Joanne Byrne, my sister (on right of photo) and her best friend, Alison Rennie, decided in a moment of madness that they were up for the challenge of firewalking!! Thank you so much to both of them for being brilliant sports.
Alison Rennie (left) and Joanne Byrne are our first team of firewalkers!
Allander Rotary Club in Milngavie is hosting this Firewalk event on Sunday 24th March. Alison and Joanne will be doing the firewalk on behalf of Changing Lives Malawi. We are raising money for a teachers’ staffroom at Bright Futures Secondary School – teachers are currently using classroom four as we only have students in years 1-3. However, in September, with the next intake of students, all four classrooms will be needed. More teachers will be employed, hence the need for a dedicated staffroom. We are also needing S4 textbooks as we don’t have any of these yet.
So here is the link to Joanne and Alison’s fundraiser. We will be sharing more information about them and our goals over the next few weeks. https://gofund.me/c127c5e9
We are very fortunate to have two teams of firewalkers…the second team will be introduced next week.
We know we ask a lot of our supporters and we are extremely grateful for all the help we get…it is a real team effort and we appreciate each and every one of you. However, if you can share posts so we can reach a wider audience that would be really helpful and if you are able to make a donation to support the girls, that would be amazing. Thanks everyone, Sarah x
We were looking at the layout of the buildings at the Foundation today and I thought it would be a good time to show you again where the community is that we support and how things have changed in a few short years.
Ibuluma Villages are near Chisenga on the banks of the Chambo River right at the top of the map of Malawi. It is a very rural area. When Levison collects boxes from the container he has to travel all the way to Ekwendeni by Mzuzu.
This was the Foundation a few short years agoThis was taken from Google today and the buildings labelled
As you can see there has been a huge amount of achievement and we thank everyone who has helped make these changes happen for this rural community living in extreme poverty. They now have hope for a brighter future.
As well as the four classrooms of Bright Futures Secondary School, there is staff accommodation (the first house is already shown on the map), the second accommodation block will be completed this week and is marked in blue at the bottom of the photo along with a new latrine for the teachers. There is a shower block at the top of the photo and a library and general purpose room in the middle. There are two chicken sheds, office blocks and a kitchen and marked are two more latrine blocks that are about to be started.
The existing latrine blocks, which were build early on, sit at the left of the photos. However, early this morning something happened.
The boys’ latrines that were built a few years agoThe boys’ latrine block this morning
As you can see, sadly, the boys’ latrine block no longer exists. Due to the very heavy rains and termite activity, the ground became unstable and subsided. Thankfully, no one was hurt. Some bricks, doors and roofing sheets have been saved for use in rebuilding and the hole was filled in as a priority to make it safe. All the more recent buildings have been treated to keep the termites away.
Sometimes it feels like two steps forward and one step back when things like this happen. The heavy rains also prevent children and young people attending school as it isn’t safe for them to cross the swollen rivers. Foot bridges are on our list of improvements which sometimes feels like it’s never ending. It will, unfortunately, be a while until we get to that stage.
Thankfully, the latrine diggers and builders are on site already and we had just enough money to be building a latrine block for teachers, a boys’ latrine and a girls’ latrine. Obviously now we will have to build an additional boys’ latrine so the younger boys and older boys have separate facilities.
Although today hasn’t been good because of the boys’ latrine block being destroyed, as the second photo reminds us that, thanks to the continued support we receive, teamwork and a lot of determination, this community is changing. We are grateful to everyone who helps us. Below is a short video of the torrential rain this morning which brings everything to a standstill. We are Changing Lives (in) Malawi. Thanks, Sarah x
Now is the time to plant trees. Communities all over Malawi are doing this in January. There are numerous reasons for planting trees and obviously for future food, self-sufficiency and because it’s good for the planet all rate highly along with other benefits like helping to prevent soil erosion. Thank you to everyone who contributed to help us send money to purchase these fruit tree saplings.
However, I want to share with you a piece of work that two of the teachers at Bright Futures Secondary School have facilitated. We are delighted to have enthusiastic teachers who understand the need for sustainable food sources and that children and young people will learn more by taking part in practical learning. We are hoping that the saplings grow well and will provide much needed food and also a sustainable income for years to come.
More fruit tree saplings are needed still and also hundreds of pine tree saplings are needing to be planted to replace trees that the community have used for fuel and building. Are you able to help provide some money to buy more saplings? Would your business like to have a sign in the orchard if you sponsor planting some saplings? contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com
I hope you enjoy reading part of the report from the agriculture teachers and looking at the photos of young people busy planting the fruit tree saplings. Thanks, Sarah x
As you probably know, we are passionate about education. Whether it is the seventy five preschool children in the nursery or the teenagers at Bright Futures Secondary School, these children and young people all have the right to have opportunities and choices and chances to be the best that they can be. They have the right to be supported to achieve their potential and have a brighter future for themselves and their families.
We couldn’t do everything we do without a huge amount of support. It’s always about teamwork. So whether you have donated some preloved books to our School Literacy Project, or donated preloved school uniform, or if you sponsor one of the vulnerable students…..THANK YOU. To the team in Malawi; Levison who oversees everything and whose vision it was, to the volunteer cooks, nursery staff and teachers…. THANK YOU. To everyone working behind the scenes and those raising funds for us to support education in rural northern Malawi…. THANK YOU.
We are achieving great things but many more very vulnerable children and young people are waiting for a sponsor so that they too can go to Bright Futures Secondary School. Secondary education needs to be paid for in Malawi. None of the students at Bright Futures Secondary School would be there without support.
Please will you be a sponsor for one of their friends? Education is the best way out of poverty for this community. It’s only £25 per month to sponsor a young person. We need more sponsors for the new S1 students next year. This might be the most important thing you ever do for one of these young people. contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com . I hope you enjoy these photos of some of the children and young people. We are proud of every single one of them and all they are achieving. Thanks, Sarah x
Some of the children enjoying the selection of books now available in ‘Emma’s Rainbow Library’Levison Mlambya, Director, presenting Daniel Chombe with a small cash prize for his essay.A well loved train set was gifted to the nursery. None of the children knew what to do with it to start with but they soon worked it out and have had many hours of fun.New school, new uniform and new school bags at Bright Futures Secondary SchoolThe first seventeen boxes of preloved books donated to Chambo Primary School as part of our School Literacy Project. Prior to this, they had hardly any resources.Learning about computersAgricultural lessons planting fruit tree saplingsChambo Primary had no water. Thanks to a grant from The Kitchen Table Charities Trust, the children are now able to wash their hands and drink clean water.Some young people learning from the carpenters whilst building desks for Chambo Primary School. Again, this was thanks to The Kitchen Table Charities TrustChildren in one of the classrooms sitting at their new desks. Changing Lives Malawi donated the exercise books and pencilsFeeding 500 vulnerable children once a week as no big charities are feeding children in primary schools that far north. Once a week isn’t enough but we need more financial donations to increase this. Sweatshirts donated by students at Strathblane Primary School (Stirling, Scotland)Isaac is one of our sponsored children benefitting from having a sponsor. There are four children in his family with their mum. Granda, Isaac’s older sister was at risk of being married off too young as their mum couldn’t feed them all. We found sponsors for Granda and Isaac and they now have two food parcels going into their home each month to supplement their income. They also benefit from clothes, shoes, soap and toothbrush and toothpaste. Can you help a child like Isaac?Some students at Bright Futures Secondary School having being gifted new clothes and showing some of the resources that the school had receivedAfter more fundraising classrooms 3 and 4 at Bright Futures Secondary School were able to be built in time for the new term in SeptemberThe opening of Bright Futures Secondary School in November 2022 with classrooms 1 and 2. Students were delighted to be given a place at the school free of charge because they were matched with sponsors. They loved receiving new school uniform too.
We are fortunate that over 80 of the most vulnerable children and young people that we help to support have been matched with sponsors. We can not begin to imagine the impact that this has….just knowing that someone wants to help you out of a situation that must have seemed without any hope. It’s been a very busy year both here and in Malawi and we’ve not taken photos of sponsored young people for a while…sorry. But we are getting back on track and here are a few more of our sponsored young people.
Food is scarce and prices are rising all the time and the currency has been devalued. Things are tough. Most of the children and young people are orphans, living with extended family. We have found foster parents for a few children who had no one. Some children are living with their parents but there is not enough money coming into the home to feed everyone. Children can go days without eating properly.
Having a sponsor means that children receive some food each month to supplement what is coming into the home each month or, for those who are students at Bright Futures Secondary School, they receive free nutritious school lunches. Secondary education needs to be paid for in Malawi. None of the students at Bright Futures Secondary School would be at school if it wasn’t for their sponsors’ support.
Could you help a young person today? We hope to match more young people so that they have the opportunity to go to Bright Futures Secondary School. It’s only £25 per month to be a sponsor. contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com Thanks to all our sponsors and people who donate financially…it’s teamwork and we couldn’t help this community without you. Thanks, Sarah x
Just before the school term finished for the Christmas holidays, students at Bright Futures Secondary School, having finished their exams, were asked to write an essay entitled ‘What I like about Bright Futures Secondary School’.
There were several reasons for doing this exercise; so we can find out more about the students and the school, to help students get more used to writing essays and, as there is a small cash prize for the best essay in each class, it is good motivation for all of the students.
We hope you are able to read the essays. The school does not yet have a printer or scanner so a photo had to be taken of each piece of writing and then sent to me.
In S1 Phaless has been chosen as the winner. The S2 prize goes to Alexander. In S3 Daniel’s essay won as it was a very powerful piece of writing. Very well done to all three!
Unfortunately, during the rainy season, not all students are able to attend school if the rivers become too deep and dangerous to cross. This is why some students were absent that day and haven’t written an essay. We are hoping this will become a monthly exercise as it will ultimately help them when writing exams.
Enjoy the photos and the essays and thank you to everyone who helps us make a difference to the lives of these young people. The three winners were overwhelmed and couldn’t believe they’d won. They’ve never won a prize like this. Daniel cried tears of joy. Hopefully they will begin to realise that they are important and deserve our help and that they do have brighter futures. Thank you, Sarah x
PS Alexander doesn’t have a sponsor yet, so if anyone would like to support this bright young man’s education then please do get in touch. It’s only £25 p/m to be a sponsor and you can split that cost with a friend! Thanks, Sarah x contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com
It has been so busy with all the projects that are benefitting the many vulnerable children we help to support, that unfortunately we haven’t had as many photos of sponsored children and young people as we would have liked. Thank you to the sponsors for being patient with us and for understanding. Hopefully, we will have a better system in place this year and be bringing regular updates.
If you would like to sponsor a child or young person to make a difference in their lives then please do get in touch contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com It’s only £25 per month to be a sponsor, or you could share the cost with a friend.
There are hundreds of vulnerable children and young people who would benefit from being matched with a sponsor. Especially those who are in their last couple of years at primary school and hoping to attend Bright Futures Secondary School. With a helping hand from a sponsor, their education is free of charge, they receive clothes and stationery and they have a nutritious school lunch each day. For most, this is their only meal each day. So your help would be much appreciated by us and gratefully received by the young people. Many thanks, Sarah x
I shared some photos before Christmas of the official handover of the improvements at Chambo Primary School thanks to a £6,000 grant we applied for and received from The Kitchen Table Charities Trust.
The story starts in springtime last year when we applied for a grant to KTCT on behalf of Chambo Primary School. What we were asking for wasn’t straightforward but, with a few emails back and forward and a bit of waiting, we were absolutely delighted to receive £6,000 on behalf of Chambo Primary School. This is the nearest primary school to the Foundation and where most of the orphans and other vulnerable young people we support attend. There are eight classes, each with at least 60 children.
No big charities are feeding children in schools in this area so all these children are really hungry. Many of them are suffering from malnutrition. We only have enough money to send to feed 500 children once a week and some of those children are walking up to 15km to 20km to receive this one decent meal of the week. It’s not good enough but it’s all we can afford. If anyone would like to help us provide food for the children then please do email contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com
As well as no food, the children had no clean water supply for drinking and washing their hands. Their drinking water came from the river which isn’t a clean supply. The children and their families still use the river as a water supply when they are at their homes. After liaising with and receiving permission from staff at Chambo Health Centre (which has it’s own clean water supply), we paid for a survey to check that it was possible to bring water via an underground pipe to the primary school and have taps installed outside the primary school.
We were delighted when we got the green light from the water department staff, health centre staff and, of course, The Kitchen Table Charities Trust. As you might imagine, all this took time to implement. Prices have been escalating in Malawi and this has also caused issues whilst we have been trying to stick to a budget. The headteacher at Chambo Primary, whilst being extremely thankful and pleased that the school would have clean water, rightly wanted the digging of the trench delayed by a few weeks until school holidays. No one would have wanted either children or staff tripping and falling into a hole in the playground! We also had to wait for this part of the project to finish to check costs before moving onto the next part of the project.
In addition to the clean water part of the grant, we asked for money for desks and benches. Only one classroom out of the eight classes already had desks and benches. We originally thought we would have enough money to get desks and benches made for three classrooms but unfortunately, due to price rises, we didn’t manage to do this. However, two classrooms now have new desks and benches and the students are enjoying not having to sit on the floor.
Whilst employing qualified plumbers and carpenters, part of what we wanted was the opportunity for some of the young people who are supported at the Foundation to be able to gain some experience by observing and helping with some of the more straightforward tasks. It’s been a real team effort.
We had previously gifted seventeen boxes of books to Chambo Primary School as part of our School Literacy Project. We hope to help children become more confident readers by having access to a wide range of reading material. What I hadn’t understood until recently is that all these boxes of books were being stacked and kept in the headteacher’s office. This was the only place in the school with a door that locked so poor Mr Nyondo was surrounded by boxes of books! So, with the grant money, locks were bought for the four classrooms that have doors and book shelves are being made so the books can be distributed between those four classrooms and they will be kept safely as these classrooms now have locking doors. We hope, in future, that we might have money to put doors on the remaining four classrooms.
I could keep writing about this project as I’m so pleased at how it has all worked out. I’m so thankful that The Kitchen Table Charities Trust liked our proposal and trusted us to carry out these improvements with their grant money. None of it was to benefit our charity or the Foundation we support directly, however this was a project that we could see would have huge benefits for vulnerable children we support and the community in general. It makes the hard work worthwhile when you see photos of smiling children enjoying sitting at desks, drinking clean water and reading books. We also provided buckets and cups with the grant money and our charity donated exercise books, pencils and bars of soap.
Thank you so much to everyone involved in helping us continue Changing Lives (in) Malawi. I also want to thank Levison Mlambya, the Foundation Director, whom we work with very closely on a daily basis. Levison works tirelessly for his community and always puts others above himself. As well as project managing these improvements for Chambo Primary, he has also been project managing the building of classrooms 3 & 4 of Bright Futures Secondary School and a teachers accommodation block. The carpenters were going back and forward between projects when they were needed so there was a lot to organise! 2023 was a very busy year! I hope you enjoy the photos and videos, Sarah x
Thanks to the carpenters for allowing some of the young people to assist themThe new desks being delivered to Chambo Primary School. L-R Mr Msukwa, Primary School Education Adviser, Mr Levison Mlambya, Director of The William Stewart Foundation and Mr Nyondo, Headteacher of Chambo Primary SchoolEveryone helps to bring the new desks inside
Students at Chambo Primary thanking Changing Lives Malawi for their notebooks and pencilsChildren were always keen to observe what was happening
Drinking the clean water
As you can see, the headteacher’s office was used as a storage room too as there were no doors that locked on any of the classrooms. Now four out of the eight classrooms have book shelves and locks on their doors. Mr Nyondo will get his office back!
Teachers at Chambo Primary having received stationery and chalk from Changing Lives Malawi. Mr Nyondo, headteacher, is thanking The Kitchen Table Charities Trust, The William Stewart Foundation and Changing Lives Malawi for enabling the changes at the school.Mr Msukwa, Primary Education Adviser drinking water from one of the new taps.The students at Chambo Primary are delighted to have clean water. It’s been a day to celebrate.Everyone wants a turn to fill their cups with clean drinking water.Washing hands with clean water and with soap that we donated.The Primary School Education Adviser, Mr Msukwa, with Levison Mlambya, Director of The William Stewart Foundation. Changing Lives Malawi donated soap to Chambo Primary School.
Washing hands is so important in helping keep the children healthy.The first 17 boxes of books that were gifted to Chambo Primary as part of our School Literacy Project. They have received a few more boxes since then and we have since started donating books to other primary schools.
Food insecurity is getting worse. Families cannot afford to feed their children. Education is their way out of extreme poverty. Can you sponsor a child or support the feeding programme please? contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com
Advertisements
Sarah’s blog 2/1/24
There is a vast difference in ages of the children and young people who are fortunate to have sponsors to support them. However, two factors that are the same with all of them is that none have enough to eat and all are living in extreme poverty. Levison is working his way through the list and taking photos of them all for their sponsors.
Some of the youngest children are benefitting from receiving a monthly food parcel at their home to supplement what their parents/carers have. They are also benefitting from receiving clothes, shoes, soap and toothbrush & toothpaste.
Teenagers are receiving free education at Bright Futures Secondary School, free school lunches and free clothes. Secondary education needs to be paid for in Malawi so none of these young people would have the opportunity of secondary education without receiving financial support.
There are some young people who are supported who are not at secondary school but are learning skills and are receiving financial support, clothes etc.
All are able to access the weekly feeding programme. Five hundred children and young people come to the Foundation once a week to receive a substantial, nutritious meal….some walking for 15km to 20km to get there. No big charities are feeding children in schools in this area so your help is vital to these children and young people.
Could you be a sponsor and bring a smile to a vulnerable child’s face today? It’s only £25 per month to be a sponsor….or you could share that cost with a friend for only £12.50 p/m each. It’s not much to us but it is a huge gift for those we help to support. There are hundreds waiting to be matched with a sponsor to enable them to have a brighter future.
Or could you commit to just £5 or £10 per month to help ensure we can continue feeding the children? Food insecurity is becoming worse in Malawi, prices are rising and families cannot feed their children. Some girls are at risk of being married off because their families cannot feed them. Join our team of supporters and help us to help them. For bank details contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com or you can make a donation here https://gofund.me/d3cf8c3a . Thank you for supporting us to help these most vulnerable children and young people, Sarah x
Look at the difference in these two little boys. Having sponsors to give them a helping hand has changed their lives. Could you make a child smile by being their sponsor?
Advertisements
Sarah’s blog 1/1/24
Firstly let me start by wishing everyone a very Happy New Year. May we all be healthy and happy and have enough to share with those who are in need.
I want to start 2024 off by sharing photos of two little boys. You will see the difference in them.. The reason? They both have sponsors. This means that a monthly food parcel goes to their home to supplement whatever food the family have. They also receive clothes, shoes, soap, toothbrush & toothpaste.
Of course, they have access to the weekly feeding programme where 500 of the most vulnerable children are fed a substantial and nutritious meal. For many, this is their only proper meal of the week. Unfortunately, we do not have enough money to run the feeding programme more often and no big charities are feeding children in schools in that area, meaning most are suffering from malnutrition.
When we first met Brighton, he was in rags and starving. He had to be showered as he was dirty and his hair was covered in lice.
Elijah was also wearing rags and malnourished and his parents were very embarrassed that they couldn’t feed him or his siblings properly.
Thanks to two kind sponsors who came forward in answer to our appeal these two boys are doing so much better. Elijah and Brighton both have lovely smiles. They are attending school regularly and doing well.
This is the difference having a sponsor can make. Wouldn’t you like to give a vulnerable child a chance at a better and brighter future? Wouldn’t you like to make a child smile?
It’s only £25 per month to sponsor a child or young person. You can sponsor as an individual, a family or two friends can split the cost. It might be the most important decision you ever make for a child like Elijah or Brighton. Hundreds of children & young people need a helping hand. contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com
Thank you to all our sponsors for the difference their help is making. Levison started taking photos of the sponsored children and young people yesterday, so hopefully we will have a new photo of all of them very soon. Many thanks, Sarah x
At last Elijah has something to smile about…and what a lovely smile!Brighton looks so much better & it’s lovely to see him smile.
Please read about our successes and challenges and look at all the great photos of the children we help to support.
Advertisements
Sarah’s blog 31/12/23
Firstly, I would like to thank everyone who has supported us in 2023. As I always say, it’s teamwork. We couldn’t do what we do without our generous supporters. Much has happened in 2023 and we need you even more in 2024 and need to reach more supporters to ensure that the hundreds of vulnerable children we support continue to have brighter and better futures.
Here are just some of the success stories of 2023, thanks to teamwork;
75 preschool children continue to meet five times a week at nursery and are fed at each session. They each receive a bag containing; a blanket, two red t-shirts, three pairs of pants, toothbrush & toothpaste and soap. They are now also receiving two picture books as part of our School Literacy Programme. This will ensure that all homes have at least two books and that children have daily opportunities for reading and becoming confident readers.
Bright Futures Secondary School opened in November 2022 with two classrooms. Classrooms 3 and 4 were constructed and ready for term starting in September 2023 thanks to fundraising and donations. Education is free to students and they receive a free school meal each day, the only meal for many of these teenagers as they don’t have food at home.
A grant was received for a teachers’ accommodation block for four teachers has been built. Once plastering and painting have been done, will be ready in mid January.
Two plots of land, adjacent to the current land, have been purchased. One for the teachers’ accommodation and one for future building.
Over 100 more fruit tree saplings have been purchased are will be planted by young people during the next couple of weeks. Other projects promoting self-sufficiency and sustainability are being put in place too.
Solar panels were bought with grant to provide electricity to the library and the classrooms and teachers’ accommodation.
Clothes, shoes and books continue to be sent to provide for the hundreds of vulnerable children we help to support. This helps to reuse preloved items to gift to those who cannot afford clothes because of the dire poverty they live in.
Thanks to our supporters, we sent lots of sports kit, paid for and facilitated a two week rugby festival for the local schools led by the Malawi Rugby Union sports development coach, Jack Mphande.
Chambo Primary School had no clean water for drinking or washing hands. They had no toilets. Only one of their eight classrooms had desks and chairs. Thanks to two grants we applied for, they now have a girls’ latrine block, clean water for drinking and washing hands and desks and chairs for another two classrooms. We also donated exercise books and pencils and stationery for the teachers. To date, we have donated twenty boxes of books as part of our School Literacy Project. Bit by bit, life is improving for the most vulnerable children.
We continue to send money for The Feeding Programme. No charities are feeding children in schools in the rural far north of Malawi. Children are being taught to grow crops which are then used to feed them at the feeding programme.
As you can see, there has been a great deal happening and much success. We are so grateful that we have been supported to achieve the above for the children and their community.
However, the Feeding Programme has got to be our biggest ongoing challenge as, despite having asked for help from several big charities with feeding, none are helping us. Most children are suffering from malnutrition as they do not have enough to eat, the situation is getting worse. We can only afford to send money to feed 500 children once a week. Even this is getting harder as food prices continue to rise and food is scarcer. Children are walking up to 20km for this one nutritious meal of the week which includes vegetables grown by the children. We need your help to feed these children as families are really struggling. If you could commit £5 or £10 per month, it would make a huge difference to us and to them contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com or https://gofund.me/d3cf8c3a
