Some of the students from Bright Futures Secondary School helped to plant pine tree saplings during their school holidays.
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
Today’s blog is about tree planting taking place at Bright Futures Secondary School as part of their agriculture course. This is an ongoing project so financial donations are always very welcome.
Sarah’s blog 4/2/26
Last week, students at Bright Futures Secondary School have again been busy tree planting. It would have been hard work digging holes for 120 saplings. On this occasion the tree planting was for pine and acacia.
They are keen to take responsibility for their environment. This will help prevent future soil erosion and replace trees that have been cut down. Of course students want to help with the climate crisis. The tree planting was part of their agricultural lessons which are a core subject in the Malawian curriculum.
Soon they will be planting other types of saplings and we will share photos when that happens. We are grateful to the agriculture teachers at Bright Futures Secondary School for all the extra work they do to support their students. Of course, we are proud of the students and pleased to see them contributing in such a positive way to their community.
Thank you also to everyone who has donated money over the past year to support their tree planting project. As it’s the rainy season now, the ground is easier to dig and plant. Also the saplings won’t dry out so have a better chance of survival. So this is always the best time for planting saplings even though we are fundraising for this project all year round.
If anyone would like to make a donation then please do get in touch. contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com for bank details or you can donate via our website or our QR code. If you would like to donate in memory of a loved one then we are happy to make a sign to place in part of the orchard. Or for a special birthday or anniversary?
Or would your business like to contribute to this project and have some advertising in the orchard? We’d love to partner with any nurseries/garden centres/Christmas tree farms.
Thank you again everyone. Enjoy the photos, Sarah x
One of the teachers and a student planting a saplingstudents holding tree saplings prior to plantinga student planting a pine tree saplingyou can see the rain clouds in the distance
Stuart and I made a donation to buy fruit tree saplings a few years ago in memory of his lovely mum. If anyone else would like a name on a sign and make a donation to the orchard then please do get in touch.
For Fathers’ Day… will you buy your Dad a sustainable gift which will make a big difference to the hundreds of children who are living in extreme poverty in rural northern Malawi?
Sarah’s blog 7/6/25
It’s Fathers’ Day next Sunday the 15th June. Would your Dad like a sustainable gift? Does your Dad really need another pair of socks? What do you buy for the man who has everything? We have the perfect gifts that will be special and a bit different. We need your help. We need to help the young people help themselves to a better and brighter future.
We are appealing for funds to purchase more agricultural tools to help the students during their practical agricultural lessons. They already have a few hoes, spades, slashers, watering cans and a wheelbarrow. However, more are needed so that all the students can take part in the lessons which are a core part of the curriculum. We’d like them to be able to have another wheelbarrow, more watering cans, more spades and hoes. Will you help please?
This appeal for tools also covers carpentry tools so that students at Bright Futures Secondary School can learn basic woodwork. This will be another skill for life for those living in a rural community and a possible way to earn money for some. If you’d like to donate on behalf or your Dad, you can either email me a name or leave a message on the DonorSee appeal with the name you’d like written to appear as donors of the carpentry equipment. https://donorsee.com/project/27684?share=1
Our other appeal is for more fruit tree saplings. Approximately, 500 orphans and other children and young people living in extreme poverty receive a nutritious meal at the Feeding Programme once a week. There are no big charities feeding children in primary schools in the rural far north, meaning most children are suffering from malnutrition and all are hungry. Families cannot afford to feed their children and prices continue to rise. This is an amazing chance to support these children and their families. To help them become self-sufficient.
By planting more fruit tree saplings, the orchard will continue to grow. It will provide much needed food for years to come. Any surplus fruit will be able to be sold, providing a sustainable source of income. Will you help by purchasing some fruit tree saplings please? https://donorsee.com/project/27708?share=1
There is the opportunity to leave a message on the two DonorSee appeals with the name of your Dad or other important man in your life. Names will be written on a board for the new area of Orchard or, for the carpentry tools, on a wall at Bright Futures Campus. We rely on the generosity of our donors. Let’s do this together. Let’s make a real difference to hundreds of children and young people who do not have enough to eat.
Or would you like to make a donation in memory of a special person? Let me know and their name will be added. Donations can be made by clicking on either of the two DonorSee links or by emailing for our bank details contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com Together we can continue Changing Lives (in) Malawi. Thank you so much, Sarah x
One of the first saplings planted..this guava tree is now bearing fruitPlanting bananas which are now growing wellStudents at Bright Futures Secondary School have also planted pine tree saplings to help prevent soil erosion, replace trees used for firewood and to help protect the planet.
Planting Christmas trees at Bright Futures Secondary School today as part of their practical agriculture classes.
Sarah’s blog 19/12/24
The rains have started in Malawi. Thankfully, the only damage from the recent cyclone was that one of the solar power systems was hit by a lightening strike and will need to be repaired.
The students at Bright Futures Secondary School finished their exams yesterday so were happy to be out of the classroom and starting on an environmental project. The pine tree sapling planting has been planned for a while and over 300 saplings were on order. Now the ground is softer and the saplings will be well watered, now is the right time to get busy planting!
There are several reasons for planting pine tree saplings; to provide a wind break, help prevent soil erosion and flooding, replace trees that have been cut down, and to provide shade. Planting trees is obviously helping combat climate change too.
Pine trees will be planted around the edges of fields to help prevent crops being washed away. There will be more tree planting on Monday and students at BFSS will each be given a Christmas tree to take home and plant on Monday afternoon. As well as the above reasons for planting trees, this will help spread the message through the community about how important tree planting and reforestation is.
Thank you to everyone who has donated to enable these pine tree saplings to be bought. We do hope that we can raise some more funds for reforestation during this rainy season. This is the link to our small fundraiser to buy more pine tree saplings https://donorsee.com/project/25914?share=1 or you can donate via the link on our website Donate money and gifts to the Changing Lives Malawi foundation . I hope you enjoy these photos and videos from earlier today. This work that the students are doing is very important and I am hoping that they are able to see that their efforts are appreciated by this project growing and getting the attention it deserves. Well done students and teachers at Bright Futures Secondary School! Thanks for reading and supporting, Sarah x
