Tag: International Women's Day

International Women’s Day

Sarah’s blog 8/3/24

The theme for this year’s International Women’s Day is ‘Invest In Women: Accelerate Progress’.

‘There is no limit to what we, as women, can accomplish.’

Michelle Obama

Thanks to our wonderful supporters, Changing Lives Malawi is making a difference to hundreds of orphans and other young people each day.

Because we believe in equality and inclusion, girls and women have needed more help and support due to the dire poverty they live in. The women and girls are strong; grandmothers caring for grandchildren, widows bringing up six children alone, mother’s caring for disabled children whilst being judged by society as it must be their fault that their child is disabled. When things are so bad, these brave women, who have been strong for so long, need a helping hand to get back on their feet. We try to get their children matched with sponsors so that their is some food going into that home to supplement the meagre amount they have.

The end goal is that all families will have enough to eat, all children will be thriving and in education and the community will be self-sufficient through employment and sustainable projects.

One of the first things that happened is that we sent hand turn sewing machines and fabric to Malawi. A group of girls were shown how to make reusable sanitary towels for all who needed them. This is an ongoing project. Hundreds of girls have and will continue to attend school ALL MONTH the same as the boys. Previously they had to stay at home for one week each month so missed out on a quarter of their education. So equal access to education is improving for girls.

Another way that girls are being helped is that, although illegal, some girls are still at risk of being married off too young, whilst still children, as their families cannot afford to feed them. By matching them with a sponsor, they have food coming into their home and have welfare checks and, of course, access to quality education.

All the young people are desperate for education. They know that this is their way out of poverty. We are ensuring that girls, as well as boys, who wouldn’t normally be able to go to secondary school, receive a quality secondary school education and a cooked school lunch each day. This is free of charge as we match them with sponsors whose monthly contribution of £25 helps pay for their place at Bright Futures Secondary School.

In September, there will be the next intake of S1 students to Bright Futures Secondary School from pupils who are in p8 at Chambo Primary. Very few families can afford to pay for their child’s secondary education at one of the state secondary schools, which is why it was so important that Bright Futures Secondary School was built. However, each of these young people will need to be matched with a sponsor to enable them to attend Bright Futures Secondary School.

If you would like to help a young girl, in her last year of primary school, have the opportunity to be the best she can possibly be by sponsoring her through secondary education then please do get in touch. It’s only £25 per month and the cost can also be split between two friends or a group. contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com On International Women’s Day 2024, this might be the most important thing you ever do for one of these girls.

We have good, strong role models in female teachers and staff and, of course, this offers employment and makes women independent in their own right. Also, there are wonderful women who volunteer their time to support the work in Malawi and of course here in Scotland and internationally. I personally want to thank them. I have strong women supporting me everyday and I am grateful and want them to know how much I appreciate them.

So on this International Women’s Day, will you invest in a young woman and accelerate progress? Will you stand up for girls’ education?

‘Each time a woman stands up for herself, she stands up for all women.’

Maya Angelou

Thank you for your support and hope you enjoy the photos from Bright Futures Secondary School and nursery this morning. Happy International Women’s Day, Sarah x

Miss Chisenga is the humanities teacher at Bright Futures Secondary School.
Miss Mkumbwa, Head Teacher and English Teacher.
Group discussions outside. It’s good to see some sunshine after the heavy rains.
Miss Chisenga, humanities teacher, Miss Mkumbwa, Head Teacher & English Teacher and Miss Siyame, nursery teacher. All are good role models for the vulnerable girls we help to support.
Miss Siyame is the nursery teacher.
The preschoolers (4-6) enjoy coming to nursery and are fed at each session.

International Women’s Day

On International Women’s Day….

Sarah’s blog 8/3/23

On International Women’s Day, I want to thank all the sponsors and other people who help us, who are making a big difference to the very vulnerable girls whom we help to support.

Every single vulnerable girl is being given a chance to have a better and brighter future. They are being given chances and choices that they wouldn’t otherwise have been given. These girls now have more employment opportunities open to them; even if they don’t pass their final school exams…they will have better literacy and numeracy skills. Hopefully, more girls will pass exams and go on to further education or learn a trade. If you would like to help support a girl then please email me contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com

By supporting teenage girls with simple projects like The Period Poverty Project, girls are no longer missing school each month. They now have the same opportunity for education as the boys in their school. We sent sewing machines for some of the girls to make reusable sanitary towels. A small, low cost project making a big difference!

We want to thank and celebrate all the women who are living in extreme poverty and doing their best as single parents, or bringing up grandchildren or even fostering children. These are strong women, quietly making a difference in a very difficult situation.

These girls are the future women who will make a difference. Thanks to all their role models and to everyone who is helping to shape their futures. Happy International Women’s Day, Sarah x

Maria is gifting some of the donated baby clothes to these women for their babies.
Christina’s family are living in extreme poverty and she needs a sponsor
Chifundo’s mum died recently. She is now ‘mum’ to her younger brother. She needs a sponsor.
Can you sponsor a girl like Maria? Look at the difference a sponsor can make.
vulnerable girls at Bright Futures Secondary School….thanks to everyone who supports them and who was involved in helping fund the school.
Vulnerable teenage girls now have the opportunity of secondary education at Bright Futures Secondary School. Female teachers are great role models for these girls.
Alice, Loveness & Jean. Alice has come to work at The Foundation while she waits to become a teaching assistant at a government primary school. Loveness had support from The Foundation and went on a sports coaching course. She helps in the nursery and with sports but also has a part-time job with another bigger charity supporting adult literacy. Jean was sponsored to go to secondary school and have the opportunity to finish her education. Unfortunately, because of the extreme poverty she grew up in and the effects of that, Jean didn’t pass her final exams. However, she is being supported to learn tailoring and Levison reports that she is a very hard worker. Three young women with chances and choices for brighter futures, thanks to the people who help us.