food Archives

International Day of the Girl Child

There shouldn’t be any need for an International Day of the Girl Child. Year after year charities and organisations highlight the issues girls all over the world face. Is anything improving? Is anyone listening? read today’s blog.

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Sarah’s blog 11/10/26

There shouldn’t be any need for an International Day of the Girl Child. Year after year charities and organisations highlight the issues girls all over the world face.

Is anything improving? Is anyone listening?

For the girls we help to support, yes some things are changing for the better; however much still needs to be done;

Vulnerable girls (and boys) sponsors are benefiting from free secondary education. However more sponsors are needed to help us provide free education to more students at Bright Futures Secondary School.
The period poverty project is enabling girls to learn how to sew reusable sanitary pads. This ensures girls have access to school all month like the boys do. Why should they have to hide at home until they have finished menstruating! Girls deserve equality.
We responded to the request to provide whistles to try to keep girls safe from being attacked and raped on the way to and from school. Girls who live closer to school can walk in groups but it’s those who are further away that are more at risk. Why should they have to wear a whistle in the hope it keeps them safe? Girls and women are the ones walking long distances to fetch water. Why should they be worrying about safety as well as the laborious jobs they have to do?
Despite it being illegal, girls are still being married off too young. Levison and team have prevented several girls being married as young as age 11. By appealing for a sponsor for at risk girls, there is some food going into their homes each month. Families are tempted by the dowry they receive when girls get married. If they have several mouths to feed, and as there is a food crisis and cost of living crisis in Malawi, maybe they feel this is the only choice they had open to them? We need to ensure families know they can ask for help.
We will do everything we can to support our friends in Malawi try to ensure no girl in their village and surrounding area is married off too soon. Their futures are being remapped by not having a choice in their early marriage. Having children whilst they are still children themselves can result in death for mother and baby or damage to their bodies. Will you help us help them?

Girls have the ability to change Malawi’s future. By educating them and giving them opportunities and choices and chances they wouldn’t otherwise have had, they can earn a better living for themselves and their families, thus breaking the cycle of extreme poverty. These girls need a helping hand for this to happen. All of us have the ability to help them.

Girls at Bright Futures Secondary School are learning all the subjects that the boys are. They are taking part in sports and learning how to grow crops. Girls are also learning to care for chickens and pigs at the small farm on campus. Carpentry and sewing classes are also providing skills for life.

Will you help us on International Day of the Girl Child? Will you become a sponsor for one of our S1 students please? It’s £25 per month and you can sponsor as an individual or a group of friends or a business. It’s not much to us, less than £1 per day, but it would mean the world to one of these vulnerable girls. contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com

Next year, on International Day of the Girl Child, I wonder what we will have achieved in the coming year? I wonder how many girls will be matched with a new sponsor to support their secondary education. Join us on this journey to ensure girls are protected from exploitation and early marriage and dying in childbirth and are able to complete their education and their childhood. I am invested in these girls and a better and brighter future for each of them. I hope you are too. Thank you for reading, Sarah x

The new S1 Students at Bright Futures are looking for Sponsors

The new S1 Students at Bright Futures are looking for Sponsors

Read today’s blog… Let me introduce you to some new students! The new S1 students at Bright Futures Secondary School are looking for sponsors.

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Sarah’s blog 29/09/26

Let me introduce you to some new students! The new S1 students at Bright Futures Secondary School are looking for sponsors. They need your help to support them through their four years of secondary education. Please will you be a helping hand to one of them? It takes a village to raise a child…will you be part of their village? Please?

Bright Futures Secondary School is a small private secondary school that we raised funds to build as there were not enough places in local government secondary schools. Also, none of these young people could afford to attend secondary school. They are mostly orphans living with extended family. All are living in extreme poverty.

We are responsible for paying the teachers. We are responsible for all the stationery and supplies that these students require. Also everything else they need to help them succeed and have a brighter future. With these gifts they will have choices and chances that they wouldn’t otherwise have had. As you can see, the students have already been provided with school uniform. We thank everyone who has provided either new or preloved uniform for use at Bright Futures Secondary School. It really helps boost confidence and self-esteem to have ‘new’ smart clothes and to feel they are an important part of the school community.

We insist that the students have a nutritious cooked meal each lunch time. For most, this is their only meal each day. Without this food, how would they concentrate? But feeding them all each day costs a lot of money.

This is why we need your help and support. Can you sponsor a student please? It is £25 per month and you can sponsor as an individual, a family, friends sharing the cost, or a club or business could sponsor a young person. £25 per month isn’t much to most of us, but it is a world of difference to each of these young people. contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com

At Bright Futures Secondary School, class sizes are kept smaller than at government schools so that these most vulnerable teenagers have the best chance possible to pass their national exams at the end of S2 and S4.

As well as their curriculum subjects, Bright Futures Secondary School offers practical lessons like sewing, carpentry, agriculture and animal welfare. Students are growing fruit and vegetables to eat and to sell…the latest crop of bananas are being sold and fertilizer is being bought with the money…so they are also learning business skills and skills for life.

Team sports are a big part of life at Bright Futures Secondary School. As well the playing the national sports of netball and football, we facilitated the introduction of touch rugby in the far north of Malawi which all the young people enjoy.

Times are changing for these young people who, until a few years ago, had no hope of any future apart from working for local farmers in their fields for a pittance. Now they can dream. So please will you help one of the new S1 students at Bright Futures Secondary School who are looking for sponsors? Will you help their dreams become a reality? We can’t do it all on our own, it’s always about team work. Let’s come together to support these young people and continue Changing Lives (in) Malawi. Thank you for reading and your support, Sarah x

Get in touch today contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com

Esther’s favourite subject is Bible Knowledge

Wisdom likes playing football in his free time

Betina likes playing netball and reading novels in her free time

Mphatso enjoys playing football in his free time

John likes playing football and reading novels in his free time

Asimenye Kaonga enjoys playing netball in her free time

Lusungu’s favourite subject is chemistry

Junior likes reading books in his free time

A video that was made at Bright Futures Secondary School when Liz and Sarah visited in May 26

Summer Camp at BFSS

Levison and team thought it would be a real treat for them to have a few days together, having fun, learning, eating together and building relationships and team spirit.

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Sarah’s blog 14/9/26

Last week there was a Summer Camp at BFSS for the students to enjoy before the school year restarted. This was the first ever Summer Camp at BFSS but will now become an annual event, providing funds allow.

The young people who attend Bright Futures Secondary School are some of the most vulnerable in rural northern Malawi. Most are orphans living with extended family. All are living in extreme poverty and do not have enough to eat.

Levison and team thought it would be a real treat for students to have a few days together. Having fun, learning, eating together and building relationships and team spirit and doing things that other young people take for granted.

Bright Futures Secondary School is a small private secondary school, built especially for these vulnerable young people. It gives them opportunities that they wouldn’t otherwise have had and allows them a brighter future.

If it wasn’t for BFSS, then many of the girls would have been married off too soon to older men and already have children or even died through the complications of childbirth as happens to young girls.

We are responsible for this private school. With your help, we can continue to support the running costs including paying teachers salaries and providing students with everything they need for school. Of course, a big cost is that they receive a nutritious cooked lunch each day. For many, this is their only meal of the day. They need this food in order to be able to concentrate and learn.

This is why we need ongoing support and FRIENDS OF BRIGHT FUTURES SECONDARY SCHOOL to ensure the ongoing success of our small private school. We need to ensure a brighter future for these students and students in years to come. The young people know that education is their best way out of poverty.

So as you look at these photos and videos of some of their activities from last week, could you please spare £5 or £10 per month towards core running costs of Bright Futures Secondary School? Could you become a Friend of Bright Futures Secondary School and a friend of these students?

Or could you spare £25 per month towards core help sponsor a student? You could share this cost with friends, family, a club or your business could sponsor a young person’s education.

Amazing things are happening at Bright Futures Secondary School but we need a team to ensure this continues and all costs are covered. Would you like to give a young person a brighter future?

Summer Camp at BFSS saw the students watching a sunrise as well as exercising together. They watched a film and shared snacks. There was a health talk from a local nurse. A teacher from another local school gave them keyboard lessons. There is currently a carpenter working on campus and he supported the students to make their own stools with off cuts of wood. Sewing is always a popular activity and the sewing machines were in use again! These were just a few of the activities.

Thank you to the teachers and all the team behind the scenes who organised everything in advance of the first Summer Camp at BFSS. It’s another incentive to work hard and stay in school.

So enjoy the photos and videos and please, if you can, donate some money towards a brighter future for these amazing young people. contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com for our charity bank details and join us to continue Changing Lives (in) Malawi. Thanks for reading & supporting, Sarah x

Bright Futures for S2 students

I’m so happy to share that I’ve just heard that all the S2 students at Bright Futures Secondary School have passed their Junior Certificate of Education (JCE)

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Sarah’s blog 15/8/26

I’m so happy to share that I’ve just heard that all the S2 students at Bright Futures Secondary School have passed their Junior Certificate of Education (JCE). These are national exams that are taken at the end of second year. More national exams are taken at the end of S4.

This is an amazing achievement for these young people, many of whom are orphans. They have had such difficult childhoods but there are now bright futures for the S2 students. These young people have all suffered loss and trauma and live in tiny huts. Many walk long distances to school. All are all on the Global Multidimensional Poverty Index.

Without their sponsors support they would not have been able to attend Bright Futures Secondary School. Who knows if the girls would have been married with children already? These young people have been given choices and chances that they wouldn’t otherwise have had. There are bright futures for S2 students at Bright Futures Secondary School.

I want to take this opportunity to thank those who sponsor a young person to be at Bright Futures Secondary School, those who donate stationery or preloved uniform and of course the organisations who have gifted bigger amounts of money, meaning we’ve been able to build classrooms, pay staff and supply books and equipment. It’s always about teamwork and we are very grateful for your support. We do need more people to be involved in supporting young people. Could this be something you could help with?

To the young people, we are so proud of you for everything you have achieved and will go onto achieve in future. All we can ask is that you work hard and try your best always. You are making history as, again, there has been 100% pass rate at BFSS.

School opens again next month and these students will be given a party as a reward. They are probably as excited about that as they are about passing their exams!

We are now looking for sponsors for the next intake of s1 students. If you’d like to be a sponsor then please get in touch contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com. Or would you like to become a Friend of Bright Futures Secondary School and make a regular donation each month towards the core running costs of the school.

Clearly these young people are capable and brilliant and are just needing our support to achieve their goals. They know education is their way out of poverty. Let’s give even more students that opportunity and if you can spare a few £££ every month, please do help us continue giving bright futures for S2 students and their friends. Thank you, Sarah x

ps I will add in individual photos of S2 students over the next few days.

Students from Chambo Primary School waiting for the Celebration Day to start when Liz and Sarah were in Malawi in May. Some of them will be students at Bright Futures Secondary School in years to come if we can continue to find financial support to enable them to have a brighter future.

BFSS S4 Graduation

In today’s blog, I am sharing some amazing photos and videos from the BFSS S4 graduation ceremony and party.

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Sarah’s blog 26/6/26

In Scotland, where I live, for most, today is the last day of school before the summer holidays. For the S4 students in Malawi, it is their last day of school before their final school exams start on Monday. Today, I am sharing some amazing photos and videos from the BFSS S4 graduation ceremony and party.

The BFSS S4 graduation ceremony and party happened on Sunday afternoon. The teachers did a fantastic job of giving these students a great send off. This is the first lot of students from Bright Futures Secondary School to have completed all four years of education at Bright Futures and be sitting their MSCE exams (Malawi School Certificate of Education). We wish them every success in their exams and for their futures. We are so pleased to have these photos and videos of the BFSS S4 Graduation.

We are all so proud of the young people they have become. Whilst at BFSS, as well as learning the curriculum subjects, they have better numeracy, literacy, they have learned how to grow vegetables and care of chickens, pigs and goats, they have learned how to sew and do some basic carpentry. The students have enjoyed playing football, netball and rugby with their friends.

Above all, they have had the opportunity for a brighter future. Who knows if the girls would have been married off at age 12 or 13 and have had babies by now? Who knows if the boys would have been having to steal to feed themselves? Thankfully, because of the opportunity they have been given, they now have more choices and chances for a brighter future.

Thank you to their teachers for all their hard work. Thank you to the parents and caregivers for encouraging the young people to attend school. Most of these students are either from single parent families or living with extended family. They are all living in extreme poverty and know that education will give them and their loved ones the opportunity of a brighter future.

So we thank their sponsors for supporting these young people through school. Your monthly donation of £25 has provided a nutritious school lunch each day which, for most, is the only food they eat each day. You have also helped provide the stationery that the students need. Periodically, the young people receive new clothes and shoes. As you can see in these great photos and videos, the young people have been given new clothes. The t-shirts were donated by All Saints Junior School in Maidenhead.

So as we say ‘goodbye and good luck’ to these wonderful young people, we are looking for people to sponsor and support students who are looking for a place at Bright Futures Secondary School in September. The more people who want to help, the more young people can be offered a place in S1 in September. We really do need your help to give other deserving young people the opportunity of a brighter future. Will you join us? contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com It’s only 85p per day to change a life.

Enjoy the photos and videos and do get in touch if you would like to support a young person like one of these amazing students graduating from Bright Futures Secondary School today. Thanks for reading and supporting the students, Bright Futures Secondary School and Changing Lives Malawi, Sarah x

S4 exams

S4 exams

The students at Bright Futures Secondary School who are in S4 only have this week left of school before their final S4 exams start. They are all hoping to pass their MSCE (Malawi School Certificate of Education), although it will be a few months until they find out their results.

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Sarah’s blog 23/6/26

It’s a huge achievement for them to get this far as they had been some of the most vulnerable students and some of them had missed periods of schooling when they were younger. We are very proud of them for persevering and wish them every success in their final S4 exams and their futures.

It’s also a big deal for Bright Futures Secondary School…these are the first students who have come all the way through the four years of school since it opened.

Students sit JCE (junior certificate of education) at the end of s2. Some students, unfortunately, are not able to get past this level or opt out of school for a variety of reasons. Life is extremely hard for the young people attending BFSS. So the fact that they are achieving, despite their other issues, is amazing.

These students will go to Chisenga School to sit exams and we have paid for transport and food for them each day.

After they have finished their exams, they will continue to receive monthly food parcels until they get their exams start results as, in the meantime they are still wanting to get some work experience helping at Bright Futures Campus.

We are hoping to have more sponsors for new s1 students who will start at Bright Futures in September. The more sponsors we have then the more students can attend secondary school and have a brighter future. It’s still only £25 to sponsor a young person so please do get in touch if you can help contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com. Without your help we cannot support the most vulnerable…and there are lots of young people asking for places at BFSS.

Being in secondary school has far more benefits than learning the curriculum. Young people are being fed every day. They are learning skills for life like agriculture, sewing and carpentry. They are playing sport. Girls are far less likely to become pregnant and also less likely to be married off too young. Boys are less likely to get into trouble with the police.

All this requires team work and we thank the teachers and the sponsors for supporting these young people.

I also want to tell you about Emily, another young person. Emily was sponsored and won a place at Wenya Secondary School. She passed her MSCE last year. However, she wanted to sit them again and try for better grades. She has been working on campus, and being paid, while she also studies. We have paid for her to sit her exams again this year and wish her the best of luck.

So this small group of young people have now got choices and chances for a brighter future that they would not otherwise have had. They have better literacy and numeracy than if they’d not had the chance of going to secondary school. They’ve learned practical skills. They’ve been able to spend time with their friends instead of working for a pittance. Thank you for helping us continue Changing Lives (in) Malawi. Please do continue to support the next young people who want the opportunity to attend Bright Futures Secondary School. Get in touch and make a difference. contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com Thanks so much, Sarah x

The Day of the African Child

This photo is from when Bright Futures Secondary School first opened a few years ago.

The Day of the African Child

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Sarah’s blog 16/06/26

This year, The Day of the African Child, is highlighting the need for clean water, sanitation and hygiene for all children.

Unfortunately, there are many children who are having to go to the bushes to relieve themselves. This puts, especially girls, at risk of being attacked and isn’t good for their self-confidence or self-esteem.

There are too many who do not have clean drinking water and soap and water for handwashing. Too many do not have soap for washing themselves and their clothes because they cannot afford a bar of soap.

Too many girls miss a week of school each month because they do not have reusable sanitary pads. They miss out on education just because they are female and because of a natural bodily function. it’s even more important that they have the soap they need to clean themselves and wash their pads and clothes.

I don’t think any of us can ever comprehend being so poor we cannot afford to buy a bar of soap. It’s especially important when there are outbreaks of disease like cholera and to protect children from diseases that can kill them or make them extremely ill.

With the help of our supporters, there are latrines, showers, clean drinking water and soap available at Bright Futures Campus. There is now clean water for drinking and handwashing at Chambo Primary School and a girls’ latrine block.

Students at Bright Futures Secondary School have been making reusable sanitary pads for all who need them.

We are grateful for the donations to our fundraiser. We were able to buy many bars of soap. We took some to Chambo Primary School for handwashing and also took some to the new mothers at Chambo Health Centre.

We will be keeping our fundraiser open so that we can continue supporting the most vulnerable children with soap and notebooks. We’d love it if you could make a small donation please. https://gofund.me/08d75b415

Also, the headteacher at Chambo Primary has asked if we could appeal for sponsors to support these vulnerable children. It will mean they will be given a food parcel and soap each month which will help ensure they are better fed. They will also continue to have access to the weekly feeding programme and be given clothes and shoes when available. It’s still only £25 per month to sponsor a young person and give them a brighter future. Could you help us help them please? contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com

And yet despite all the challenges these children face, you can see from the photos and videos how amazing they all are. They deserve our help and support. They just need a hand up. So on The Day of The African Child, will you lend your hand to one of these children? Thank you again, Sarah x

could you please support one of these children?

clean water for drinking and handwashing

Boys from Chambo Primary entertaining everyone on the Celebration Day

Girls’ from Chambo Primary singing and dancing at the Celebration Day

Everyone enjoyed the netball and football on the Celebration Day

Students from Bright Futures Secondary School waiting for the Celebration Day to start…they had been busy ensuring the campus was tidy and they had moved lots of chairs for the visitors

Only 3 sleeps to go…

Join us for an incredible journey to Malawi! Packing for this adventure has been a challenge in itself, but we’re almost ready to make a difference. Thank you for your incredible support! #MalawiJourney #GivingBack #kindnessmatters

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Sarah’s blog 17/5/26

We can’t believe how quickly the last part of the countdown to our first visit to Malawi is going! Only 3 sleeps to go….

The bags have been packed, unpacked, repacked, things set aside to go on the next container as there’s not enough room…. This is certainly the most complicated packing for a trip I’ve ever done!

It’s going to be very surreal as we’ve been looking forward to this trip for so long… but it’s finally here.

Like the famous film title ‘planes, trains & automobiles’, our trip is going to be ‘automobile, train, plane, plane, automobile, plane, plane, train, automobile.’

That is a lot of travelling! We will hopefully be able to post updates on Facebook, instagram and do some blogs too. Please do join us in following our journey as we meet the people whom we have been supporting and working in partnership with for the past few years.

Thank you to everyone who has supported us with words of encouragement and kindness. Thank you to everyone who has contributed to our fundraising. Our aim is to be able to provide more food to malnourished children while we are in Malawi, buy at least 1.000 bars of soap and buy notebooks for students. The more donations we receive, the more we can do to help.

When people cannot even afford to feed their families every day, they certainly don’t have money for soap and notebooks. Will you help us please? Together we can make a difference!

You can contribute through our GoFundMe page https://gofund.me/70a4091dc or through our website, or you can email contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com for bank details.

Lots of photos and videos will be taken and posted and hopefully some good insights into what is working well and what we can do to improve other projects.

Many thanks again for your support for the hundreds of children who live in extreme poverty, Sarah x

Bunches of Bananas

Students at Bright Futures Secondary School are reaping the rewards of their hard work.

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Sarah’s blog 2/5/26

Last week Levison had the devastating news that lots of maize had been stolen from one of the fields. All their hard work gone. Future food for the children gone. Can you imagine how heart breaking this would be?

But here is some wonderful good news to share. The banana tubers that the students at Bright Futures Secondary School worked hard to plant, now have some bunches of bananas! Hard work is reaping rewards for the students in this project. This is a fantastic boost for them. Remember most of these students are orphans, living in extreme poverty with extended family. Their only food is the free lunch they are given at school each day. So this is a big deal for them.

Also banana tubers were shared with Chambo Primary School and they too have bananas… hopefully we will get an update from Chambo Primary next week.

The students at Bright Futures Secondary School are going to keep some bananas to eat but are going to sell the majority. They have been asked to think about what they should purchase with the funds from the sale of their bananas. And we look forward to hearing some of their ideas. I wonder what they will suggest?

This practical agriculture lesson has taught the students how to grow bananas should they wish to become farmers after they leave school. However, their learning is being extended by teaching them business skills and how to become self-sufficient. They will only be able to spend what someone is prepared to pay for their bananas.

Here are some quotes from students at BFSS.

Lloyd told Levison, ‘I am happy to see the saplings we planted a few months ago giving us fruits. I will make sure I plant some bananas for my family.’

A quote from Hilda, ‘I am just happy to be part of this gardening team.’

Saviour added, ‘Thanks to our supporters for giving us this opportunity to learn how to grow bananas. The skills will help me to earn money when I finish school.’

Will they choose to buy more banana tubers? Or some seeds or fertiliser? Or something they need for their classroom? A vote will be taken so that the students know their voices are being heard and that they are involved in shaping their own education and brighter future. Hope you enjoy these photos. Thanks again for supporting us to continue Changing Lives (in) Malawi, Sarah x

PS it’s only just over two weeks until Liz and I head off to Malawi for a fortnight. We are so looking forward to meeting everyone there and seeing projects like this. Will you support us to help vulnerable children while we are in Malawi? You can click on the link here and read about our trip and make a donation https://gofund.me/5d34c8533 . Alternatively, send an email to contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com for bank details or make a donation through our website. Every little helps as the saying goes! And we are very grateful to all of our supporters. Thanks again, Sarah

Bananas – a sustainable project

Stolen Maize

Growing maize is a lot of hard, back breaking work. How would you feel if your crop was stolen?

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Sarah’s blog 25/4/26

Life seems to be getting harder for the most vulnerable people. Levison messaged me this morning to tell me about stolen maize from one of the fields.

Levison himself plants maize, along with students at Bright Futures Secondary School who are all living in extreme poverty. Also, the four agribusiness groups that were supported to grow their own crops have been growing maize and other crops. It is a hard existence growing crops and doing everything by hard… but people want to feed themselves and their families.

I don’t think we can imagine how heart breaking it must be to find out that your crop of maize has been stolen. It’s backbreaking work and a hand to mouth existence. This stolen maize would have helped to feed hungry children who are malnourished and suffering. The stolen maize is a big loss.

Thinking about it from the point of view of the people who stole the maize. Were they just opportunistic? Lazy? Selfish? Or were they struggling to feed their families? No one should be stealing from anyone else, however this is the reality of life in rural Northern Malawi currently. What would we do if we had nothing to feed our children? Would we cross that line?

It’s only three and a half weeks until Liz and myself head off to Malawi for two weeks. It’s going to be a wonderful experience to be able to meet and spend time with everyone. Also, to be able to see the projects, see what is working well and assess the reasons other projects aren’t working as well as we might have expected. We will be taking lots of photos and videos to share with you.

However, I think we are going to struggle seeing the level of poverty for the first time. It is going to be hard to see little ones who clearly do not have enough food in their tummies.

That is why we are asking for your help please. If people are struggling to feed themselves and their families, they do not have enough money to buy soap. We want to be able to purchase soap in Malawi, enough for all the children and young people and all the new mums at the local health centre. The more money we raise, the more soap we can buy.

We are also going to be giving notebooks to the oldest children at the two nearest primary schools to Bright Futures Campus. Writing materials are another thing we take for granted.

It would be great if you could help us please to buy food for the children to have an extra meal whilst we are there. Your support will make a difference to hundreds of children who are living in extreme poverty beyond our comprehension.

Thank you so much to everyone who has already made a donation. If you haven’t, please will you make a small contribution? Will you also share our fundraiser with your friends? The link to our fundraiser is here https://gofund.me/536aba9a5 or you can make a donation via the website. Alternatively, you could email us for the charity bank details contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com .

We appreciate the support we’ve had and continue to receive, it is always about teamwork and we couldn’t do what we do without your help. I’ve attached a report from an online news agency from this week, a video that Levison took of the field that the maize was stolen from and our fundraiser. Thank you again, Sarah x

Pine Tree Planting

Some of the students from Bright Futures Secondary School helped to plant pine tree saplings during their school holidays.

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Sarah’s blog 12/4/26

Despite it being school holidays in Malawi, some of the students at Bright Futures Secondary School volunteered for a couple of hours of pine tree planting. They can see the difference their hard work is making.

Students are very aware of the importance of planting more trees to help regenerate the local forests. They are replacing the trees that have been cut down for building and fuel. Students are also trying to prevent soil erosion and crops being washed away during the rainy season as well as helping the climate. The ground is soft as there have been rains for the past few months. It is an ideal time for students to be digging and planting and they are keen to help.

As well as the pine tree planting, students have prepared the ground for more fruit tree saplings. These will be planted in their agricultural classes after the school holidays. The fruit tree saplings are for future food and to sell some of the fruit for a sustainable income. Agricultural classes at Bright Futures Secondary School are providing student with skills for life.

Thank you to the students for giving back to their community. Thank you to everyone who has made financial donations to support the purchasing of tree saplings. Together we can continue Changing Lives (in) Malawi. Would you like to help provide fund this ongoing project?

Liz and I are heading to Malawi in just over a month’s time. We are looking forward to visiting the different projects. We will be taking more photos and videos to share with you. If you’d like to get in touch about any of my blogs or to make a donation then our email address is contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com Thanks, Sarah x

Liz and Sarah’s trip to Malawi

It’s less than 6 weeks until Liz and Sarah head to Malawi…. still lots of planning to do and vaccinations to get.

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Sarah’s blog 9/4/26

Liz and Sarah’s trip to Malawi isn’t far away! Liz, who is another trustee of Changing Lives Malawi, and myself are counting down now to our two week trip to Malawi. It’s just over 5 weeks time until we set off and it’s all starting to feel very real.

I’ve had my second lot of injections today, Liz has had her first today. We are both going for yellow fever injections on Saturday…not really a fun day out in Stirling…but you have to have a vaccination certificate to show to enter Malawi.

I have been collecting supplies for the new nursery classroom and Liz has been on a camera course and we have our train tickets and flights all booked.

We will hopefully be able to blog from Malawi and take lots of photos and videos at Bright Futures Nursery and Secondary School to share with you. Meeting the people we have been helping to support is what I am most looking forward to.

We have paid for our own train tickets, flights, vaccines, travel insurance, visas etc… but we would like to be able gift a bar of soap to each young person at the nursery, secondary school and feeding programme. Also, we would like to be able to provide bars of soap for each new mother at Chambo Health Centre.

This will be approx 1,000 bars of soap at approx 30p-40p per bar. So that is at least £300. Costs have risen hugely in Malawi and none of the families we help to support can afford to buy soap…they are living in extreme poverty and struggling to buy food every day.

You can click on the link to our fundraiser https://gofund.me/e2cc483aa to find out what other projects we are trying to raise funds for….any small donations will be very gratefully received. Or you can donate via our website or email for bank details contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com .

Many thanks for your continued support, Sarah x

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