food Archives

Namapasa School visit to Bright Futures Secondary School

It’s been a very successful and enjoyable day of netball and football at Bright Futures Secondary School with visitors Namapasa Secondary School.

Sarah’s blog 10/11/24

Today was an exceedingly busy day for Levison and team at Bright Futures Campus. The Feeding Programme was running today and approx 350 vulnerable children turned up to be fed their one proper meal of the week. Many of these children are suffering from malnutrition and also have stunted growth because of lack of food and nutrition.

Namapasa Secondary School is approx 40km away and had made contact to ask if they could visit to play football and netball against Bright Futures Secondary School. Of course the answer was YES. As BFSS is in such a rural location and it would cost a great deal to transport students to other schools, they don’t get to play sport against many other schools. This was a great opportunity to meet new students from another school and play team sports which everyone loves.

We were concerned about the students and accompanying adults from Namapasa SS not having anything to eat for the whole day, especially while they were exercising. Also with the feeding programme running today, all other children on campus would be fed apart from the visitors which wouldn’t be fair at all or show hospitality. We sent extra money so that the visitors could also share in a meal and the extra money covered all the costs of feeding the visitors.

An holistic approach is taken to the health and wellbeing of students at BFSS so days like today, and the recent rugby tournament, mean a great deal to the students and raise morale and self-confidence. School clearly is about far more than classroom based work and exams, although they know that they are expected to work hard and do their best in everything. Playing football and netball, with their friends, forgetting all the problems in their lives for a while, means everything to these young people.

Scores: Team A netball Namapasa 5 – Bright Futures 2, Team B netball Namapasa 10 – Bright Futures 12, Team A football Namapasa 1 – Bright Futures 0, Team B Football Namapasa 1 – Bright Futures 1.

I asked Levison if there was any feedback from today. He said “The visitors were very impressed with the hospitality we gave them. Most of them it was their first time to be at BFSS and were so amazed to see the beautiful environment they were not expecting to see in the area. They admired our beautiful classrooms, nice furniture and well organised teamwork.”

Levison continued “BFSS students were happy to have visitors to play sports with them as they have stayed for a long period without having a game.” “The visitors were also amazed with the agricultural projects, especially the chickens and the orchard projects. Some were also surprised to learn how we are pumping water from underground.”

Here are some photos and videos from earlier today. We hope you enjoy them. Here is the link to raise funds for a football tournament for local schools to take part (with food) https://donorsee.com/project/24384?share=1 Or perhaps you could help to fund the food for another school visit like today? contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com

And here is the link to help provide a Christmas Party with a meal and gifts for 500 vulnerable children https://donorsee.com/project/25004?share=1 Please will you join us in making a difference and spreading a little happiness to the children we help to support? Many thanks for reading and supporting, Sarah x

Some of the children being fed at today’s Feeding Programme. They are fed in age groups. Some walk huge distances for this one decent meal each week.

Bright Futures Campus is a safe place for all the children who come. They look forward to seeing their friends, playing games, learning new skills and, of course, having a nutritious meal.

Some of the visitors from Namapasa Secondary School approx 40km away

Students from Namapasa School enjoying their lunch

Sharing food and showing hospitality to today’s visitors

The Bright Futures Secondary School Boys Football Team

Namapasa Secondary School Boys Football Team

Namapasa Secondary School and Bright Futures Secondary School boys football teams

Namapasa Secondary School Girls’ Netball Team

Bright Futures Secondary School Girls’ Netball Team

BFSS Agriculture Classes – digging holes for planting

Students at Bright Futures Secondary School have been working hard to prepare the ground for planting. We are very grateful for the support we have received for this ongoing project.

Sarah’s blog 3/11/24

Over the past few months, we have been fundraising so more fruit tree saplings can be purchased to provide a sustainable food source and also an income at Bright Futures Campus. We have been very fortunate that we have had several donations towards this project. We are grateful to everyone who has helped. We are still fundraising, as it is an ongoing project to ensure that there will be food and an income and that malnutrition will be eradicated.

In the background of some of these photos and the video, you can see smallish bushes. These are fruit tree saplings that were planted two years ago. There will be a selection of fruit tree saplings but also banana tubers will be bought as bananas grow far quicker.

During their practical agricultural lessons, students are preparing the land and digging holes for the new saplings. Hopefully, they will be planted next week. It will be the rainy season soon. There have been a couple of days of rain already, so the ground is slightly easier to dig, and the rain will help the plants grow.

Here are the links to buy more fruit trees and also seeds and sweet potato vines to help supplement school lunches at Bright Futures Secondary School. Growing food for themselves and their friends is an amazing achievement and will really help now and with learning skills for their futures.

This is the link to buy more fruit tree saplings https://donorsee.com/project/23627?share=1

and this link is for seeds and sweet potato vines https://donorsee.com/project/24114?share=1 or you could email for bank details to make a donation that way contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com Whichever way you choose, please know you are making a big difference and that we are very thankful for your support, Sarah x

Hard work! but the students at Bright Futures Secondary School are doing an amazing job!

Celebrating the success of 3 girls

Thanks to their sponsors and their own hard work, Catherine, Emily and Naomi now have a brighter future and choices and chances they wouldn’t previously have had. Well done girls!

Sarah’s blog 30/10/24

This is such a good news story and we are all so proud of these girls. Also we are grateful to their sponsors – this story is about the difference that having a sponsor can make!

Last week there was a day of celebration at Bright Futures Secondary School. Three girls, all of whom are orphans living with extended family and all of whom live in extreme poverty, were being congratulated for working hard through secondary school and passing their Malawi Certificate of Education at the end of four years of secondary school. Without having been matched with sponsors, they wouldn’t have had the opportunities they have received to continue their studies further than the end of primary school.

Catherine, Emily and Naomi were all invited to Bright Futures Secondary School where their success was celebrated. There was a meal for all to share, music and dancing and the three girl were able to talk to students at Bright Futures Secondary School about the need to work hard to achieve a brighter future.

I was asked to speak to Catherine, Emily and Naomi as well as the students at BFSS. I was able to congratulate the girls and tell them how proud of them we are and how they should be really proud of themselves for everything they have achieved. I told them what good role models they are for the students at BFSS who can look up to them and aspire to be like them.

Catherine, Emily and Naomi all thanked their sponsors and Levison and team for all the support they have received. Without this help they would not have attended secondary school and passed their exams. This help has changed their lives. They now have choices and chances that they wouldn’t previously have had.

We had sent 50,000mkw for each of the three girls (equivalent of approx £25) to say congratulations and to wish them well as they are now no longer sponsored. They were also each given a new bag and a water bottle, stationery, soap and toothbrushes and toothpaste. As you can see from the photos, they were so pleased and surprised to receive these gifts.

It shows, that because these three vulnerable girls were given a helping hand, they have been able to reach their potential and passed all their exams. That is something to shout about and to celebrate. We need to keep encouraging other vulnerable girls (as well as boys) to work hard and realise that they too can achieve. Also we need to encourage people who are able to be sponsors.

Keeping teenagers in school has really reduced the amount of teenage pregnancies in that area. Being matched with a sponsor to help provide food and education for them has also stopped many girls from being married off as children (which is illegal but still happens when families cannot feed everyone). Below is my previous post with some photos of Catherine, Emily and Naomi.

Congratulations Catherine, Emily & Naomi!

Here are photos and videos from the celebration. You can see how the students at BFSS enjoyed it and were inspired. I asked all three girls to keep in touch and to come and tell Levison how they were getting on. I also said that maybe at some point in the future, they may return to work there….who knows? I reminded them of the kindness that they had been shown and that, if they are ever in a position to help others, they should pass that kindness forward.

Thank you to everyone who supports us to support these vulnerable young people, Sarah x

https://donorsee.com/project/23627?share=1 is the link to help the students at BFSS plant fruit tree saplings for a sustainable food source.

contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com if you would like to get in touch to sponsor a young person or talk to us about other ways you could get involved.

left to right; Catherine, Emily and Naomi

Levison Mlambya, Director of BFSS and Co Founder of The William Stewart Foundation, addressing the students, teachers and the three special guests; Catherine, Emily and Naomi

Members of staff who have known the three girls for years, wanted to be able to tell them how proud everyone is of them.

Levison talking to everyone, Emily, Naomi and Catherine at the front of the photo

Miss Chisenga, Acting Head Teacher at BFSS addressing the students and invited guests.

Levison and Miss Chisenga giving the girls’ their gifts. Left to right; Emily, Catherine & Naomi

Miss Chisenga, Emily, Levison, Catherine & Naomi

A lovely photo of Naomi with her gifts of new bag, water bottle, stationery, toiletries and money.

A nice smile from Catherine who was delighted with her gifts.

Three happy girls celebrating their hard work and achievements, l-r Catherine, Emily and Naomi

The staff of Bright Futures Secondary School with the three girls

Celebrations with music and dancing

Lots of music and dancing. The students at BFSS have been inspired and motivated by the celebrations.

Everyone shared a meal and drinks as part of the celebrations for Catherine, Emily and Naomi.

Agribusiness Update

It’s great to see the progress that is being made by the first Agribusiness group. Will you help us fund a second group please?

Sarah’s blog 20/10/24

A quick update on the first agribusiness group…look how hard they have been working and how well their crops are growing. Everyone is full of enthusiasm and delighted to have been given this opportunity. They will sell what they harvest and reinvest some of it to buy more seeds etc to ensure their business is sustainable.

We are trying to raise funds to give a second group the same opportunity. These adults are all living in extreme poverty and are either volunteers at Bright Futures Campus or raising children on their own. Please help us? You can either donate here https://donorsee.com/project/24574?share=1 or email for bank details contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com . Your help would be very much appreciated.

Here are some photos and videos of the progress they are making. The agriculture supervisor is helping them initially to ensure they have the skills they need. Thanks to help from donors, they are growing maize and beans. Thank you again, Sarah x

A helping hand to self-sufficiency – Agribusiness Group 1

Rugby roundup

Three amazing days of touch rugby. Thank you Arnold Clark cars, Jack Mphande, Malawi Rugby Development Officer, Levison Mlambya, and everyone who donated sports kit and the volunteers who make this a huge success.

Sarah’s blog 19/10/24

What an amazing three days of rugby for the Chisenga Zone Schools this week. Jack Mphande, Malawi Rugby’s Development Officer, based in Lilongwe, made the long journey north again for training and tournaments.

Rugby had never been played in the far north until Jack introduced touch rugby a couple of years ago. The children, all of whom are living in extreme poverty, absolutely love touch rugby and have enjoyed being part of this year’s rugby initiative once again.

Arnold Clark cars, who are the new Scotland Rugby Team sponsor, gave us a donation to fund Jack’s visit, the training and the tournament for the Chisenga Zone Rugby initiative. So we are very grateful to Arnold Clark cars, Jack Mphande and also Levison Mlambya who has put in a huge amount of work behind the scenes.

On day 1, Jack was instructing teachers from local schools in the theory and practical skills of rugby. On day 2, Jack visited local schools to supervise the teachers leading a rugby training session. Day 3 was the tournament.

All the schools involved came together for a day of touch rugby matches and had a wonderful time. As no big charities feed children in primary schools in the far north, many are malnourished, all are hungry. We will not facilitate a sporting event like the rugby tournament without the children (and adults) having a proper meal and a drink. Their health is important and we cannot ask them to play sport without offering sustenance. Also, a nutritious meal is a treat for them, so they will have enjoyed their special day even more because they went home will full tummies.

Here are some more photos and videos. Congratulations to Kayilizi Primary School – both the boys team and the girls team were the overall winners. All schools were given new sports kit to take back to their schools. Each student who took part was given a pencil and notebook.

We are trying to raise funds for a football tournament (same format) then a netball tournament. Here is the link if you’d like to donate https://donorsee.com/project/24384?share=1 or you can email me for bank details contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com Your support will be much appreciated. Thank you everyone, Sarah x

A nutritious lunch and a fizzy drink as a treat

Great video here from Facebook Live of all the teams after the rugby tournament. https://fb.watch/vjxnhI59zT

Students said they’d made new friends

https://videopress.com/v/JpE3eRle?resizeToParent=true&cover=true&preloadContent=metadata&useAverageColor=true

A bit of dancing – why not?

New sports kit to take back to their schools and a notebook & pencil for everyone

Thank you Arnold Clark cars!

Rugby Day 1 – theory & practical for teachers

Rugby – Day 2 – primary school visits

Rugby Day 3 – The Tournament

World Food Day

On World Food Day – do you have enough food? Do you have access to nutritious food? Will you help a child who is malnourished?

Sarah’s blog 16/10/24

Today is World Food Day which highlights the fact that there are many people in the world without enough food. The UN rights of the child (article 24) addresses the fact that Children have a right to enough nutritious food and clean water. This year’s #WorldFoodDay theme is ‘Right to foods for a better life and a better future.’

This will mean different things to different people. It might mean that children living in poverty in UK, for example, have the right to have more nutritious foods and their families should have enough money to buy fresh fruit and vegetables. Or it could be that there should be far more education in schools about food and nutrition, cooking and budgeting.

In rural northern Malawi, it means the right to enough food. The right to food full stop. Despite being in contact with several big charities who run feeding programmes, none are working in the far north where we are helping to support some of the most vulnerable children in Malawi. So no children are being fed in primary schools in that area and most families do not have enough food to feed their children every day. This goes against these children’s human rights. We need your help please. There are over 4,000 hungry children in primary schools in the Chisenga Zone in the far north. We cannot help them all on our own.

Did you know that there are a high percentage of children affected by stunted growth through lack of nutrition? Approximately 37% of children in Malawi under 5 years old are affected. In urban areas this is 25% but rural areas it can be as high as 39%. Children do not recover from stunted growth. Far more needs to be done for these vulnerable children living in extreme poverty in rural areas. We need to work as part of a team to support these children.

We send money to run a feeding programme for approximately 500 children once a week. It is not enough but all we can afford whilst we help to set up sustainable projects for a brighter future. Children are walking long distances for this one proper, nutritious meal each week…some walking 15km-20km. Some carrying their toddler siblings all that way. This isn’t fair and it isn’t right.

Children at the feeding programme are fed in age groups – youngest first

Fruit tree saplings have been planted and more are about to be planted to provide future food and an income. Crops are being grown to help feed everyone…but nowhere near enough for 500+ hungry children whose needs we cannot ignore.

Children from the nursery looking after the fruit tree saplings. That first orchard was named after my late mother-in-law.

Chicks are being hatched in the solar powered incubator. The first three piglets have arrived and are settling in.

We need your help so that we have enough money to set up sustainable projects whilst also addressing the immediate needs of hungry children.

Chicks that had recently hatched in the incubator

We make sure that nursery children are fed at every session. Also that students at Bright Futures Secondary School have a nutritious school lunch each day. How can we expect them to concentrate and learn if they are malnourished and hungry?

Students at Bright Futures Secondary School having their lunch

Every time there is an event for the children, like the rugby tournament yesterday. All the children taking part are fed. This is a big extra expense but how can we expect them to take part in a sporting event if they haven’t eaten? Also it adds to the excitement and special occasion if the children receive a nice lunch and go home with full tummies. It also is one less mouth to try and feed at home.

Children queuing up for food in the rainy season

Girls are still at risk of being married off as children if their families cannot afford to feed them. It is illegal but still happens. Levison has had lots of girls coming and asking for help so they don’t need to be married off…some as young as 11 years old. These girls we try to match with a sponsor and then there will be a monthly food parcel going into their home which supplements the meagre food they already have. There are lots of vulnerable children who would benefit from having a sponsor to support them.

Here are some fundraisers on DonorSee site where we are raising money to help support feeding hundreds of children. We would be very grateful for donations. Or, you could email for bank details contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com to make a one off or monthly donation or to find out more about sponsoring a child.

Here is the link to donate to help feed the children at Bright Futures Nursery;https://donorsee.com/project/23502?share=1

and here is the link to donate to the Feeding Programme https://donorsee.com/project/23035?share=1

This is the link to help buy sweet potato vines & seeds for the students at Bright Futures Secondary School to grow https://donorsee.com/project/24114?share=1

Together we can ensure these children and young people have enough food and a brighter future. It will take time and it needs to be a team effort. Will you join the team supporting these very vulnerable children please? contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com Together we can continue Changing Lives (in) Malawi. Thank you for all your support, Sarah x

Children at Bright Futures Nursery are fed at every session. They receive a care package every year with two t-shirts, three pairs of pants, a blanket, soap, toothbrush & toothpaste and two books.

Rugby Day 3 – The Tournament

An amazing third day of rugby! Tournaments all day. Lots and lots of happy children!

Sarah’s blog 15/10/24

What an amazing day! It was a school holiday today in Malawi for Mothers’ Day. Many of these children are orphans living with extended family so have mother figures looking after them. All have all come together for a great day of rugby, fun and friendship. As many of these children are malnourished, certainly all are hungry, and no big charities are feeding children in primary schools that far north, we always ensure that children have a nutritious meal when they come together for a day of sport.

Today’s post is going to show photos of the teams that took part and, in a separate post, I will be able to show action photos and videos…there are just too many to share all at once and it has been a very long day for Jack and Levison who were organising the event.

Jack Mphande is the Malawi Rugby Development Officer whose enthusiasm shines through. Thank you Jack for sharing your time and talents with the orphans and other vulnerable children. You have shared your passion for the game with them and, once again, given them such a positive experience. Until recently, these children never had anyone come to spend time with them. You have given them confidence, skills, friendship and raised their self-esteem. These are priceless and they will remember days like today for the rest of their lives.

Jack writes on the Malawi Rugby Union Facebook page (MARU) “Rugby is in safe hands here in Chisenga, Chitipa. I have witnessed raw talent of rugby which, if nurtured well, Malawi Rugby will never be the same.” Jack always writes at the end of his posts “Rugby Rise Malawi”. Rugby is indeed on the rise in Malawi and we are grateful for his visit.

We are also grateful to Arnold Clark cars for their financial donation towards this event and Jack’s travel expenses. Arnold Clark is a new Scotland Rugby Team sponsor.

We have two tickets for the Scotland v Fiji game on 2nd November courtesy of Arnold Clark. For a donation of £5 you could be in with a chance of being at this game! details are in the attached post from day 1 of the rugby.

We are trying to raise funds to have a similar football tournament. Here is the link to donate https://donorsee.com/project/24384?share=1

Thank you so much to everyone who has donated sports kit that we have been able to gift to each school that has taken part. They have matching sports kit that they are proud of and can dream big about being stars of the future, like children everywhere do. Thanks, Sarah x

Rugby Day 1 – theory & practical for teachers

Rugby – Day 2 – primary school visits

Facebook live link today; https://fb.watch/vepj9DV-nA

Everyone who took part in today’s tournament

Bright Futures Secondary School – girls (wearing Merchiston Castle School & Bromley & Beckenham Hockey)

Bright Futures Secondary School – boys (wearing Seafar fc, Cumbernauld & Poole FC)

Chisenga Primary School – boys (wearing Chelsa fc)

Chisenga Primary School – girls (wearing Liverpool fc)

Chambo Primary School – boys (wearing Hardinxveld, Holland)

Chambo Primary Schools – girls (wearing Seafar Villa, Cumbernauld)

Kayilizi Primary School – boys (wearing South Africa)

Kayalizi Primary School – girls (wearing Seafar Villa, Cumbernauld)

Rugby – Day 2 – primary school visits

Day 2 of the Chisenga Zone Schools Rugby Initiative. Jack Mphande has been busy visiting local primary schools. Thanks to Arnold Clark cars for supporting the event.

Sarah’s blog 14/10/24

Jack Mphande, Malawi Rugby Development Officer has had an extremely busy second day of the Chisenga Zone Schools Rugby Initiative. He has visited 4 different rural primary schools, delivering rugby training sessions and supporting the teachers from each of those primary schools with their new coaching skills from yesterday’s session. Thank you Jack for encouraging and inspiring everyone.

Tomorrow is a school holiday in Malawi – it’s Mothers’ Day. Teams from each school will come with their teachers to take part in a day of rugby matches and tournaments. Children will receive a nutritious meal and a drink which will be a great treat for each of them. No big charities are feeding children in schools in the far north of Malawi. So many are malnourished, all are hungry. We cannot expect them to take part in a day of sport without feeding them so we are very grateful to Arnold Clark cars for supporting us financially with this rugby event.

Here is the link to yesterday’s rugby session for teachers.

Rugby Day 1 – theory & practical for teachers

And here is the link to our fundraiser to try to raise money for a football tournament to happen (similar set up to the rugby) https://donorsee.com/project/24384?share=1 and we would be really grateful if you could help make this happen. The young people would be even more delighted! Thank you for reading and supporting, Sarah x

Some photos and videos from today…

Chambo Primary School

https://videopress.com/v/mynq0sMN?resizeToParent=true&cover=true&preloadContent=metadata&useAverageColor=true

Kaylizi Primary School

Kalanga Primary School

Chisenga Primary School

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

Rugby Day 1 – theory & practical for teachers

Children living in extreme poverty are learning to play rugby and can forget about their hardships whilst they learn new skills and grow in confidence and have fun with their friends.

Sarah’s blog 13/10/24

Firstly, I would like to thank Malawi Rugby Development Officer, Jack Mphande, for once again making time to travel the long distance north to spend time with teachers and students. This is the Chisenga Zone Schools Rugby Initiative.

Secondly, I’d like to thank Arnold Clark car dealership for providing the money for this rugby initiative. The money Arnold Clark have given us has paid for Jack’s travel costs and his expenses as well as providing food for all teachers and students who will be taking part in training and the tournament on Tuesday. We are so grateful for this money as without it we would have had to raise funds and this Rugby Initiative probably wouldn’t have happened until next year. Thank you Arnold Clark who are new sponsors of Scottish Rugby.

Also, a big thank you to Levison Mlambya, Director of Bright Futures Secondary School who works tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure everything happens. Levison isn’t often found in front of the camera so doesn’t get as much credit as he should for the huge amount of work he puts in coordinating and facilitating people and activities.

Until Jack Mphande’s first visit, rugby had never been played in the far north of Malawi. Now it is being played at school, along with football and netball. Jack’s visits are really welcomed and there is great excitement amongst the students. When he first visited, the young people we help to support were surprised that he wanted to spend time with them. They were used to being ignored and not thought to be important. Their self-esteem and confidence has grown so much since that first visit. Girls and boys have learned new skills and love playing team sports with their friends. They can forget about their problems for a while.

Today, teachers from local schools in the Chisenga Zone, including teachers from Bright Futures Secondary School, attended a theory class at Bright Futures Campus and then tested their new coaching skills on some of the students from Bright Futures Secondary School. You can see from the photos and videos that Levison has just sent how enthusiastic and engaged everyone is.

Competition Time. We also want to thank Arnold Clark for providing two tickets for the Scotland v Fiji match at Murrayfield on 2nd November. As well as being able to win two tickets, there are other perks like entry to the Legends Lounge. For a £5 donation, you can choose a number. contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com . The draw will take place on Friday evening, 18th Oct…so email or contact me via social media for your chance to be at the game! https://changinglivesmalawi.com/2024/10/02/win-scotland-v-fiji-rugby-tickets/

We are also trying to raise funds to have a football training & tournament initiative and with your help we can make this happen https://donorsee.com/project/24384?share=1

https://videopress.com/v/mipp9ytg?resizeToParent=true&cover=true&preloadContent=metadata&useAverageColor=true

Jack Mphande, Malawi Rugby Development Officer (white shirt) training teachers

Teachers from Chisenga Zone learning theory and practical skills at Bright Futures Secondary School.

Thank you to Arnold Clark Cars for the money they donated to pay for this rugby event

Teachers putting what they’ve just learned into practice

https://videopress.com/v/Uvn8niPa?resizeToParent=true&cover=true&preloadContent=metadata&useAverageColor=true

Thank you Arnold Clark cars

Teachers practicing the skills they learned earlier

Help us to fix the truck please

Let’s get the truck back on the road! Please help.

Sarah’s blog 29/09/24

Just a short post today asking once again for your support. I always say it’s about teamwork…we couldn’t do what we do without your help and support.

Here is the link to the fundraiser on DonorSee to help get enough money to buy parts for the truck. https://donorsee.com/project/24823?share=1

Sam the driver is asking for help to fix the truck

The truck driver, Sam, is asking for your help to get the truck back on the road. Sam works really hard and goes above and beyond to support Levison and the rest of the team. He is wearing a football top donated by our local football team – Strathendrick Football Club.

Please help fix the truck

Here is a link to all our small fundraising projects on DonorSee . We need at least four donations before the end of September so that our projects are still visible to potential donors in October. So any donations, big or small, will really help us. Thank you so much for your continued support, Sarah x

Please help fix the truck

Please help fix the truck…it is needed every day and vital for collecting supplies for a very rural community. https://donorsee.com/project/24823?share=1

Sarah’s blog 14/09/24

We need your help. Levison and team need your help. The children need your help.

https://donorsee.com/project/24823?share=1 is the link to our fundraiser. Please help.

Great progress is being made in supporting hundreds of orphans and other very vulnerable children. However, when there is an issue like the truck breaking down and no spare money to fix it, it sets everything back and impacts on all the other projects. No supplies can be bought without the truck. Can you make a small donation?

These photos and video are some of the ways the truck is used. It is needed every day as the community we help to support is in a very rural location, in the far north of Malawi. The truck has broken down and needs a new alternator and two new batteries (hopefully that is all it needs). It broke down whilst on the way back from town with building supplies so they had to pay for someone else to come with their truck and take everything back. They also had to pay to have the truck towed and for a mechanic to come and diagnose the problem. It is a very stressful situation when they are so dependant on the truck for transport and there is no money to fix it. Please help.

As well as raising funds for the above, money is needed for the two batteries which can be bought at Chitipa town over 40km away. The alternator will have to be ordered from Mzuzu and sent via courier and collected in Chitipa. Nothing is easy. Then the mechanic will have to return and hopefully the truck will be fixed. All of this costs money and they need the truck fixed as soon as possible.

A man with ox and cart is being paid to transport water from the river to where the teachers’ accommodation is being built. The truck was being used to transport bricks and other supplies as well as water in addition to the journeys to town for building supplies and of course food supplies for the orphans.

Several times a year the truck is used to collect the boxes we send from Ekwendeni, near Mzuzu. This is an overnight trip due to distance and having to drive slowly on the poor roads.

Will you help please? You can donate via the button on the website, or via the DonorSee link above. Or you could email for our bank details. contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com Thank you for your continued support, Sarah x

https://donorsee.com/project/24823?share=1

Such excitement when the truck returns with the boxes that we have sent

bringing bricks to where they are needed for building the staff accommodation block

At Ekwendeni collecting the boxes that we have sent via the Banana Box Trust Container

Nothing about day to day life is easy. During the rainy season the tracks turn to mud and the truck was stuck in the mud on this hilly road. People come together to help.

One week until schools return

So much organising to do this week ahead of schools reopening in Malawi on Monday 16th. Preloved kit from Riverside Football Club in Stirling will be gifted to Chambo Primary School next week.

Sarah’s blog 9/9/24

It’s been a busy few weeks and this week is even busier as we prepare for the start of the new term in Malawi as all schools return on Monday 16th September.

For Chambo Primary School, where many of the orphans attend school, we are gifting them with sports kit that belonged to Riverside Football Club in Stirling. They will also receive a new football. The school will be given some bars of soap to help with handwashing. There are also books for Chambo as part of our School Literacy Project. We look forward to seeing these photos.

For Bright Futures Secondary School, there are boxes of preloved school uniform to sort through…hopefully there will be enough shirts and skirts but I’m not sure there are enough trousers and there certainly aren’t enough shoes for all the students. If students don’t receive uniform this time, they will be first on the list next time. We really do need more donations of white shirts/blouses/polo shirts for teenagers as well as black/navy/grey school trouses and skirts in teenage and small adult sizes. Flat shoes/trainers for males/females in adult sizes would be really good to have (if you are local to us) as well as any thin rain jackets please. It does cost £17.50 per box on the container so a contribution towards transport would be very helpful please.

Exercise books are being bought and supplies for teachers like registers, preparation books, chalk and pens. We’ve sent water bottles for the S1 students that I filled with pens, pencils, toothbrushes, toothpaste & soap…so each student will have the supplies they need as well as exercise books. There are enough school bags for each s1 student to receive one each and also underwear for all students. As you can imagine, this all takes time to sort out for the students but all costs money which is why your help and support is most appreciated. We always say it takes teamwork to support these children and young people.

We still have 9 students who want to take up their place in s1 who do not have a sponsor yet. All of these students are vulnerable and live in extreme poverty. As well as school supplies and free education (which needs to be paid for in Malawi) we insist that students have a nutritious, substantial school lunch. This, for most, is their only meal of the day. It also means that their family have one less mouth to feed. All these lunches cost money and sponsorship helps us pay these costs. It’s only £25 per month to sponsor a student. You can sponsor as an individual, as a business, or share the cost with your friends. Will you give the gift of education today? contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com

Here is the link to my previous post about the students needing to find a sponsor:

5 weeks to find sponsors for 11 vulnerable students

Students at Bright Futures Secondary School are wanting to grow their own food to help supplement their school lunches. As agriculture classes are a core subject, practical lessons will also give these vulnerable students skills for life. Will you help them to buy seeds to plant crops? https://donorsee.com/project/24114?share=1

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