Tag: DonorSee

DonorSee is sadly closing for small projects but THANK YOU for supporting us

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.

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 pens
One 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 DonorSee
Practical science classes at Bright Futures Secondary School are far more interesting now that they have more science equipment for experiments
Some 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 lunch
We 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 rugby
Young people caring for bananas that they planted as tubers

The First Finished Beehive

“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.

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;

  1. knowing the requirements for beehives through research
  2. designing the beehive through technical drawing
  3. making the beehive with full use of carpentry and joinery skills
  4. 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

Beehives at Bright Futures
Bright Futures School’s Innovative Beekeeping Initiative

Football Tournament and Feeding

Thank you to all the clubs and donors for the fantastic preloved football kits. These vulnerable children have a real confidence boost when they wear their new kit.

Sarah’s blog 26/11/25

Thanks to our supporters, we had funds to get a few schools together for a day of football. Football is one of Malawi’s national sports. Of course, everyone likes a football tournament, whether they are taking part or watching.

As I have mentioned previously, because the children we help to support aren’t eating properly each day, we will not hold a sports event without giving children something to eat and drink. The food shortage in Malawi is getting worse. Feeding children at an event like this makes it even more of a special, exciting day. The young people know they will have enough energy to play competitive sports with their friends. They will also probably sleep better that night with food in their tummies.

Thank you to everyone who donated money to help us feed everyone who took part. Also, a big thank you to those who donate preloved sports kit. This means a great deal to the young people. Previously they either didn’t have matching kit or it was full of holes because it was so old. Preloved sports kit is shared out to various primary schools and grassroots sports teams, as well as being kept for use by the orphans and other vulnerable children who play sport at the weekends.

Some of the people we need to thank for football kit are; Julian Chenery from the charity ‘Wear a Sports Shirt Day’. Julian spends almost every weekend collecting preloved football kit from different clubs and we are very grateful for his tireless work. He has sent a huge amount of preloved football kit to the children we help to support in Malawi. Paul Goodwin, another football enthusiast and collector of football kit who lives locally to me, gave us a few preloved football kits, some of which have been used in this tournament. And, of course, thank you to the clubs and supporters who have donated their preloved kit; Kilsyth Athletic FC, Collingham FC, Little Common FC, Seaton Town FC, Borden Village FC, Seafar Villa FC. I apologise if I have missed anyone…let me know and I will amend my post.

Here is one of the appeals we have to help us keep feeding hungry and malnourished children. https://donorsee.com/project/28717?share=1 Or you can give via the website or email me for bank details contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com Thanks again for all your support, Sarah x

World Children’s Day

Today’s blog has great photos of happy children on World Children’s Day!

Sarah’s blog 20/11/25

World Children’s Day …what does it mean? And is there a point? None of these children know about World Children’s Day. And does it apply to them? Or is it for children not living in extreme poverty?

World Children’s Day, November 20th, marks the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. It is for all children around the world. However, many children still do not have all the rights that they should do. UNCRC_summary-1_1.pdf

How many do not have a safe home? How many do not have enough to eat? How many do not have safe drinking water? How many do not have proper health care? The list could go on.

We are doing what we can to help hundreds of the most vulnerable children, living in extreme poverty, in rural northern Malawi. Things are better, but they aren’t good enough, there is still so much to do. That is why we are very grateful for all our supporters as it is always about teamwork and together we can continue Changing Lives (in) Malawi.

These are some great photos that were sent to me a couple of days ago. These children are in p5-p7 at Chambo Primary School. There are so many children needing support that the best way is to help a few at a time. They all received new clothes. The team cannot give out too many things at once as families are so desperately poor they would sell some of the clothes to try to buy some food. So, periodically, Levison and his team give out clothes to those most in need.

I can see donations from Balfron Primary School, Strathblane Primary School, Cherry Tree Nursery and All Saints C of E Junior School in Maidenhead. Can you see any other schools or nurseries I have missed? If you message me then I’ll add them in contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com Many thanks to everyone who has donated clothes and school uniform to make the lives of these children a little bit better.

These are a couple of ways you can help support children to have a better and brighter future. https://gofund.me/72d809c06 or https://donorsee.com/project/28717?share=1 or you can email me for bank details contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com

Thank you for helping to make these children smile, Sarah x

Bright Futures School’s Innovative Beekeeping Initiative

Students are making their beehives

Sarah’s blog 19/11/25

As Bright Futures Secondary School wants to become more self-sufficient and have projects that will help with this, we asked our supporters on DonorSee to help with an innovative beekeeping initiative.

Once we sent the funds to Malawi, wood was bought to make the beehives. Firstly, students researched possible designs of beehives from the beekeeping books in Emma’s Rainbow Library. Then they drew their chosen design. Last week they were measuring the wood and cutting it to size.

I’ve been sent some great photos and videos today by one of the teachers at Bright Futures Secondary School. Students decided that one of the hives should be built in the forest. In these photos and videos, it’s great to see the students working collaboratively and problem solving.

Although making the beehives is part of their new carpentry class, students will be studying beekeeping as part of their agricultural lessons. It is also giving them skills for life. Some students may use the knowledge they have gained at school to keep bees and sell the honey when they are older. Or some may become carpenters. It’s thanks to the kindness of strangers that they have had these opportunities. Opportunities for a brighter future.

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https://donorsee.com/project/29253?share=1 This is one of our other projects on DonorSee to provide material for the students to make reusable sanitary towels for all who need them, ensuring girls have the same access to school all month like the boys in their class. Or you can message me for bank details or donate via the website contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com

Hope you enjoy seeing the progress they are making. Your help is making a difference to these students who are living in extreme poverty. Together we can continue Changing Lives (in) Malawi. Thank you for the support, Sarah x

Beehives at Bright Futures

Sewing Lessons at BFSS

Sewing classes at Bright Futures Secondary School are helping S3 and S4 students learn extra skills.

Sarah’s blog 26/10/25

Levison Mlambya, the Director of Bright Futures Secondary School, has sent these great photos and a video of S3 and S4 students who are taking sewing lessons and carpentry classes to learn skills for life.

In the sewing lessons they are learning to use the sewing machines that have been donated and sent on the container via The Bananabox Trust.

Learning skills for life will equip these vulnerable students, who are all living in extreme poverty, with a way to earn money in future, giving them choices and chances they wouldn’t have had previously. Many thanks to the donors of the sewing machines & sewing supplies.

If you’d like to make a donation to support buying more fabric we would be very grateful. https://donorsee.com/project/29253?share=1

The plan is that during sewing lessons at BFSS, they make reusable sanitary pads and bags to put these in and, when there are enough, give them out to those who need them in various local schools. Your financial support will be so helpful.

Thanks also to their sponsors for supporting them. There are still S1 students needing to be matched with sponsors to support their education. https://changinglivesmalawi.com/2025/10/11/international-day-of-the-girl-child/

Thank you for reading and supporting the teenagers at Bright Futures Secondary School, Sarah x

Celebrating Success at Bright Futures Secondary School

Sarah’s blog 22/10/25

Celebrating success at Bright Futures Secondary school is becoming a tradition. All students in S3 had passed their national exams at the end of S2 – Junior Certificate of Education. They were given a party on Friday. Other students joined in at lunchtime but the S3 class were given the afternoon off and were free to continue celebrating and having fun.

Knowing that hard work and effort is celebrated at Bright Futures Secondary School helps to motivate the S1 and S2 students as they look forward to having a party to celebrate their success.

None of these young people have enough food at their homes. Most are orphans living with extended family. All are living in extreme poverty and have suffered trauma. None have money for school fees, new clothes or shoes, stationery or school lunches. That is all free at Bright Futures Secondary School, thanks to their sponsors.

So celebrating their achievements is important. Helping them feel valued is important. Raising their self-esteem is important. Nurturing them to be the best they can be is important. Counselling students and listening to them when they are struggling is important. Supporting these students holistically is important.

A student at Bright Futures Secondary School can expect more than just lessons and passing exams. They can expect support. They can expect understanding. They can expect encouragement. They can expect to be listened to. They can expect the best at Bright Futures Secondary School.

That’s why the staff at BFSS are far more than teachers. We are so grateful for the care and understanding they give to these vulnerable students who have been through so much already. These teachers can and do make a difference and their support and encouragement for the students in their care and the ethos of the school will give these vulnerable teenagers a much brighter future. They are positive role models for these students and we are pleased that they want to help students be the best that they can be.

There are still some new students in S1 who are waiting for a sponsor to help us support their education. Could you give the gift of education and help us continue Changing Lives (in) Malawi? contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com

Celebrating success at Bright Futures Secondary School is important… and look at these smiles which are wonderful to see. Thank you for reading and supporting our work. We need you as part of the team supporting these vulnerable teenagers. Enjoy the photos and videos, Sarah x

We have some projects on fundraising site DonorSee for Bright Futures Secondary School. You can donate via the link or email us for bank details. https://donorsee.com/project/29095?share=1

International Day of the Girl Child
Fantastic fun was had by everyone!

Beehives at Bright Futures

Some great drawings from students before they will make their beehives soon.

Sarah’s blog 13/10/25

As you may have seen, we post some fundraising projects on DonorSee to raise our profile in USA and, hopefully, get some more donations.

One of these projects was to start a bee keeping project at Bright Futures Secondary School. As well as students gaining knowledge and skills for life, the honey can be sold as an income and to help the school towards self-sufficiency.

Thanks to generous donors, the project was funded recently. Some of the students have been looking at beekeeping books and designed their own drawings of beehives.

Another DonorSee project that was recently funded was for more agricultural tools and carpentry tools for Bright Futures Secondary School. Thanks to those donors for their support.

The money has been sent, supplies will be bought and a carpenter will help the students to make some hives. Have a look at these photos and we will share more when the students are making their beehives.

Do have a look at our DonorSee projects and share with your network and make a small donation if you can please. Many thanks for all the support with the Beehives at Bright Futures project, Sarah x

International Day of the Girl Child

International Day of the Girl Child

Here are just some of the reasons why vulnerable girls in Malawi need our help today. You can also read about some of the success stories!

Sarah’s blog 11/10/25

Whilst we are supporting both boys and girls of all ages, girls living in extreme poverty are still living in a very unequal world. International Day of the Girl Child highlights some of the inequalities they face and how we can support them.

Many of the young people we help to support are living with extended family or with one parent. In Malawi it is illegal to marry girls off when they are children. It still happens. Girls are at greater risk of dying during childbirth as well as missing out on their education.

We have matched several girls with sponsors whose families couldn’t afford to feed them. They thought it was better to give their eldest daughter away to get married at age 11 or 12 as they would get a dowry and therefore be able to feed the rest of their family. Having a sponsor means that these very vulnerable girls are still in school, receive a monthly food parcel (if at primary school) or free secondary education with free school lunches (if at Bright Futures Secondary School). The impact of education, food and having a sponsor is huge. We are highlighting these inequalities and the challenges girls face on International Day of the Girl Child, to draw attention to how difficult things are for these vulnerable girls.

If girls do not have access to sanitary towels, they are not welcome at school for one week every month whilst they have their period. Imagine the shame they must feel for having a normal bodily function. Since we sent some donated hand turn Singer sewing machines, girls have been making reusable sanitary towels which have been given out to all who need them. This gives girls and young women confidence, dignity and the same access to education as boys have.

In Chitipa District in the far north, where the community we are partnering with is situated, teenage pregnancies are very high. Thankfully, by being able to keep teenagers in education and giving them opportunities and having choices and chances they wouldn’t normally have had, at Bright Futures Secondary School there have only been two teenage pregnancies since the school opened. (the statistics are in the link below).

Why vulnerable teenagers need sponsors

In the link to another blog below, you can see we celebrated with a party for Catherine, Emily and Naomi, passing their secondary school leavers exams and also the s3 students who had passed their junior certificates of education (s2 national exams). None of them would have had this opportunity if it wasn’t for them having sponsors to support their education. We are so grateful for each and everyone of our sponsors. Thank you!

Celebrating the success of 3 girls

We have girls in S1 who are each needing a sponsor to help support the cost of their education at Bright Futures Secondary School. This is a small school which was built specifically to meet the needs of the very vulnerable teenagers in the community who can’t pay for their secondary education at local state run schools. Sponsorship helps cover; free education, free school lunches, free uniform, shoes and other clothes, school bags & water bottles and free stationery.

We have managed to match two girls in S1 with sponsors but these girls are still waiting for your help. It is still only £25 per month to sponsor a young person. You can sponsor as an individual, a family, friends sharing the cost, or your church, school, club or business could be a sponsor. Will you give the gift of education and a brighter future today? contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com Imagine the difference 5 friends could make to a girl if they each paid £5 per month to support her education. Could this be you and your friends? Thanks to everyone who supports us through sponsorship and donations. Together, on International Day of the Girl Child, we can continue Changing Lives (in) Malawi, Sarah x

We have a few small projects that we are fundraising for with our partners DonorSee DonorSee Here is one of them from which girls are benefitting. https://donorsee.com/project/28717?share=1

(I had a short video chat with the S1 class last week, thanks to their headteacher, and asked each of the students a couple of questions. I’ve written their replies under their photos. Sarah) contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com

Schollastica helps at home by sweeping the inside of her home and the surrounding area and enjoys playing netball with her friends
Lusubiro’s favourite subject is biology and she loves playing rugby
Ethel loves to read and so far at school is enjoying having school uniform and books
Tusalifye is enjoying being at Bright Futures Secondary School and lives a short distance away. She helps at home by sweeping and fetching water.
Veronica said she likes all the books at school and that they get a free school lunch each day. Her favourite sport is netball.
Susan said she really likes school so far as the uniform, shoes, bag and lunches are all for free. Her favourite subject is maths.
At home, Nellie helps with digging their small farmland and fetching water. She likes reading books and her favourite subject is geography.

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.

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

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.

Agribusiness Group 2

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.

Agribusiness Group 3

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

Fathers’ Day Appeals (15th June)

For Fathers’ Day… will you buy your Dad a sustainable gift which will make a big difference to the hundreds of children who are living in extreme poverty in rural northern Malawi?

Sarah’s blog 7/6/25

It’s Fathers’ Day next Sunday the 15th June. Would your Dad like a sustainable gift? Does your Dad really need another pair of socks? What do you buy for the man who has everything? We have the perfect gifts that will be special and a bit different. We need your help. We need to help the young people help themselves to a better and brighter future.

We are appealing for funds to purchase more agricultural tools to help the students during their practical agricultural lessons. They already have a few hoes, spades, slashers, watering cans and a wheelbarrow. However, more are needed so that all the students can take part in the lessons which are a core part of the curriculum. We’d like them to be able to have another wheelbarrow, more watering cans, more spades and hoes. Will you help please?

This appeal for tools also covers carpentry tools so that students at Bright Futures Secondary School can learn basic woodwork. This will be another skill for life for those living in a rural community and a possible way to earn money for some. If you’d like to donate on behalf or your Dad, you can either email me a name or leave a message on the DonorSee appeal with the name you’d like written to appear as donors of the carpentry equipment. https://donorsee.com/project/27684?share=1

Our other appeal is for more fruit tree saplings. Approximately, 500 orphans and other children and young people living in extreme poverty receive a nutritious meal at the Feeding Programme once a week. There are no big charities feeding children in primary schools in the rural far north, meaning most children are suffering from malnutrition and all are hungry. Families cannot afford to feed their children and prices continue to rise. This is an amazing chance to support these children and their families. To help them become self-sufficient.

By planting more fruit tree saplings, the orchard will continue to grow. It will provide much needed food for years to come. Any surplus fruit will be able to be sold, providing a sustainable source of income. Will you help by purchasing some fruit tree saplings please? https://donorsee.com/project/27708?share=1

There is the opportunity to leave a message on the two DonorSee appeals with the name of your Dad or other important man in your life. Names will be written on a board for the new area of Orchard or, for the carpentry tools, on a wall at Bright Futures Campus. We rely on the generosity of our donors. Let’s do this together. Let’s make a real difference to hundreds of children and young people who do not have enough to eat.

Or would you like to make a donation in memory of a special person? Let me know and their name will be added. Donations can be made by clicking on either of the two DonorSee links or by emailing for our bank details contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com Together we can continue Changing Lives (in) Malawi. Thank you so much, Sarah x

One of the first saplings planted..this guava tree is now bearing fruit
Planting bananas which are now growing well
Students at Bright Futures Secondary School have also planted pine tree saplings to help prevent soil erosion, replace trees used for firewood and to help protect the planet.