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International Literacy Day

It’s International Literacy Day today! We are celebrating all the amazing children and young people we are helping to support through literacy in rural northern Malawi.

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Sarah’s blog 8/9/25

“Literacy is a bridge from misery to hope.” Kofi Annan, UN Secretary General

“The only thing that you absolutely have to know, is the location of the library.” Albert Einstein

“Reading is the gateway for children that makes all other learning possible.” Barack Obama

On International Literacy Day, we want to share some of the ways we, with the help of our supporters, are making a difference to literacy levels in rural northern Malawi.

1.School Literacy Project. How can children learn to read properly if they don’t have books to practice? So far, we have gifted 20 boxes of books to Chambo Primary School and Kalanga Primary School, both of which are in Chitipa District in the far north of Malawi. Most schools do not have enough resources, children do not have the notebooks and pencils that they need. Occasionally, we can provide a notebook and pencil for the oldest children at these primary schools, thanks to money raised from our supporters. Despite having so much stacked against them, since preloved books have been donated to these schools, the p8 exam pass rate has gone up almost 20% to 78% which is amazing! We hope to keep going with this project as it is proving to be such a success. This is a low cost project with a huge impact. The preloved books are donated, but what we do have to pay for is £17.50 per box of books on the container ship to Malawi. We need your help to support this project so that we can include other schools in our School Literacy Project. You can make a donation via the website, or our QR code or email me for bank details contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com

2. Emma’s Rainbow Library was built in memory of Emma Buchanan who lived in Balfron (where we are based). Emma loved being read to whilst she was ill and her family helped raise funds towards this library. There are story books for all ages, reference books, school books and a couple of computers in the library which is a fantastic resource for all the children and young people in the surrounding area. Children are learning to love books and spend quiet time reading for pleasure here. Yesterday, I attended an event by the first ever Balfron Book Festival. I had a stall where people could donate their preloved books and I was able to tell lots of people about the impact their donations are having on literacy levels.

3. Bright Futures Nursery Care Packages. The nursery was opened as pre-schoolers were hanging about with nowhere to go. They are fed at each session. Each child that starts nursery receives a bag containing; two red t-shirts, three pairs of underwear, soap, toothpaste & toothbrush, a blanket, a soft toy and two picture story books. We want every home to have at least two books that the family can share together. When the nursery children first saw the books that we were sending, they didn’t know what to do with them and didn’t know how to turn the pages on a book. Now they look forward to a story! The school teachers at Chambo Primary have said that there is a noticeable difference in the children’s literacy when they start school to those who have not attended nursery. We need your support for this important project to continue please. It costs £10 per child to receive a care package to support their wellbeing and their literacy. We would love your help.

4. Bright Futures Secondary School. There weren’t enough places for some of the young people we help to support in the nearest secondary schools and secondary schools aren’t free in Malawi. So, again thanks to our supporters, we raised funds to build a small secondary school. All the students are living in extreme poverty, most are orphans, and we match them sponsors to help support their education. Everything is free to these students; education, school uniform, stationery and they receive a free school lunch each day which, for many of them, is the only food they have to eat. The whole S2 class all passed their national Junior Certificate of Education exams which was a great achievement! The more sponsors we have, the more students can attend Bright Futures Secondary School. We ask for £25 per month per student. You can sponsor as an individual, friends, or family splitting the monthly cost. We even have a few businesses sponsoring young people. If you would like to help a young person have a brighter future please do get in touch contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com

As you can see there is a great deal happening to support literacy in the community we are helping to support in rural northern Malawi. But there is still a lot more to do. We need financial support to keep the above projects going so that young people have choices, chances and opportunities that they wouldn’t previously have had. They are desperate for education and want to learn. Will you help please?

We are hoping to collect and send board books to distribute to the new mum’s at Chambo Health Centre as part of our Mother & Baby project so that babies can have access to books with their parents and looking at picture books will become an everyday activity before they even get to nursery and school.

Also there are plans for adult literacy classes which we hope will be able to start soon as a trial. There are so many adults who have missed out on education because they have had to work from an early age to help provide food for their family. Let’s see if we can continue, with your help, Changing Lives (in) Malawi. Thank you so much for your support, Sarah x

Our QR code where you can make a donation to support our School Literacy Project or one of the other projects. Thank you!

The S2 students at Bright Futures Secondary School all received new uniform and stationery before sitting their national exams. We are so proud as all of them passed! If you would like to sponsor a young person’s education then please do get in touch. The more sponsors we have then the more students can go to school!

Children in one of the classrooms at Kalanga Primary School looking at some of the books that they have been gifted as part of our School Literacy Project

some of the nursery children, outside the library, showing off the bars of soap they have received

nursery children with their care packages

Boxes of books gifted to Chambo Primary School

learning about digital literacy in Emma’s Rainbow Library

Bible Knowledge is a core subject at schools in Malawi. We received a donation of preloved bibles from a church in Edinburgh and were able to send these to students at Bright Futures Secondary School. The majority of lessons are in English with Chichewa also being a core subject in schools.

One of the children from Bright Futures Nursery with his care package

Please support literacy in rural northern Malawi. Thank you!

Great Exam Results from Chambo Primary School!

100% pass rate at BFSS for S2 students in the 2025 exams!

Two little films

Great Exam Results from Chambo Primary School!

Great results! THE SCHOOL LITERACY PROJECT IS WORKING AND MAKING A POSITIVE IMPACT ON LITERACY LEVELS OF CHILDREN LIVING IN EXTREME POVERTY in rural northern Malawi!

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Sarah’s blog 22/8/25

There have, once again, been some great exam results from Chambo Primary School!

In 2019, 59% of p8 students passed their primary school leavers exams. In 2020 and 2021 the figure was 60% for each of these years. In 2022 the figure rose to 63% pass rate. In 2023, 69% of students passed their exams and in 2024 that figure had risen to 78% of students passing their primary school leavers exams.

This year the pass rate was again 78% but three students got such good grades in their exams, they have been offered places at one of the big government secondary schools. This is an amazing achievement for Chambo Primary School as other, bigger primary schools have not had any students selected.

Education officials, teachers, students and the community are all noticing that the help that Chambo Primary School has had, thanks to our supporters, is making a big difference. THE SCHOOL LITERACY PROJECT IS WORKING AND MAKING A POSITIVE IMPACT ON LITERACY LEVELS OF CHILDREN LIVING IN EXTREME POVERTY!

Also, these students have had notebooks (not enough for all year), girls have a toilet block, upper classes now have desks and benches, there is clean water for drinking and handwashing and also an orchard has been planted.

The children and their teachers no longer feel forgotten. They have hope of a brighter future! Thank you so much to all who have helped and supported with these projects. We are making good progress, with tangible results, and we couldn’t do this without you.

Unfortunately, we still cannot get any big charities to feed the primary school children in the rural far north…none of the primary schools in that area have a porridge programme as no big charities are working that far north. So there is still the issue of malnutrition to address which we need help with.

But for today, we can celebrate what we all have achieved, and we are including all our supporters in part of our team as you play a vital role in helping the children and young people. Well done everyone!! We are so pleased that small changes are having a big impact and giving young people opportunities, choices and chances that they wouldn’t previously have had. Also, thank you to Levison and his team for their tireless work for the children.

The school literacy project is a relatively low cost project as the preloved books are donated. We just need to buy the strong boxes and pay for the cost of shipping them on the container which is £17.50 per box, and fuel in Malawi when Levison and team collect the boxes from the container. Please help us keep sending more boxes of books by scanning the QR code and making a donation towards the cost of sending boxes. Or you can make a donation via the website or contact me for bank details. contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com

Please do have a read at the attached two links and have a look at the photos as a reminder of how, together, we are Changing Lives (in) Malawi. Thanks, Sarah x

School Literacy Project – Chambo Primary School

Facts & Figures from Chambo Primary School

Independence Day in Malawi

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.

This is the link to help buy more fruit tree saplings; https://donorsee.com/project/27708?share=1

This is the link to help buy carpentry and agricultural tools https://donorsee.com/project/27684 or you can email me for our bank details contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com

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.

Agribusiness Groups 2 & 3

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Sarah’s blog 23/6/25

Here is the proof that your help makes a difference! Thank you to the people who helped fund these two groups of ladies from our DonorSee appeals. There had been a slight delay in them getting started. The land that they are going to be farming had crops growing which had to be harvested. This has now happened so the ladies are ready to start work.

These women are some of the poorest in their community and most in need. As they are living in extreme poverty, they have been unable to provide for themselves and their families. Some of the women have been affected by HIV and are bringing up their families alone.

Maria, in group 2, had been a student at Bright Futures Secondary School. She became pregnant and had her little boy. Maria’s aunt looked after the baby whilst Maria returned to school. She has tried so hard to continue her education but, they live a long walk from school and her little boy was failing to thrive. Maria was sitting in class worrying about him. She was exhausted. Maria decided to drop out of school. She has been working for farmers doing piecework to earn a pittance. Maria is a very hard worker and is delighted to have the opportunity to be part of agribusiness group 2 (she holding the watering can in the photo). Her little boy, Wakisa, now has a sponsor to ensure that he has a food parcel each month.

Mrs Ng’ambi, whose house was repaired through another DonorSee project, struggled to feed herself and her four children. She is delighted with the new roof on her house. She has been offered a place in agribusiness group 3. Her future is looking much happier. She is on the left of the photo. Both groups have been given seeds, fertiliser, spades and watering cans. Thank you everyone who helped to give these ladies this opportunity and hope for a brighter future.

We have a few projects on our DonorSee site to try to give some of the poorest people a helping hand so that they can help themselves. Everyone wants to work hard and be self-sufficient but things are so difficult for them that they need our support. Will you help please? If lots of us give a little then change will happen.

We know that our supporters care about our projects. We are asking for your help to buy more fruit tree saplings and banana tubers to help feed all the hundreds of orphans that rely on the weekly feeding programme. There are no porridge programmes in primary schools in the rural far north of Malawi. Most children are suffering from malnutrition. All are hungry. How can they concentrate at school when their bodies don’t have the nutrients they need? How can they get to sleep at night when their tummies are empty and sore? Do you want to support children to have enough to eat?

Students are learning skills for life through planting and caring for the saplings that have already been planted. We want them to be self-sufficient in years to come and have fruit to eat and surplus fruit to sell. However, when there are 500+ children who do not have food at home to eat and rely on the weekly feeding programme, that is a huge amount of fruit tree saplings and banana tubers that will be needed. Will you help them have a brighter future? Will you help us try to ensure that less children are suffering with malnutrition? Here is the link to donate https://donorsee.com/project/27708?share=1 or you can contact me for bank details contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com

We are also appealing for more tools to help students with their practical agricultural classes and also start doing some basic carpentry classes. These are all skills for life for students living in such a rural location and will help them earn a living in the future. https://donorsee.com/project/27684?share=1 or send me an email for bank details.

Many thanks for your continuing support of our charity, where you know that all money goes to the projects we support, as we are all volunteers, passionate about making a difference to the community we are helping in rural northern Malawi. However, it is always about teamwork and our donors are a valuable part of our team. We couldn’t do what we do without you. Thanks again, Sarah x

Agribusiness Update

BFSS – S2 JCE Exams

Good luck to the second year students at Bright Futures Secondary School as they start their national exams tomorrow!

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Sarah’s blog 2/6/25

We wish the very best of luck to the S2 students at Bright Futures Secondary School as they start their national exams tomorrow. Secondary school is over four years in Malawi, with national exams being done at the end of year two and year four. The BSFF students’ exams are over the first 6 days of the timetable.

None of these young people would have had this opportunity if it wasn’t for the generosity of their sponsors. They are all living in extreme poverty and, despite having passed their primary school leavers exams, that would have been the end of their education as none of their families could have afforded the secondary school fees. Most of the students at BFSS are orphans, living with extended family. Most don’t eat at home, so their free school lunch is vital.

They have all been given new pens & pencils and school uniform so they look and feel smart and confident. The exam centre is at Chisenga School so they will be getting taxis there and back each day. Until recently, they had never been in a car before! Once there are more students at Bright Futures Secondary School, students will be able to take their exams at their own school. We need to match more sponsors with students so that they too have the opportunity for a secondary education and have choices and chances that they wouldn’t have had.

We are still asking only £25 per month per student – so if you would like to give a young person a brighter future then please do get in touch contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com to make a difference.

So, good luck to the S2 class – Leonard, Timothy, Maggie, Asante, Phaless, Wongani, Wongani, Mphatso, Martha, Brave and Aaron – we are very proud of how hard you have been working and everything you have overcome to get this far! Thanks so much to their sponsors and teachers, Sarahx

Here is the link to help raise money for Bee Keeping at BFSS as part of their agricultura lessons. https://donorsee.com/project/25476?share=1

Science at Bright Futures Secondary School

Great photos and videos of practical science classes last week at Bright Futures Secondary School

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Sarah’s blog 12/5/25

Science lessons at Bright Futures are a lot more interesting since more resources have been purchased. Students have said that they never realised science was so much fun!

Mr Kanyimbo, Deputy Head at BFSS, (white shirt) sent these great photos and videos of himself and Mr Kalambo (blue shirt) teaching last week. They are a great way to see what happens during classes at Bright Futures Secondary School. Thank you to Mr Kanyimbo for sending the photos and videos. Thanks also to everyone who contributed to our fundraiser to buy practical science equipment. There are more resources on the way on the container which will be there for the new term starting in September.

Also, thank you to everyone who is supporting the education of these students. They wouldn’t be having the opportunities for learning or having a free school lunch every day without your kindness. We are looking for more sponsors for the students who will be looking for places at BFSS in September. It’s still only £25 per month. contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com

We are raising funds to buy soap for students to take home to their families to help protect everyone from the outbreak of MPox. If you can help us with buying soap the link is here https://donorsee.com/project/27307?share=1 or you can email me at contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com .

The New Staffroom – Planning for September

Lots happening in preparation for more teachers & students at Bright Futures Secondary School in September.

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Sarah’s blog 02/05/25

Now that the rainy season is over, it is far easier to get on with building work. As there will be four classes next year at Bright Futures Secondary School, and more teachers need to be employed, a staffroom is needed. As you will see from the photos, the builders are working really hard and it won’t be long until it’s finished.

All students at Bright Futures Secondary School have been matched with sponsors to support their education. Secondary education needs to be paid for in Malawi and none of the young people we help to support would have the opportunity to progress past primary school, even though they passed their primary school leavers exams. Teachers salaries have to be paid, students receive a free school lunch every day (for most their only meal each day), school uniform and other clothes, stationery and exam fees are all free of charge to students.

As everything is free of charge for these vulnerable young people who are living in extreme poverty, we cannot unfortunately accept additional students who do not have a sponsor helping to support the costs of their time at Bright Futures Secondary School. Levison told me this week that recently he has had over two hundred young people pleading for places at Bright Futures Secondary School. Their families have not been able to keep up payments for the secondary schools that these students are attending and they have been chased out of school due to non payment of fees. Unfortunately, all Levison can do is to take a note of their names. This is a really difficult situation. The more sponsors we have then the more students can attend Bright Futures Secondary School.

We are already thinking about September when there will be a new class of S1 students to find sponsors for. It is still only £25 per month to help support a student. If you would like to express an interest in supporting a young person in September then please email contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com . We also have younger children who are needing immediate support if you would like to be matched with one of them we would be very grateful.

Right now we are raising money to buy soap for all the children and young people who use the feeding programme each week, Bright Futures Nursery, Bright Futures Secondary School and Chambo Primary School. There is always soap for handwashing and showering at Bright Futures Campus but the vast majority of these children and young people do not even have one bar of soap at home. The Malawi Government have issued guidelines to help protect against outbreaks of the MPox virus. Thankfully, there are none in that immediate area but we must help with preventative measures. You can either email for bank details to donate or give via this link https://donorsee.com/project/27307?share=1 .

We are also still fundraising to buy notebooks and pencils for students at Chambo Primary who have none https://donorsee.com/project/25617?share=1

The students at Bright Futures Secondary School are also still fundraising to have their own beehives. This will give them more agricultural skills as well as providing honey and an income from selling surplus supplies. https://donorsee.com/project/25476?share=1

I’d like to thank everyone for the ongoing support we receive, both here and in Malawi. It’s always about teamwork and, playing our small part of a team, using our skills, we can do great things and help continue Changing Lives (in) Malawi. Thank you, Sarah x

The new staffroom at Bright Futures Campus is taking shape

Solar Kit Installation

More progress behind the scenes with solar power kit being installed.

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Sarah’s blog 24/4/25

Just a quick blog today to show you some of the work going on behind the scenes.

We had been fortunate to receive a grant from The Souter Charitable Trust last year and bought solar kits with the money. Here are some photos from last week of the kit being installed on one of the teachers’ accommodation blocks. Each room has a plug socket where teachers will be able to charge their phones, plug in a kettle etc. The accommodation block already has solar lighting with each room having a set of three; one for the veranda, one in the sitting room and one in the bedroom.

Thank you to The Souter Charitable Trust for helping us provide solar power. As Bright Futures Secondary School is in such a rural location, accommodation is needed to attract teaching staff. The first accommodation block was built with a generous grant from The Clive Richards Foundation. We are very grateful for all the support we have received to make projects like this possible. Thanks, Sarah x

A new roof for the Ng’ambi family

Some wonderful photos and videos to show that a little bit of help can make a big difference. Thank you to everyone who has helped the Ng’ambi family.

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Sarah’s blog 16/4/25

Some of these videos have made me cry earlier on today along with the story I am going to tell you in today’s blog.

Last month we highlighted a family who are living in extreme poverty. Mrs Ng’ambi is now a single parent struggling to bring up her four children. She has nothing and her roof has huge holes in it. The family sleep on the floor in the mud during rainy season. My previous post is in the link below.

Support the Ng’ambi Family: Donate for a New Roof

We asked for help for this family and the response was overwhelming. Have I said before that our supporters are amazing? We are so grateful to everyone for their generosity. The four children now have sponsors thanks to Willow & The Olive Branch gift and flower shop in Balfron Facebook (if you live locally to me, this is such a lovely shop and well worth a visit).

We also had a fundraiser on DonorSee for a new roof for the family. We still have other projects looking for funds. Changing Lives Malawi Supporters kindly donated money to buy supplies for a new roof. Because of the rural location and because there is so much to do, it can take a while to organise. However, yesterday was the day for the new roof. Just look at the difference we, along with all of you, and the team in Malawi, can make to individuals in dire need!

Levison and team arrived with supplies and had to carry them for the last part of the journey as the truck could only go so far. Mrs Ng’ambi was told she was getting a new roof. She didn’t believe Levison. She couldn’t comprehend what was happening. She kept saying to Levison ‘but where will we go’ ‘we have nowhere else to go’. She thought she was being forced to leave and the roof was being fixed for someone else.

Imagine having so little and it being a constant struggle. Mrs Ng’ambi must have felt she was not worthy of the help and attention she and her children were receiving. Even after it was explained to her again she said that she didn’t have any money to pay for a new roof. She tried to give them the few possessions she had in payment for the roof.

Mrs Ng’ambi was in a state of shock and untrusting of what was happening for the whole time the new roof was being built. Only afterwards, when Levison and the whole team each told her that there was no charge and the work was done for free for her and her children that she finally accepted that she wasn’t expected to either leave her home or pay for the materials that were used.

You can see in the last video that Mrs Ng’ambi and one of her daughters is crying as they are overcome with emotion that they have had such support and they are so thankful.

Levison had taken food with him so that they could all share a meal together. As Mrs Ng’ambi is so poor and not used to receiving anything or any attention, this was a big deal to be brought lunch and to be served lunch by Levison.

The roof was completed yesterday but the gaps above the bricks have been filled in today. The carpenter is making them a new door too that will shut properly at night. This will help keep the girls safe as they grow up.

One thing that made me cry is when Levison told me that the family had woken during the night when it started raining. They thought their new roof was breaking due to the noise of the rain on the iron sheets. None of them had ever slept in a building with a proper roof before. So they didn’t expect the noise or understand what it was. They are happy now that they have been reassured that rain bouncing off a roof is a normal noise and can actually be quite nice when you are inside and know that you are no longer going to get wet while you try to sleep at night.

It is so humbling to be able to help people who have absolutely nothing but, with teamwork, we can make a difference. We know we can’t help everyone or change the whole world, but we can change the world for a few people. Thank you so much to everyone who has helped this little family. Hopefully, they are now starting to feel better about their future. They have some food coming into their home every month, thanks to the children being sponsored, and now their home has a lovely new roof. Thank you again, Sarah x

At this point Mrs Ng’ambi is still unsure of what is really going on. She thinks she might be forced to leave her house. She doesn’t understand that the repairs are all for her and her family.

In this video you can see one side of the previous roof that is made of sticks fall off in one piece.

As the truck could only get so near, the supplies had to be carried the rest of the way.

Levison explains, again, to Mrs Ng’ambi and her children that this new roof is for them and it is a gift. Supporters wanted to help to make their lives a little bit better.

A child’s right to nutritious food

UN rights of the child states in article 24 that children have the right to nutritious food. Please read today’s blog and help us if you can.

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Sarah’s blog 15/4/25

The United Nations Rights of the Child states in article 24 that children have the right to the best health care possible, safe water to drink, nutritious food, a clean & safe environment and information to help them stay well.

The Sustainable Development Goals number 2 is working towards zero hunger.

As many of you know, we help to support a feeding programme that runs once a week. It’s nowhere near enough, but all we can afford as we help the community to set up sustainable projects.

500 orphans and other vulnerable children access this feeding programme. Some walk as far as 15km-20km to have this one proper meal each week. Some young people carry their younger siblings. There are NO children being fed in primary schools in rural northern Malawi. All are hungry and many are malnourished. Some girls, despite it being illegal, are married off at age 11 or 12 as their families cannot afford to feed them.

Thankfully, because they have sponsors to help support their secondary education, all students at Bright Futures Secondary School have a nutritious free school lunch each day. In the video below, Ethel explains how none of the students have any food at home.

One of the big challenges, apart from sourcing food for so many people, is that prices continue to rise and currently the price of maize, where they are, has doubled from last year, and last year’s price was double the previous year. How are people supposed to feed their families? Most are really struggling and the situation is getting worse.

There is a holiday study school running this week and next for all students at Bright Futures Secondary School and p8 at Chambo Primary School to prepare them all for upcoming exams. There are teachers to pay, notebooks & pens to buy for the students at Chambo who have none, and food for all of them each lunchtime. Please will you help us? https://donorsee.com/project/26846?share=1

Having a nutritious meal at lunchtime is a huge treat for the students in p8 at Chambo Primary School. They don’t eat during their school day normally and their biggest meal is usually at the weekly feeding programme. We could not expect these young people to do extra studying and not feed them. Will you help us please? https://donorsee.com/project/26846?share=1 or you can email contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com for other ways to donate or give through the link on our website. Donate money and gifts to Changing Lives Malawi We look forward to bringing you photos and videos from this week’s study school. Thank you for your continued help and support, Sarah x

The price of maize has quadrupled in the last two years. Families cannot afford to feed their children and we cannot afford to buy as much food with the same amount of money.

Some of the children lining up to receive food at the weekly feeding programme. They are all hungry. Many are malnourished.

Update on Teachers’ Accommodation

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Sarah’s post 11/4/25

This post comes with a big THANK YOU to Vets With Horsepower, The Clive Richards Foundation and The Inverclyde Trust who all generously donated towards new buildings on Bright Futures Campus. I have also attached some photos of the completed teachers’ accommodation block, wash block and sinks. The majority of the work was completed in time to be used by teachers but, due to circumstances out with our control, finishing touches have only recently been completed and photos sent.

I have split this post into two sections; the first being the difficulties that have been faced by the team in Malawi. But, despite all these challenges, they continue to achieve and we are delighted with how the new accommodation block looks and the difference it will make to being able to employ even more teachers next year.

Firstly, the challenges;

Prices have continued to rise regularly, their currency has been devalued several times. (bags of cement bought yesterday for the next building are now the equivalent of £20 each).
The truck broke down and was out of action for several months. An expensive part was sourced and purchased in Tanzania. There was no way of knowing if this would fix the issue but, thankfully it did! While the team didn’t have use of the truck they had to pay a local farmer with two oxen and a cart to transport bricks and water to the building site. As you might imagine, this was not easy or quick.
There has been no fuel in petrol stations (especially rural ones) on and off for months now. They have had to source fuel on the black market when they can, at very inflated prices, and other times just wait until tankers do refill supplies.
The government has started some building work relatively locally, so hiring workers has also proved problematic.
The weather. The aim was to complete building work before the rainy season but it wasn’t possible to do this.

Despite these issues, the following has been achieved:

There are now six lovely new sitting room/bedrooms for teachers which has been such a great addition to know that there is accommodation to offer staff. Because it is such a rural location and the community is living in extreme poverty, teachers must have somewhere to live on campus. So there are now 10 bedroom/sitting rooms thanks to a previous grant we received from The Clive Richards Foundation for the first block of four.
There has been a second latrine block built beside the staff accommodation too.
Clean water has been piped from the local health centre to that area of Bright Futures Campus. The teachers now have a water tap outside their accommodation.
There has been a wash block built with showers and sinks and a drying area for clothes. There will be an additional wash block built in the next few months so male staff/female staff have their own space.
Solar panel kits have been sent and are about to be installed on the teachers’ accommodation blocks, giving them plug sockets. Each room already has it’s own solar power x 3 lights giving one outside light and one light each in the bedroom and sitting room.

So despite a challenging year, we have a lovely new accommodation block thanks to the financial help we received. We are very grateful for everyone’s support in helping us to continue to work with some of the most vulnerable children and young people in rural northern Malawi and grow Bright Futures Secondary School.

The young people are benefitting by having free secondary education, free school lunches, playing team sports and learning skills for life (practical agricultural lessons growing their own food and looking after chickens, pigs and goats) and by being in school, lots of teenage pregnancies have been prevented. Also, there are no girls that have been married off too young because families cannot feed them. Because of their free, nutritious school lunch, there is one less mouth to feed at home.

Primary School Leavers exam pass rates are increasing year on year because of our School Literacy Project, collecting preloved books to send to schools where there are little or no resources.

Thank you again for taking a chance on our small charity. With a great team of supporters we can continue Changing Lives (in) Malawi and give children & young people a brighter future. Thanks again, Sarah x

If you would like to help provide notebooks and pens for students from Chambo Primary School during the Easter holiday study school, please donate here https://donorsee.com/project/25617?share=1 This study school is to help them prepare for their school leavers exams. If they don’t have paper and pens then they can’t take notes. Please help?

‘Forgotten Voices’ – hungry children

Forgotten Voices – hungry children. We are making a few very short videos with some of the most vulnerable people talking about issues they face. These ‘Forgotten Voices’ are from the far north of Malawi where help is scarce.

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Sarah’s blog 24/3/25

We are making a few short videos under the heading ‘Forgotten Voices’. There are not many charities working in the very far north of Malawi and certainly no big charities feeding children in primary schools.

These videos are a way of hearing some of the issues that the most vulnerable face. Their stories, told in their own words, making an impact. This video is ‘Forgotten Voices’ – hungry children.

Ethel, a student at Bright Futures Secondary School, is living in extreme poverty with her aunt. She has a long walk to get to and from school. She says that she and her other fellow students do not have any food in their homes. At least these students at Bright Futures Secondary School have a nutritious free school lunch each day. The children and young people in primary schools have nothing.

We help support a feeding programme once a week that feeds approximately 500 children and young people. Some children walk for 15km/20km for that one decent meal of the week. We are trying to help set up sustainable projects but these children need feeding now. Please will you help us?

There will be an Easter holiday study school running again for the BFSS students as well as the p8 students from Chambo Primary. Feeding 60+ students from Chambo Primary every day during this study programme is a huge cost and one that we need help with. However, we will not support these holiday revision sessions without feeding these malnourished young people. How can we expect them to concentrate without having food in their tummies?

So we would love your help with feeding the students during the Easter holidays please. If you’d like to help then the link is here https://donorsee.com/project/26846?share=1

Also, the students in p8 at Chambo Primary still need new notepads and pencils (well the whole school does but we cannot afford to help them all unfortunately). If you’d like to support purchasing notepads and pencils/pens then please click here https://donorsee.com/project/25617?share=1

Or you can donate via our website or email for our bank details contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com

https://videopress.com/v/A7gAVMja?resizeToParent=true&cover=true&preloadContent=metadata&useAverageColor=true

Thanks to Ethel for helping to make this video about hunger