills and self-discipline.
Everyone also received a nutritious lunch to make the day even more special and to ensure they had enough energy to take part in the team sports. We are thankful for those who support us to send preloved sports kit to those who need it. If these are photos of preloved kit from your club then why not share with your friends and ask them to follow us on social media?
Sports kit (depending on sizes) is shared between primary and secondary schools and grassroots sports teams. Everyone is delighted to receive smart, matching kit. Julian Chenery, whose charity is ‘Wear a Sports Shirt Day’, spends his weekends travelling to various football grounds collecting preloved kit, watching football matches and enjoying the odd pint! We are so pleased that he includes the young people we are helping to support on his list of recipients of the preloved kit he collects.
In these photos kit is being worn from Bromley and Beckenham Hockey Club, Maidstone United Football Club, Borden Village Football Club and Seaton Town Football Club. As you can see, these preloved sports kits have a new lease of life and young people are enjoying wearing them proudly and confidently. Acts of kindness like this make a huge difference. There will be photos in the near future of more sports kit that has arrived on the latest container.
Would you like to help to pay for a box of sports kit to go on the container or would you like to contribute to providing food for a sporting event like this? Please do get in touch contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com or you can donate via our website or QR code. It’s always about teamwork. Thank you for being part of our team, Sarah x
Thanks to one of our supporters who sent these gifts for students at Bright Futures Secondary School to make their lives a little bit better.
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Sarah’s blog 5/2/26
Thankfully, the contents of boxes, soaked by heavy rain due to the tarpaulin being ripped, have now been dried out. That took three days to do and created so much work. You can read the story of what happened below if you didn’t see my last blog. Yesterday, the first gifts for students were distributed.
One of our supporters had kindly bought these gifts for students at Bright Futures Secondary School. The young people can arrive at school soaked through during the rainy season. Whilst these gifts for students aren’t going to solve all the issues the students face during the rains, this act of kindness will go a long way to helping the young people feel valued. Their journeys to and from school will be a little bit easier.
Some students homes have a leaking roof, some students cannot cross swollen rivers after the heavy rains. Some students, who have a thatched roof on their basic homes, have bugs and mosquitoes living in the twigs and branches.
Here are a few photos from yesterday when students were surprised and delighted to receive these ponchos. Kindness matters and small acts of kindness go a long way to helping people feel valued and making the world just a little bit better. Thank you to everyone who continues to support us to help these vulnerable young people. Sarah x
Today’s blog is about tree planting taking place at Bright Futures Secondary School as part of their agriculture course. This is an ongoing project so financial donations are always very welcome.
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Sarah’s blog 4/2/26
Last week, students at Bright Futures Secondary School have again been busy tree planting. It would have been hard work digging holes for 120 saplings. On this occasion the tree planting was for pine and acacia.
They are keen to take responsibility for their environment. This will help prevent future soil erosion and replace trees that have been cut down. Of course students want to help with the climate crisis. The tree planting was part of their agricultural lessons which are a core subject in the Malawian curriculum.
Soon they will be planting other types of saplings and we will share photos when that happens. We are grateful to the agriculture teachers at Bright Futures Secondary School for all the extra work they do to support their students. Of course, we are proud of the students and pleased to see them contributing in such a positive way to their community.
Thank you also to everyone who has donated money over the past year to support their tree planting project. As it’s the rainy season now, the ground is easier to dig and plant. Also the saplings won’t dry out so have a better chance of survival. So this is always the best time for planting saplings even though we are fundraising for this project all year round.
If anyone would like to make a donation then please do get in touch. contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com for bank details or you can donate via our website or our QR code. If you would like to donate in memory of a loved one then we are happy to make a sign to place in part of the orchard. Or for a special birthday or anniversary?
Or would your business like to contribute to this project and have some advertising in the orchard? We’d love to partner with any nurseries/garden centres/Christmas tree farms.
Thank you again everyone. Enjoy the photos, Sarah x
One of the teachers and a student planting a saplingstudents holding tree saplings prior to plantinga student planting a pine tree saplingyou can see the rain clouds in the distance
Stuart and I made a donation to buy fruit tree saplings a few years ago in memory of his lovely mum. If anyone else would like a name on a sign and make a donation to the orchard then please do get in touch.
It’s been a really difficult few days for Levison and his colleagues. This blog tells the story…..
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Sarah’s blog 2/2/26
I want to use today’s blog to explain how hard and exhausting things can be for Levison and his team in Malawi. I don’t think any of us can begin to understand quite how challenging life can be for Levison and his colleagues. Yet they continue to work hard to support their community. Despite the difficulties, they continue to be committed to making a difference. We are so thankful that we have such caring partners in Malawi. Thank you Levison and team. This is the story of a difficult journey.
As the village they live in is at the foot of the Mafinga Hills (near the borders with Zambia and Tanzania) they have to travel a long way to collect the boxes we send. It is approximately 300km each way but, as you will read, it is far from straightforward and is a difficult journey.
The truck set off from Ibuluma, between Chisenga and Chitipa, on Thursday early afternoon and travelled to Karonga. The three colleagues slept at Karonga and set off very early on Friday morning to reach Ekwendeni (near Mzuzu) by 10am when the container was due to be unloaded.
On the way they had a scheduled stop to get two new batteries for the truck. Once the batteries had been fitted, Levison then needed a welder to replace the bars covering the batteries which help prevent them from being stolen.
It is currently the rainy season. When it rains, it really rains. Recently, some bridges and roads have been damaged, houses and schools have been destroyed and crops washed away. Driving on country roads is always a difficult journey, but more so during the rains.
Thankfully, the lorry carrying the container arrived from Lilongwe after having to have a crack in its water tank repaired. Levison and his two colleagues collected all their boxes and loaded them onto the back of the truck. Everything was tied down and covered with tarpaulins to protect the boxes from the weather.
Levison had suggested to others travelling in the same direction that they go in convoy so that it would be safer in case of breakdowns, accidents or robberies. It gets dark in Malawi at 6pm all year round so much of their journey was undertaken in darkness, making it more dangerous.
Unfortunately, the people who had agreed to travel north with Levison changed their minds and drove off. Levison phoned them and they said they’d wait but again drove off. It’s disappointing when not everyone looks out of each other despite having had help and support from Levison previously.
As Levison’s truck was travelling slowly, in the dark, avoiding potholes at Jalawe, they were suddenly aware of people on the truck. They think there were a lot of people hiding in the bushes. They managed to chase two people off the truck once they stopped and got out of the cab. Unfortunately, the people had ripped the tarpaulin covering the boxes and made off with at least three boxes.
The thieves have had training shoes, school uniform for Bright Futures Secondary School and other clothes and shoes. A skirt was found at the side of the road that had been dropped as the robbers ran off. I am so thankful that Levison noticed quickly and they managed to scare the people away and that more things weren’t stolen or anyone hurt.
This incident has been reported to the police.
Once they arrived at Karonga, a new tarpaulin had to be bought to keep the worst of the rain from ruining the boxes and their contents. They rested at Karonga before continuing their journey. Something also broke on the truck due to the roads being so bumpy. Levison messaged to say that they were going to get the truck fixed once the torrential rain stopped.
Finally, exhausted, Levison and his two colleagues have arrived back safely at 4am on Sunday morning, the fourth day. As you can see, it’s a difficult journey. Nothing is straightforward. Could we do this for those in need? Would we go to all this effort?
All the boxes have had to be crosschecked to check what has been stolen. Many of the boxes are wet due to the tarpaulin being ripped open. Hours of extra work is now taking place trying to dry everything out before it all gets ruined. As we carefully label each box to say which project/who it is for and what it contains, all the wet things need to be kept together to ensure that they go to the correct place. It will take a lot of organisation and disruption to ensure everything is ok. This has taken all of today, both here and in Malawi, helping Levison with identifying boxes, what they contain and which project it is for. Tomorrow, all the wet items will need to be sorted and hung up to dry.
Despite all the challenges they carry on supporting the most vulnerable in their community. This is the story of a difficult journey. There are challenges every day; sourcing enough maize for the weekly feeding programme, finding fuel for the truck or having to wait days until the petrol stations have had a delivery. Daily, people are turning up asking for help. People cannot feed their families because of the food crisis in Malawi.
Hopefully, this gives blog more of an insight into just how challenging life can be for Levison and his team. This is one difficult journey. Every day there are difficult decisions. Things are getting better but there is still so much to do. We need your help and support to ensure that life continues to improve for the hundreds of vulnerable young people and their families. All are living in extreme poverty and need a helping hand through education, feeding and sustainable projects.
I apologise if I sound upset and frustrated. I am, on behalf of Levison and his team. So much extra work has been caused by these thieves ripping the tarpaulins. Many of the boxes have been soaked by heavy rain. Hopefully, most things can be dried and saved and that we will be able to share photos of items being given to those most in need over the next few weeks.
Thanks everyone for your continued support. To Levison and team, thank you for all your hard work and commitment. Also, thank you to all the volunteers at Bananabox Trust who organise the container. Together we can continue Changing Lives (in) Malawi, Sarah x If you’d like to get in touch our email is contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com
Everything needs covering with tarpaulins and tied down. As it is the rainy season, it was raining whilst they were loading the truck. The tarpaulins are vital to keep the worst of the weather from the boxes of aid that have been sent.This is the tarpaulins after they have been ripped open by people climbing on the truck to steal what they could.
DonorSee is sadly closing for small projects but THANK YOU for supporting us. Here are some geat photos & ways you can continue to support us.
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Sarah’s blog 21/1/26
DonorSee is sadly closing for small projects but Thank you for supporting us. We have received amazing generosity from all the donors who have supported our projects via that platform. We are very grateful for the opportunity we have received to be a partner charity. However, your help is very much still needed. Will you help us to continue to help the most vulnerable in northern Malawi?
In total, over $9,000 USD was raised for projects including; four agribusiness groups for vulnerable people to have a sustainable business. Notebooks and pens were bought for primary school students. One appeal helped support with sending boxes of books to Malawi for our School Literacy Project. Soap was gifted to vulnerable children and elderly people. We also received help with feeding children and elderly people living in extreme poverty. Also, for Bright Futures Secondary School, money was raised to provide tools for agriculture and carpentry, fruit tree and pine tree saplings, wood for building beehives, science equipment, and pigs and goats.
A mother was helped when DonorSee donors paid for a new roof for her single room house. This enabled the family to be dry during the rainy season. They were given some food and this lady was given a place on one of the Agribusiness Groups. We managed to get sponsorship for the four children via an appeal in one of my blogs. They all have food coming into their home each month to supplement their small amount of income.
We always say it is about teamwork. You are all an important part of our team. Whether you have donated money once, or are a regular supporter, or sponsor a young person, or even share our posts on social media. THANK YOU. You are important to us and we appreciate you. DonorSee is sadly closing for small projects but THANK YOU for supporting us.
DonorSee has been a very useful way of raising money for ‘extra’ small projects that have made a big difference to the people who benefitted. For example, students at Chambo Primary School cannot afford to buy themselves notebooks. If they don’t have notebooks to write in, they have to just sit and listen to the teacher. They have to hope that they can remember what they are being taught.
The elderly people wouldn’t have had a Christmas lunch and bars of soap if it wasn’t for the generosity of supporters on DonorSee. We have also been able to provide the funding for various sporting events. Children together from local schools take part in training and tournaments for rugby, football, netball and cricket. At any event like this, we want children to have food and drink so that they have enough energy to take part. Also, to make the day extra special for them. Because of the food crisis in Malawi getting worse, most of these children do not eat every day. They need our continued support. Will you help us please? Together we can ensure they have a brighter future through education and sustainable project.
We will be looking at ways that we can try to raise funds for small stand alone projects like the appeals that have been successful on DonorSee. But, in the meantime, if you would like to make a donation for feeding children, or any other project, you can email me contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com or donate through our website Donate money to Changing Lives Malawi .
We hope you enjoy these photos from some of the small projects. Many thanks again and please continue supporting us. You can sign up to receive my blogs and follow us on social media (facebook & instagram). Thanks, Sarah x
Children at Chambo Primary were delighted to receive notebooks and pensOne of the agribusiness groups working in their maize field. The lady on the right is a young mother and her little boy is playing in the background.One of the goats that has been bought to add to the breeding stock and will help bring in an income as well as teaching students at Bright Futures Secondary School how to care for goats in their agriculture lessons.Students at Bright Futures Secondary School making a beehive with tools and wood bought from donations via DonorSeePractical science classes at Bright Futures Secondary School are far more interesting now that they have more science equipment for experimentsSome of the young people who took part in the rugby training & tournament we helped to facilitate. These are some of the first youngsters in the north of Malawi to learn to play rugby.Everyone loves a football tournament, especially when you receive a nice lunch and a smart football strip! This preloved strip was donated by Riverside Football Club in Stirling, Central Scotland. Four students from Bright Futures Secondary School with some of the tools that were bought thanks to the appeal on DonorSee. We do need to try to raise funds for suitable footwear for the students to use to protect their feet from mud and the sharp tools they are using. Could you help please?One of the agribusiness groups were delighted with the tools, seeds and fertiliser they received.Mrs Ng’ambi and her four children were delighted to have a new roof on their home thanks to the donors who supported this project.Some of the students at Kalanga Primary School with preloved books that were gifted to the school as part of our School Literacy Project. Thank you to those donors who have donated funds to pay for a box of books on the container which is currently £17.50 per box.Vulnerable children enjoying a substantial and nutritious lunchWe need ongoing support to keep running the weekly feeding programme for 500 vulnerable children and young people.Some of the elderly people from the village enjoying their pre-Christmas lunch. We would love to have more funding to run a lunch club for them once a month to help prevent isolation.One of the girls enjoying learning to play rugbyYoung people caring for bananas that they planted as tubers
Thank you to charity ‘Vets with Horsepower’ for their help and support to build two new classrooms on Bright Futures Campus.
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Sarah’s blog 12/1/26
We are always grateful for the support and kindness we receive. As a very small group of volunteers, we work very hard and appreciate help we receive from others. Thanks to a donation we received from charity Vets with Horsepower, two new classrooms have been built.
The two new classrooms are a dedicated nursery classroom for Bright Futures Nursery and also a classroom for sewing and textiles. It is hoped that, in future, sewing lessons can be given to vulnerable people in the community and be a hub of activity. By learning new skills, people will be able to have a brighter future for themselves and their families.
Jessica Kidd, whom one of the classrooms has been named after, is a top equine vet and one of the key people in the charity Vets with Horsepower. She, Professor Knottenbelt (whose name is already above one of the other classrooms), and the other vets, are making a huge difference to the charities they have chosen to support. We are delighted to have been one of the charities to benefit.
Each year, talented equine vets give up their time and talents to share their knowledge and experience with other vets. As well as being equine vets, their other love is motorbikes. Hence, Vets with Horsepower. Different destinations are chosen in Europe. Last summer was ‘The Italian Job’. The team of vets travelled hundreds of miles on their motorbikes giving lectures in their various fields of expertise.
Here are photos of the finished building. There will be more photos and videos of the two new classrooms shared over the coming weeks. If you would like to support our charity to ensure that children and young people have a brighter and better future then please do get in touch contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com You can help by sponsoring a vulnerable young person’s education, or supporting the weekly feeding programme. There is a food crisis in Malawi and food is scarce. None of the children and young people we support have enough to eat. Or would you like to make a donation to an existing sustainable project or to a new one?
Thank you again to Vets with Horsepower. Thank you for all the organisation that goes into your trips. Also thank you to all the people who attended your lectures and contributed financially to enable the two new classrooms to be built. We are delighted that slowly and surely things are improving for that community and people living in extreme poverty. By supporting vulnerable teenagers through education and opportunities to learn new skills for life, they have brighter futures. They now have choices and chances that they wouldn’t otherwise have had. Thank you also to the people who support and sponsor the vets to ensure that they have the time off work and backing they need to give these lectures for their charity. Also to their families for supporting each of their trips. As we say about our charity too….it is always a team effort!
Thank you for making a difference and supporting us to continue Changing Lives (in) Malawi, Sarah x
Thanks to their teachers, students at Bright Futures Secondary School have been growing and selling maize.
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1/1/26
Firstly we would like to wish everyone a happy and healthy New Year! I had to double check that I’d written the date correctly…it’s going to take a few days to remember that it is now 2026! Bright Futures Secondary School students are learning business skills.
Today’s post is a short one but is filled with hope for a brighter future for students. They are all vulnerable, have nothing and are living in extreme poverty. We cannot begin to imagine just how hard life must be, especially with the current food crisis and the heavy rains which have destroyed homes and crops as well as infrastructure.
However, this post shows that, bit by bit, things can change for the better. This is just a tiny drop in the ocean compared to how things need to change and how much money is needed to help this community back on its feet. It is a start and is a small good news story worth sharing at the start of a new year.
Teachers at Bright Futures Secondary School have been supporting students to grow vegetables. The students had planted a field of maize and have just sold half of the fresh maize (corn on the cob) to traders to sell at the market. The students will use the money to buy more seeds and fertiliser to plant more crops. The students are learning business skills for their futures.
This is such a great cross-curricular learning experience. As well as the agricultural skills they have learned during a complete growing cycle, they are learning about business opportunities and working together as a team.
These students will have far more skills for their futures as they become increasingly confident and learn to be entrepreneurs. They live in such a rural location that it is very likely that many of them will be working on the land in some form when they leave school. Having the opportunity of secondary education means that their numeracy and literacy skills will be better and will help them whatever they do for work in future.
Look how happy they are to have achieved and have been trusted by their teachers to be part of this project. Their self-esteem is growing and, hopefully, there will be more good news stories like this to report. Your support is important to ensure these students can continue learning new skills and continue achieving. The end goal is always self-sufficiency but we need you as part of the team to ensure this can happen.
Levison specifically asked me to mention two teachers who have worked hard with the students on this project. Thank you to Mr Kanyimbo and Mr Msukwa for supporting the students in this ongoing project. Your hard work is greatly appreciated and you must be very proud of what your students are achieving.
Thanks for reading and supporting Changing Lives Malawi. If you’d like to support a specific project like this then please do email contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com Thanks, Sarah x
The first video shows the maize being driven off to market by the person who purchased it. The second video shows students; Levi, Amos, Hilda and Bernard.
“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
