Tag: handwashing

The Day of the African Child

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

friends at Chambo Primary
A newborn baby at Chambo Health Centre
Girls’ latrines at Chambo Primary
These children need a helping hand
more babies and toddlers on feeding day
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
Great excitement from the fans!
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
Children at Bright Futures Nursery

World Water Day

We are grateful to everyone who has supported us to provide clean drinking water, water for washing hands and showering and latrines for hundreds of children.

Sarah’s blog 22/3/24

On World Water Day we just want to thank all of our supporters who have helped bring water to all the vulnerable children and young people we help to support.

We still have lots to do but, thanks to our supporters and grants we have received, children at Bright Futures Nursery, Chambo Primary School, Bright Futures Secondary School and of course the 500 children who come for a meal at the feeding programme each week, all have clean drinking water.

We would like to thank again The Kitchen Table Charities Trust for their funding to enable us to facilitate using the clean water supply at Chambo Health Centre to lay pipes and provide taps for drinking clean water at Chambo Primary School. By letting us ‘think outside the box’ we made best use of their grant. Thank you to those people who have done sponsored events to raise funds and to others who have made personal donations or shared our posts. You have all made a difference.

As well as clean water to drink, it’s also important that there is clean water & soap for washing hands, proper latrines and there is the shower block where all the young people and staff are able to wash. Thank you all for making this possible, Sarah x

World Toilet Day

Sarah’s blog 19/11/23

Did you know it was World Toilet Day? Imagine a day to be thankful for having a toilet! A toilet is just one of the things we take for granted. Every home has at least one toilet. And a sink to wash your hands with running water and soap. When we go out, we know where there is a toilet available for use, again with water to wash our hands.

The children and young people in Malawi do not have the luxury of toilets. They have to go in the nearby bushes. There is no clean water or soap to wash their hands. Disease can spread quickly because of lack of sanitation. Also, imagine being a teenage girl with no proper toilet facilities. No dignity, no privacy and also the worry of being vulnerable to attack on your own in the bushes.

We are trying our best to improve their situation. There are latrine blocks at The Foundation, they were one of the first things to be built. Plus a teachers’ latrine block was added. With the help of our supporters, we have some money raised for more latrine blocks for teenagers at Bright Futures Secondary School. However, because of constant rising costs in Malawi, we do not yet have enough money to complete these latrines.

On World Toilet Day, please think about how fortunate we are and how we take so much for granted. If you could spare £10 to help build another toilet block, we would be so grateful. https://gofund.me/e5ba79fe or email for our bank details contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com Your continued support is gratefully received both here and in Malawi.

We have been supporting Chambo Primary School, where most of the younger children attend, through two grants we successfully applied for. Hopefully, all will be finished next week and there will be lots of photos.

One of the grants was from The Eleanor Rathbone Trust for £1,000 which has built a latrine block at Chambo Primary School. The other grant was from The Kitchen Table Charities Trust for £6,000, part of which has been used to bring clean water for drinking and washing hands to Chambo Primary School. At school; clean drinking water, the privacy, dignity and hygiene of a toilet block , and clean water and soap to wash their hands. Life is changing for the better for these very vulnerable children. We will continue, with your help, Changing Lives (in) Malawi. Thanks so much and please do help if you can, Sarah x https://gofund.me/e5ba79fe

The new toilet block at Chambo Primary School is almost finished. Thanks to The Eleanor Rathbone Trust for the grant of £1,000.