food Archives

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

Lichfield Spires Netball Club

Lichfield Spires Netball Club – your donated kit has arrived in Malawi. Thank you so much for helping to make a difference to vulnerable young people.

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Sarah’s blog 19/2/26

Last summer wrote a blog about a huge donation of netball kit that we received from Lichfield Spires Netball Club. I will attach that blog so you can read about how the kit made the first part of the journey to Malawi.

Netball and football are the two national sports and young people very much enjoy playing these team sports. We have had lots of donations of other sports kit. But, apart from some netball bibs, this is the first proper netball kit that has been donated for use by vulnerable children and young adults. We bought some velcro squares with players positions to stick on to the kit. We also bought a couple of netballs and boxed everything up to go to Malawi.

This week, some of the girls at Bright Futures Secondary School tried on their new netball kit. This kit will make such a difference to their confidence levels and self-esteem. They know that people care about them to send such lovely netball kit. They play netball in school and amongst other local schools and at weekends. It is hoped in future that they will be able to join a netball league. Some of the girls are a bit shy as they’ve never worn netball kit before and aren’t used to being the centre of attention.

So to everyone at Lichfield Spires Netball Club – thank you for making a difference to these vulnerable young people. Most of them are orphans living with extended family. To Paul and Stuart who met halfway between us (central Scotland) and Lichfield, thank you for ensuring that this wonderful donation was able to reach us and then to Dundee in time for the container going to Malawi.

We will continue to share more photos and videos from actual netball matches but, for now, thank you again for making a difference and helping us continue Changing Lives (in) Malawi. If you’d like to get in touch, our email address is contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com . Enjoy the photos, follow us on social media, sign up for my blogs and watch out for more photos! Sarah x

Lichfield Spires Netball Club Supports Malawi Youth Sports

BFSS Students’ Favourite Subjects

BFSS Students’ Favourite Subjects

Student at Bright Futures Secondary School have written about their favourite subjects. Have a read of today’ blog.

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Sarah’s blog 17/2/26

Here are some great photos of the students at Bright Futures Secondary School. Also, in today’s blog, is writing about BFSS Students’ favourite subjects at school. Thank you to the teacher who organised the photos and the students’ writing. Thank you to the sponsors who support these very vulnerable teenagers to be able to attend secondary school. Because of you, these vulnerable students are having opportunities that they wouldn’t have had. As well as free education, free uniform and stationery, they are receiving a free nutritious lunch each day. For most, this is the only food they eat.

If you’d like to be a sponsor, it’s only £25 per month. You can sponsor as an individual, two friends splitting the cost, a family, a club or a business. Will you make a difference to a young person’s future? Will you help them to have a bright future? contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com Thank you to everyone who helps us to continue Changing Lives (in) Malawi. Your kindness is much appreciated. Thanks, Sarah x

Sunday Sports for Students

Thanks to teachers at Bright Futures Secondary School for organising Sunday sports for students!

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Sarah’s blog 10/2/26

We were delighted to receive these photos and videos yesterday from the deputy head teacher at Bright Futures Secondary School. It was a day of Sunday sports for students and we are grateful to the teachers for organising this event. It looks like everyone had great fun playing football and netball.

Yesterday taught these vulnerable teenagers, who are mostly all orphans living with extended family, that they are important. It shows that people care about them enough to organise events for them. It shows that people care about them enough to send preloved sports kit for them. These young people are enjoying opportunities that they wouldn’t previously have had. As well as having fun with their friends, team sports are good for their confidence and self-esteem. Students at Bright Futures Secondary School are also learning skills and self-discipline.

Everyone also received a nutritious lunch to make the day even more special and to ensure they had enough energy to take part in the team sports. We are thankful for those who support us to send preloved sports kit to those who need it. If these are photos of preloved kit from your club then why not share with your friends and ask them to follow us on social media?

Sports kit (depending on sizes) is shared between primary and secondary schools and grassroots sports teams. Everyone is delighted to receive smart, matching kit. Julian Chenery, whose charity is ‘Wear a Sports Shirt Day’, spends his weekends travelling to various football grounds collecting preloved kit, watching football matches and enjoying the odd pint! We are so pleased that he includes the young people we are helping to support on his list of recipients of the preloved kit he collects.

In these photos kit is being worn from Bromley and Beckenham Hockey Club, Maidstone United Football Club, Borden Village Football Club and Seaton Town Football Club. As you can see, these preloved sports kits have a new lease of life and young people are enjoying wearing them proudly and confidently. Acts of kindness like this make a huge difference. There will be photos in the near future of more sports kit that has arrived on the latest container.

Would you like to help to pay for a box of sports kit to go on the container or would you like to contribute to providing food for a sporting event like this? Please do get in touch contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com or you can donate via our website or QR code. It’s always about teamwork. Thank you for being part of our team, Sarah x

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.

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Sarah’s blog 21/1/26

DonorSee is sadly closing for small projects but Thank you for supporting us. We have received amazing generosity from all the donors who have supported our projects via that platform. We are very grateful for the opportunity we have received to be a partner charity. However, your help is very much still needed. Will you help us to continue to help the most vulnerable in northern Malawi?

In total, over $9,000 USD was raised for projects including; four agribusiness groups for vulnerable people to have a sustainable business. Notebooks and pens were bought for primary school students. One appeal helped support with sending boxes of books to Malawi for our School Literacy Project. Soap was gifted to vulnerable children and elderly people. We also received help with feeding children and elderly people living in extreme poverty. Also, for Bright Futures Secondary School, money was raised to provide tools for agriculture and carpentry, fruit tree and pine tree saplings, wood for building beehives, science equipment, and pigs and goats.

A mother was helped when DonorSee donors paid for a new roof for her single room house. This enabled the family to be dry during the rainy season. They were given some food and this lady was given a place on one of the Agribusiness Groups. We managed to get sponsorship for the four children via an appeal in one of my blogs. They all have food coming into their home each month to supplement their small amount of income.

We always say it is about teamwork. You are all an important part of our team. Whether you have donated money once, or are a regular supporter, or sponsor a young person, or even share our posts on social media. THANK YOU. You are important to us and we appreciate you. DonorSee is sadly closing for small projects but THANK YOU for supporting us.

DonorSee has been a very useful way of raising money for ‘extra’ small projects that have made a big difference to the people who benefitted. For example, students at Chambo Primary School cannot afford to buy themselves notebooks. If they don’t have notebooks to write in, they have to just sit and listen to the teacher. They have to hope that they can remember what they are being taught.

The elderly people wouldn’t have had a Christmas lunch and bars of soap if it wasn’t for the generosity of supporters on DonorSee. We have also been able to provide the funding for various sporting events. Children together from local schools take part in training and tournaments for rugby, football, netball and cricket. At any event like this, we want children to have food and drink so that they have enough energy to take part. Also, to make the day extra special for them. Because of the food crisis in Malawi getting worse, most of these children do not eat every day. They need our continued support. Will you help us please? Together we can ensure they have a brighter future through education and sustainable project.

We will be looking at ways that we can try to raise funds for small stand alone projects like the appeals that have been successful on DonorSee. But, in the meantime, if you would like to make a donation for feeding children, or any other project, you can email me contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com or donate through our website Donate money to Changing Lives Malawi .

We hope you enjoy these photos from some of the small projects. Many thanks again and please continue supporting us. You can sign up to receive my blogs and follow us on social media (facebook & instagram). Thanks, Sarah x

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