Female teachers, staff and volunteers were delighted to receive gifts this week. They know their hard work is valued and appreciated. Thank you to our supporter for making these bags of kindness.
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Sarah’s blog 11/2/26
There is a lovely lady who we know called Lilian. She is a person who always thinks of others and likes to keep busy. She is extremely good at sewing and reusing fabric. Lilian uses curtain fabric and other material to make bags. She gave us a box of bags which were on the container that has recently arrived in Malawi. I’m calling them bags of kindness.
Yesterday, female volunteers, staff and teachers were all delighted to receive one of Lilian’s bags of kindness. They also received bars of soap. They were surprised to receive these gifts and so happy as you can see from these photos. We wanted them to have these gifts so they know they are appreciated.
The nursery teacher, Mercy, also helps students at Bright Futures Secondary School with sewing classes. She said she would like to try making this style of bag and then show the students how to make them.
Mercy also said “This is a true sign that people out there think about us here at Bright Futures.”
Thank you Lilian for these bags of kindness and thank you everyone who helps us support vulnerable people in rural northern Malawi.
Kindness does matter. Kindness does make a difference. Even if we think we’ve not got a lot to give – it’s more than they have in Malawi – and together we can make a difference. If you’d like to help then you can email for bank details or donate through our website. Also you can donate via our QR code. contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com Together, we can continue Changing Lives (in) Malawi. Thanks, Sarah x
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!
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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.
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
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 NaomiLevison Mlambya, Director of BFSS and Co Founder of The William Stewart Foundation, addressing the students, teachers and the three special guests; Catherine, Emily and NaomiMembers 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 photoMiss 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 & NaomiMiss Chisenga, Emily, Levison, Catherine & NaomiA lovely photo of Naomi with her gifts of new bag, water bottle, stationery, toiletries and money.A very happy Emily with her giftsA nice smile from Catherine who was delighted with her gifts.Three happy girls celebrating their hard work and achievements, l-r Catherine, Emily and NaomiThe 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.
Look at these wonderful, original paintings for sale. All money going to our projects. So grateful to local, talented artist, Christine Cresswell.
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Sarah’s blog 25/10/24
Some of you may already know that my mum, Christine Cresswell, is a talented artist. She is (I hope she doesn’t mind me saying) in her late 70s but only started painting about 10 years ago. Mum is also a trustee of Changing Lives Malawi. Both she and I have caring responsibilities. She doesn’t have much free time to help out at events, but what she can do is paint.
Mum has painted all these beautiful pictures, paid to have (most) framed and has donated them all to Changing Lives Malawi to raise funds for our projects. As you know, we are a group of volunteers. So, if you purchase one of her original paintings either for yourself or a gift, you can be sure that every penny is going to support our work. We are so grateful for these wonderful gifts. Some we have had made into cards that we are selling in packs. But this post is about the paintings. THESE ARE ALL ORIGINAL PAINTINGS (not prints).
Each framed painting is in a 12″ x 14″ frame and is priced at £95. p&p in UK will be £5 and we can post abroad once I check postage costs. There are two long paintings that are on canvas and ready to hang, unframed. They are £85 each plus p&p. If anyone is purchasing more than one painting we can of course combine postage costs and give a 10% discount on your total order.
I have taken two photos of each painting. Please do have a look and let me know if you would like to own one of these unique and beautiful paintings. contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com . I can give you our bank details or you could pay via paypal or by cheque or cash (if you are local). Thank you so much to my mum, Christine, for donating your time and talents so generously to support our projects and help us to continue Changing Lives (in) Malawi, Sarah x
UPDATE – SOLD Mountain Burn & SOLD Mountain Reflections & SOLD Hen Party *****
‘Hen Party’ £95 **********SOLD********‘Arisaig Beach’ £95‘Boat to the Isles’ £95‘Blue Geraniums’ £95‘Dinner Time’ £95‘Coastal Cottage’ £95‘Mountain burn’ £95 *****SOLD*****‘Black Mount, Rannoch Moor’ £95‘Arran’ £95‘Peaceful Loch’ £95‘Mist on the Loch’ £95‘Three Moored Boats’ £95‘Summer Meadow’ £95‘Flight at Sunset’ £85‘Mountain Reflections’ £85 *****SOLD*****‘After the Storm’ £95‘Mountain Cottage’ £95‘The Bothy’ £95‘Puffin Pals’ £95
Have a look at these beautiful paintings from local artist, Christine Cresswell. Every penny goes to the projects we support in Malawi.
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Sarah’s blog 28/9/24
Some of you may know that my mum, Christine Cresswell, is an artist. She has gifted her beautiful paintings to us to raise funds for our projects in Malawi. Mum is also one of our trustees. We’ve had a lot of her paintings made into packs of cards which make great gifts or are very useful to have at home to use.
Here are a few of the gorgeous paintings for sale. Next week, I am aiming to take photos of all the available paintings to group them together in one post and also do the same with the cards.
Oakwood Garden Centre, Killearn, have kindly agreed to stock the cards and they are also available directly from us at £6 per pack of 8 (or 2 packs for £10) plus p&p. Torrance Church of Scotland also have a selection of cards as they have been very popular.
Please do send me an email contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com if you would like to buy one of these paintings. As they have all been donated, every penny will go to our projects so they are unique and beautiful gifts that really are Changing Lives (in) Malawi. Thanks, Sarah x (p&p extra)
Croft on the Shore £95Sheep by the Shore £95Puffin Pals £95Mountain Bothy £95Robin on Post. Small unframed £50Summer Meadow £95Mountain Burn £95Dinner Time £95Kingfisher, small unframed £50Gulls at Sunset, box canvas 20″ x 8″ £85Mountain Reflections, box canvas 20″ x 8″ £85
Levison and his team have been busy opening the boxes that arrived recently. As Sunday is the day to run the feeding programme, word had got round that there might be some gifts given out yesterday. However, far more children turned up than was expected… there were well over 500…many arrived early…so it was just going to be too much to give clothes out in a sensible way, ensuring everyone got something that fitted them. Everyone will get something, but it will have to be done over different days.
These children are all living in extreme poverty. Many are orphans who live with extended family. Families struggle to feed children every day… so the feeding programme is vital. Once a week isn’t nearly enough but it’s all we can afford at the moment. As families struggle to eat, they certainly don’t have money to buy clothes.
We didn’t send as many boxes as usual on that container as we had sent lots of tables and chairs for the classrooms. On the next container there will be more boxes and, as well as preloved clothes for the children, there will be lots of boxes of books for the school literacy project.
There were over 70 nursery age children today (most of whom go to Bright Futures Nursery). It was decided that they would be the easiest age group to give gifts to first. They all received new clothes and a soft toy each and Levison took these lovely photos of some of the children who are aged between 4 and 6.
After the youngest children had their gifts, then the next age group received clothes too. If you’d like to make a donation to help the feeding programme or help with the cost of sending boxes then please do email me contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com
We hope you enjoy these photos and videos and do let me know if you recognise any of the soft toys as having being donated by you! Thanks to everyone who supports us to help hundreds of children and young people, Sarah x
Bright Futures Campus – hundreds of children turned up early this morning hoping for gifts as well as being fed.Over 70 children age 4-6 received clothes and soft toys
You can hear the excitement and chatter as the children come together to be with their friends and know that they will have a good meal today. We wish we could feed them more often than once a week but we need more financial support for the feeding programme
The children and young people are thanking everyone for the donations and support
Levison was able to visit Kalanga primary school today with clothes and books
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Sarah’s blog 07/03/23
Chambo Primary School is the one nearest to The Foundation and the majority of the younger children who are supported by The Foundation go to school there.
Kalanga Primary School is a bit further away but some children who go there also come to The Foundation. Levison had arranged with the headteacher to visit today with clothes for the children who are all very vulnerable. There were enough clothes to ensure everyone received something.
These uniforms were very kindly donated by a parent whose children went to Sinclair House School, Fulham. This school unfortunately closed during the pandemic. However, we are so grateful that these beautiful clothes have been able to be used by children in need and who will make good use of them.
There were so many boxes of uniforms donated that some have already been given out to children who attend Chambo Primary and also some of the students at Bright Futures Secondary School. The children from yesterday’s blog were given new clothes from this school too.
Levison also took four boxes of books for Kalanga Primary School as part of our School Literacy Project to help the children have access to more books and become more confident readers. The teachers were extremely grateful for all these donations and the children were delighted to have new clothes. Hope you enjoy looking at all the photos, Sarah x
These are the photos we are very excited to show you. Now that the boxes, tables & chairs have arrived safely from the container, we have lots of photos that have been taken this morning.
Students at Bright Futures Secondary School are starting class exams today and these will continue over the next few days. Malawi is 2 hours ahead of us and the young people were delighted to be met with gifts of new uniform before school started for the day. The classrooms are looking brilliant with the addition of the new desks in one classroom, tables in the other classroom (that will be replaced by individual desks) and new chairs in both classrooms.
These young people do have Brighter Futures at Bright Futures Secondary School. This school was only a dream this time last year and look what has been achieved with your help. Thank you so much to all involved in helping this to happen for these children. We need to keep looking ahead and are still fundraising for classrooms 3 & 4 so if you can help us, it would be very much appreciated. https://gofund.me/ece5753a or email contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com I keep saying that it is always about teamwork and these vulnerable children need us as the team around them to ensure their futures are brighter and that we continue to be able to change their lives.
To all the students – we are very proud of you. Good luck in your exams and try your best. You can achieve and you will achieve, and you will have chances and choices open to you.
Thank you for reading and supporting us to help the vulnerable children. Hope you enjoy the photos, Sarah x
It’s exactly one month until Christmas Day. Are you organised yet? We have a selection of gifts and cards to help you. So, grab a cuppa, make a list of everyone you still need to buy for and have a read of my blog! All money is going straight to the projects we support in Malawi. There are no admin or salary costs to take off as our charity is run by a small group of volunteers, passionate about changing the lives of the most vulnerable in rural Northern Malawi.
First of all….a link to DontSendMeACard.com. The first link I have posted takes you straight to the e-Christmas cards, the second link takes you to our platform page from where you can navigate to e-cards for all occasions as well as e-sustainable gifts where you can send an e-alternative gift which supports our projects in Malawi.
Our lovely bright A4 calendars are a great gift to send through the post – I can send to you or directly to the recipient. They have lots of photos and information on each of the projects and plenty of space to write in. Only £10 each with all money going to Malawi, plus £2 p&p. To order please email me contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com
Our lovely, bright A4 fundraising calendar is only £10 with all money going to Bright Futures Secondary School project.
We have more alternative gifts if you’d like an actual card to send to the recipient rather than just sending an email with a gift. There are 4 gifts to choose from and you just tick whichever gift you have chosen. £10 buys a football, £10 buys 4 fruit tree saplings, £40 buys soap for 100 vulnerable children and £20 pays for a box of books to be sent to a primary school in northern Malawi as part of our literacy programme. I can send the cards to you or directly to the recipient. contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com
The front cover of our alternative gift card. I can send it to you or post it directly to the recipientThe inside of our alternative gift card…you just tick or circle the gift you have chosen. I can send the card to you or the recipient. £10 buys a football, £10 buys 4 fruit tree saplings, £20 pays for a box of books to go to a primary school in Malawi and £40 pays for soap for 100 vulnerable children.
Christine Cresswell, one of our trustees, has had cards made from her beautiful paintings to raise funds for our charity. Again, all money goes to support the projects in Malawi. These cards are blank inside for your own message and are in packs of 8 of the same picture for £5. Postage will be an extra £1 per pack. These packs make great gifts or to buy for your own use to have cards for all occasions to hand. contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com
pack of cards – boat to the isles from an original painting by Christine Cresswellpack of cards – Island Croft from an original painting by Christine Cresswellpack of cards – Two Puffins from an original painting by Christine Cresswellpack of cards – Robin from an original painting by Christine Cresswellpack of cards – Snowy Mountains from an original painting by Christine Cresswellpack of cards – Woodpecker from an original painting by Christine Cresswellpack of cards – Mother and Child from an original painting by Christine Cresswell
And Christine’s original paintings have been donated to our charity, so all money goes to the projects we support in Malawi. We are very grateful, for her generosity of time and talent. They are framed and only £75 each plus £5 p&p.
These will make wonderful, original Christmas gifts or why not treat yourself knowing that the money will be helping vulnerable children in northern Malawi. contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com Thank you for reading and supporting our charity. Please do share this post with your friends so we can continue Changing Lives Malawi, Sarah x
Arisaig Beach original painting by Christine Cresswell oil on board 10 x 12″ plus frame £75Low Tide original painting by Christine Cresswell oil on board 10×12″ plus frame £75Three boats original painting by Christine Cresswell oil on board 10×12″ plus frame £75Moored at sunset original painting by Christine Cresswell, oil on board 10×12″ plus frame £75The Black Mount, Rannoch Moor original painting by Christine Cresswell, oil on board 10×12″ plus frame £75
I never like to think about Christmas shopping until after Halloween is over. Then we have November and December birthdays in our family…so Christmas shopping has to be squeezed in between all the birthday celebrations!
If you are struggling to find time for shopping, or you have gifts to buy for the person who has everything, or you would just like to have an alternative feel good gift that is going to be much better than a pair of socks then we can help you. If you want to help the planet as well as orphans and other very vulnerable children, then please do have a look at our Christmas fundraising gifts and get in touch to purchase. contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com
We have 2023 full colour fundraising calendars at £10 each plus £2 p&p. I can post to you or post directly to the recipient on your behalf. We also have alternative gift cards to send as Christmas gifts. £10 will buy a football for the children we help to support. £10 will buy 4 fruit tree saplings providing future food and a source of income. £20 will pay for a box of books to go to Malawi for our School Literacy Project and £40 will buy soap for 100 orphans and vulnerable children. I can send these to you or directly to the recipient.
One of our trustees, Christine Cresswell, has donated her beautiful paintings to raise funds for Malawi and also, we are selling her range of cards. All money is going to our projects. We have no admin fees or salaries as we are a small group of volunteers passionate about changing the lives of the most vulnerable in rural northern Malawi.
We are grateful for all the support we have received so far and would love it if you could consider our charity, and the projects we support, in your Christmas shopping list. contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com Thanks for reading and supporting, Sarah x
One of the packs of cards from original paintings by Christine Cresswell one of our trustees. 8 blank cards £5 plus £2 p&p2023 fundraising calendar £10 plus £2 p&pMoored at Sunset 10″x 12″ framed original by Christine Cresswell £75 plus £5 p&pThree Boats 10″x 12″ framed original by Christine Cresswell £75 plus £5 p&pThe Black Mount, Rannoch Moor, 10″x 12″ framed original by Christine Cresswell £75 plus £5 p&pArisaig Beach 10″x 12″ framed original by Christine Cresswell £75 plus £5 p&pLow Tide 10″x 12″ framed original by Christine Cresswell £75 plus £5 p&pMeaningful Alternative Gift Card… Football £10, 4 Fruit Tree Saplings £10, Box of Books for Literacy Project £20, Soap for 100 vulnerable children £40.Meaningful Alternative Gift Card… Football £10, 4 Fruit Tree Saplings £10, Box of Books for Literacy Project £20, Soap for 100 vulnerable children £40. Any of these can be bought in multiple quantities. Thank you.
Today is the end of the first week at Bright Futures Secondary School. It has been a great success and the teachers have worked hard. Teenagers who are orphans or from families in extreme poverty, are attending this new secondary school in their community. They have chances and choices that they wouldn’t otherwise have. They all have the chance of a brighter future. Thanks to all the supporters who have helped to change the lives of these young people.
In addition to free secondary education, they are having a nutritious meal at school each day. Today each student received; some A4 paper, pens, a document wallet, a bag, a water bottle, a wind-up torch, toothbrush & toothpaste and soap. All of this costs approximately £15 per student. They were delighted with their gifts.
If you would like to support a student with a SCHOOL STARTER PACK for £15 then please do get in touch. We were able to provide for these students but will need to find funds to provide these gifts for the next intake of students. contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com or you could make a purchase from our amazon wish list Amazon.co.uk or, if you are local to me, we would be very grateful if you could add toothpaste, bars of soap or pens and pencils to your trolley when you go shopping. Thanks for supporting and reading, Sarah x
Lots of people have been busy in the background adding kilometres to the total for our challenge. We are fundraising to build a desperately needed secondary school in rural northern Malawi and decided we would follow one of the routes that the boxes of aid travel. The total route is over 13,000km and we need more people ‘donating’ their kilometres to help us get to our total.
Do your children walk to school? Could they take part and let us know their totals for the week? Do you walk them to and from school? That means you will do double what your children do. Are you walking the dog every day? Or supermarket shopping? We need your kilometres please whether the total is big or small. The more people who help then the quicker we will get to our total. The local newspaper said they will feature our fundraising story every time we get to a significant goal. So please join in and tell us how many kilometres you’ve walked in a day/week. contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com
A few of the children that the Foundation supports ran 3km yesterday adding to our total. They were delighted to be helping and they also received some new clothes and flipflops too. So, the new total is 4,940.423 km which is 37.59%. Very well done everyone who has helped us so far…and if you’ve not donated any kilometres yet….please can you help us?
We are building Bright Futures Secondary School as there are not enough places available in the secondary schools nearby. Also, young people have to board as it’s too far to walk every day. Secondary education has to be paid for, so it makes it prohibitive for the majority of young people who are supported by the Foundation unless they have sponsors.
The school is being built in phases as we are on a shoestring budget as usual! Two classrooms will be built to start with, and we will add to the school over the next few years. Please will you help? These young people need a way out of poverty… they are desperate for education as they know this is the way to a better future for them and their families.
To donate you can get in touch by email contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com for our bank details or you can donate here https://gofund.me/44a92444 You can make a difference today. We need you to help us continue Changing Lives Malawi. Hope you enjoy the photos and videos of the children running yesterday. All of these children (apart from Catherine) would benefit from being matched with a sponsor, so please get in touch if you’d like to support one of them. Thanks for reading and supporting, Sarah x
The two boys running 3km
The four girls running 3kmThese four girls ran 3km and also received some new clothes. Only Catherine (pink top) has a sponsor. If you’d like to be a sponsor email contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.comChimwemwe and Ivet received new clothes and ran 3km to add to our total. Both need sponsors.
Some of the boxes have been opened and clothes are being sorted into age groups so they can be given out at the weekend.
One box that we had sent was for the staff and volunteers. I had found a large quantity of blue adult t-shirts in a sale so I bought them and boxed them up for the adults. Levison gave out some of the t-shirts this morning and everyone was pleased that we had thought about them.
In the video, Alice, thanks us for remembering them and for their gifts. To us, a t-shirt is just an ordinary item – nothing to get too excited about. However, when you aren’t used to receiving gifts, and don’t have many clothes of your own, it means a lot to them. I hope you enjoy the photos and the video, Sarah x
Levison distributing t-shirts to staff and volunteersLevison with the female staff and volunteersNakaonga – the sewing instructor with Loveness
Alice thanking us for the t-shirtsMrs Domingo and Nakapenda – the nursery cooksAlice, Loveness and JeanAlice, Loveness and Jean– the nursery teacher
