Tag: poverty

Advent Calendar – highlighting projects & children – day 16

Sarah’s blog 16/12/23

Every day people like Mrs Ng’ambi and her children come to the foundation asking for help. They have no money, no food and, much of the time, are dressed in rags. It is heart breaking to see the amount of poverty that many in the community are living in. Children with their extended tummies are showing visible signs of malnutrition and are so hungry. Unfortunately, there is not enough money to help all of these vulnerable people.

Sometimes they can be given some new clothes or a small amount of food. They are able to have a shower. Sometimes they are given a small amount of money for doing some piece work like helping to weed a field. Life is so difficult, beyond what we can imagine.

Eventually, the aim is that the Foundation is self-sufficient and has enough food to feed the children. There will be more people employed meaning that more money is going back into the community. Until then, they need our help. Can you make a one off donation to support feeding malnourished children please? Or could you commit £5 or £10 per month to ensure the most vulnerable are fed despite food scarcity and prices continuing to rise?

People like Mrs Ng’ambi and her children deserve some happiness and to be healthy and to know that people care about them. If you can help please donate to https://gofund.me/d3cf8c3a contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com Together we can make a difference and continue Changing Lives Malawi. Thank you, Sarah x

Advent Calendar – highlighting projects & children – day 15

Sarah’s blog 15/12/23

On day 15 we are again highlighting the need for quality education. The children and young people we are helping to support have all had extremely difficult lives and are living in extreme poverty. Secondary education needs to be paid for in Malawi and none of the students at Bright Futures Secondary School would be able to afford to pay these fees.

We are extremely proud of Chancy Chisale who is the first sponsored young person to have passed their s4 national exams and is going on to further education. Chancy’s family had paid for some of his education but then ran out of money. Chancy was a very hard worker and a promising student so we managed to match him with a sponsor and we are glad to say that he was successful. We wish him every success for the future.

Bright Futures Secondary School has only been open for just over a year. We were absolutely delighted that the whole S2 class passed their national exams in the summer. This was an amazing achievement for them and we are very proud of them.

Class sizes will always be smaller than government run schools. However, currently, Bright Futures Secondary School is running at approximately 50% capacity. We cannot afford to support more students without sponsors to help support their education costs. The decision was made that all students at Bright Futures Secondary School will get a free school lunch each day. This, for many, is their only proper meal. For some, it is their only food each day. They cannot study and concentrate without being fed at school. But this costs money.

Can you sponsor a vulnerable young person to study at Bright Futures Secondary School please? It’s only £25 per month. You can be a sponsor as an individual, a family or two friends or even a business or a school. contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com Or can you make a one off donation towards school lunches? or commit to paying £5 or £10 per month to ensure the young people get the nutrition they need through a free school lunch each day? https://gofund.me/d3cf8c3a Together we can keep Changing Lives Malawi. Thanks so much, Sarah x

Advent Calendar – highlighting projects & children – day 14

Sarah’s blog 14/12/23

14th December – reducing inequalities in so many ways. How often do we say or think ‘Life isn’t fair.’ I’m sure we’ve all done that at some point. Compared to Maria’s life, we are so very fortunate.

When Maria was age 11, we were asked to try to find her a sponsor. Her parents had died, so she was an orphan living with her grandparents. They are so poor that they couldn’t afford to feed Maria and they were contemplating marrying her off as a child bride at age 11. Despite this being against the law in Malawi, unfortunately it still happens. Child brides suffer from horrendous injuries by their husbands and then whilst giving birth, even resulting in death.

Thankfully, Maria and girls like her are supported by the foundation and are free from the worry that they will be married off too soon. Maria was matched with a sponsor and has a monthly food parcel at home to supplement her grandparents’ income. She is able to attend the weekly feeding programme where 500 children are fed a substantial and nutritious meal once a week.

Unfortunately, no big charities are feeding children in the rural far north so all children that we help to support are suffering from varying degrees of malnutrition. We only have enough money to feed these children once a week. Please can you help us to continue feeding these children? Food prices are rising and food is becoming more scarce. As a small charity run by volunteers, 100% of the donations we receive go to our projects. Please can you help us continue to feed 500 children?

Maria had missed lots of school to work and earn a pittance to help her grandparents and buy some food. Thanks to the help she is now receiving, she is back in school and doing well. Maria knows that people care about her and that she has a brighter future thanks to her sponsor.

If you would like to sponsor a young person like Maria, it’s only £25 per month. You can sponsor as an individual, a family or two friends sharing the cost. It’s less than £1 per day… it might be the most important thing you do for one of these young people. contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com

Or can you donate to the feeding programme or one of our other projects please? the link is here https://gofund.me/d3cf8c3a Thank you so much to everyone who supports us. It’s always about teamwork. We have achieved so much together but there is still so much to do. Thanks, Sarah x

Advent Calendar – highlighting projects & children – day 13

Sarah’s blog 13/12/23

Advent Calendar – highlighting projects & children – day 12

Sarah’s blog 12/12/23

On 12th December we are highlighting construction of new buildings and how these projects have brought employment.

There is a secondary school, a library, a clean water supply, a shower block, an office block and teachers accommodation where there was nothing a few years ago. Thanks to our supporters and grants that we have received, change is happening. There are currently seven permanent teachers at Bright Futures Secondary School and more will be employed next year when there will be four classes of students. There are also other jobs like cooks who are supporting the school students. Eventually, there will be dormitories at the school which will also create more employment. Bright Futures Secondary School, as well as giving educational opportunities to vulnerable students, is providing permanent employment.

There have been many people benefit from temporary employment during the construction process of each building. From the truck driver, to brick makers, to labourers to bricklayers, carpenters and electricians…many people in this poverty stricken area of rural northern Malawi are benefitting from the building work that is ongoing. Therefore, they will have money to spend in their community and more people will benefit from the economic growth.

Your help and support have been vital in helping this community out of the terrible poverty they have found themselves in. We still have a lot to do to help them to self-sufficiency and sustainability so if you would like to donate the link is here https://gofund.me/d3cf8c3a or email us at contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com . Together we can make life better. Thank you, Sarah x

Advent Calendar – highlighting projects & children – day 11

Sarah’s blog 11/12/2023

It’s the 11th December already! Today we are highlighting the Eco Stove Project. Chancy is one of the young men who has been making eco stoves for the most vulnerable people in the community.

Eco stoves are made of brick and mud and are an enclosed method of cooking. These are far safer than cooking on an open fire, especially when children are around or elderly people are cooking. As it is an enclosed method of cooking, it holds heat for longer and can give off a lot of heat if sitting near it. Eco stoves use far less fuel because they are enclosed, so they are much better for the environment as less wood is needed for cooking.

If you’d like to support this project or one of our other projects then please donate at https://gofund.me/d3cf8c3a or email contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com Thank you for supporting us to continue Changing Lives Malawi, Sarah x

Advent Calendar – highlighting projects & children – day 10

Sarah’s blog 10/12/23

For today, 10th December, we are highlighting the Period Poverty Project.

We sent some hand turn sewing machines to Malawi and some of the older girls have been learning to use them. A group of girls made reusable sanitary towels for all the girls who needed them. Each girl was given a bag containing new pants, reusable sanitary towels, soap and a health information leaflet. This project is ongoing and it would be really good, if funds allowed, that this project could reach more girls in other schools.

This is a project that hasn’t cost a lot of money but has made a big impact. Prior to the girls having reusable sanitary towels, they all used to miss one week of school each month and stay at home. There is nothing shameful about menstruation and girls should not have to miss out on one week of education every month. Now, thanks to the Period Poverty Project, girls’ are at school for the same amount of time as the boys and they have the same opportunity to learn and do just as well in their exams. There is no reason why girls shouldn’t reach their potential and it is good to know that this project is making a difference.

If you would like to support this project by making a donation the link is here https://gofund.me/d3cf8c3a contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com Thanks for reading, Sarah x

Advent Calendar – highlighting projects & children – day 9

Sarah’s blog 09/12/23

Today, 9th December, we are highlighting the Mother & Baby project. You may have seen my blog from a few days ago when students from Bright Futures Secondary School visited Chambo Health Centre with boxes of baby clothes and blankets.

We are so fortunate to have people donate their time and talents knitting baby clothes, hats and blankets to be shared on the maternity ward at the health centre. The new mothers are always very grateful to have something warm to dress their babies in. Also, if the new mothers bring their babies back to the health centre after a few weeks, they will be able to receive some more clothes for the baby. This also gives the staff at the health centre another chance to have a chat with the mums and check they and their babies are ok.

This project is such a good way of involving some of the most vulnerable people in the community and letting them know that they are valued and cared for.

Here is the link with the photos from the visit last week Knitting & Babies Thank you to everyone who supports this project. It costs £17.50 to send a box on the container so, even if you aren’t able to knit, you might like to support this project by paying for a box of knitting to get to these vulnerable babies. Here is the link where you can donate to this and other projects. https://gofund.me/d3cf8c3a Thanks, Sarah x

Advent Calendar – highlighting projects & children – day 8

Sarah’s blog 08/12/23

For 8th December we are highlighting agriculture and skills for life.

The orphans and other vulnerable children whom we help to support learn life skills at the Foundation. They learn to grow their own food and these vegetables are used at the feeding programme in addition to maize and beans. However, with 500 children to feed, the harvest doesn’t last long.

Fruit tree saplings have been planted to ensure future food security and an income through selling surplus fruit. Many more fruit trees are needed so we would be grateful if you would purchase some fruit tree saplings. It only costs £10 for 4 saplings. Please help.

Levison, who is the director of the Foundation, is a trained teacher. In addition to that he also has a degree in Agriculture so he is able to pass on his knowledge to the young people.

Pictured here is Timothy who really enjoys helping with the crops. Timothy even appointed himself as an unofficial supervisor to some of the younger children showing them how to do the weeding and digging. Timothy is an orphan and lives with his grandmother. He is now in first year at Bright Futures Secondary School. I sponsor Timothy and without support he would not have been able to afford to pay the fees required for secondary school in Malawi. Timothy’s grandmother is a caring lady and they have a girl living with them who was orphaned and had no extended family to care for her. If you would like to sponsor a young person so they have the opportunity of education and a brighter future please email contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com If you’d like to buy some fruit tree saplings then please donate at https://gofund.me/d3cf8c3a Thank you for helping to support Timothy and other vulnerable children like him. Thanks, Sarah x

Advent Calendar – highlighting projects & children – day 6

Sarah’s blog 6/12/23

For day 6 of the advent calendar we are highlighting good health and wellbeing. This is my favourite photo from a few years ago. An holistic approach is taken to supporting the children. There will be photos similar to this from all over the world. Children are relaxing, chatting, playing and having fun with their friends. You can see the enjoyment the girls are having from skipping with a piece of rope. This is what childhood should be like all the time. Things are improving for these vulnerable children but there is still so much that we need your support with. Together, as a team we can continue making a difference.

Hundreds of orphans and vulnerable children know that the Foundation is a safe place for them. They have all experienced trauma and very difficult childhoods. Until recently, they felt like they had been forgotten. All are malnourished. All do not have enough to eat. All are living in extreme poverty. Very basic mud or brick one room housing which let in water during the rainy season. All sleeping on the bare floor. If they are lucky they have a sheet or a reed mat to sleep on. None of the families have spare money for clothes or blankets so the children sleep in their clothes which are rags. Many are orphans, living with a grandparent or extended family if parents have died. Most have missed periods of school whilst they try to earn a pittance to buy some food for themselves and their families.

The Foundation is a place where they can just be children for a little while. Where their worries go away whilst they play with their friends. The Foundation is a place where adults will listen if they need to talk. It’s a place where they can have a shower to get clean. They receive new clothes from time to time. We send small blankets to be given to as many as possible. Some of our supporters have knitted hats for the children which helps to keep them warm at night.

They learn skills for life like planting & looking after vegetables, making mats, knitting & sewing and looking after the chickens and goats. The library is open to the children and young people and quite often teenagers will be seen reading fairy stories and other books for younger children….they have missed out on all of that. Team sports are an important part of life at the Foundation and most enjoy playing football, rugby and netball.

And of course, 500 children are fed a nutritious meal once a week. That number is expected to rise to 700 as food is scarce and costs keep rising. This is why we need your help please to keep this vital feeding programme going. We need your help to plant more fruit tree saplings to give future food security and an income when selling surplus fruit. This project will, of course, help the planet too. We need your help to get the pig project up and running so that piglets can be sold to bring in an income. And we need your help to feed the orphans. Please, if you can, will you help us? https://gofund.me/d3cf8c3a contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com

Advent Calendar – highlighting projects & children – day 5

I’ve chosen education again for December 5th as it is a core project and something we all feel very strongly about. Thanks to grants and donations from our supporters, Bright Futures Secondary School was opened in November 22.

Currently, there are three classes S1, S2 and S3. In September 2024 there will also be an S4 class. When there are four classes there will need to be several more teachers employed at the school. Therefore, next year’s running costs will be significantly more than this year’s.

One way that the school is planning to be more self-sufficient and have some income to be able to buy their own exercise books, science equipment and money towards trips etc is to set up a Pig Project. Agricultural classes are part of the core curriculum and particularly S2 have a topic on keeping pigs. Future piglets can be sold; the income will be for the school and the students will have practical experience which will be invaluable in the future. Quality education will be the key to a better and brighter future for these students with choices and chances. If you would like to buy a piglet as a Christmas gift for the person who has everything it only costs £45. https://gofund.me/d3cf8c3a contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com Thank you for your support, Sarah x

Knitting & Babies

Sarah’s blog 05/12/23

We are so thankful for all the knitting we receive for the Mother & Baby Project. There is a small maternity ward at the local health centre and yesterday some students from Bright Futures Secondary School made a visit with some of the boxes of beautiful baby things we sent from our supporters.

As you can see from the short video, there were lots of lovely baby clothes & blankets, and the staff at the health centre, as well as the new mums are so grateful for this support to keep the babies warm.

Yesterday, the pregnant ladies who were waiting to be seen by their midwife, received little cardigans too. The next container with more supplies will be there soon, so there will be more boxes for the health centre too.

The ladies on the maternity ward were gifted blankets and clothes for their newborn babies. Part of the aim of this project is that they can return in a few weeks to receive some more clothes, giving the staff at the health centre another opportunity to have an informal check up with mum and baby.

Enjoy the photos of these lovely babies and thank you to everyone who has given generously of their time and talents to ensure that these little babies are warm. Thank you, Sarah x