A Party for the Elderly

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Sarah’s blog 24/12/25

Today’s post is going to be a bit of a photo and video dump as yesterday was a very busy day, but also very rewarding, for Levison and team. They held a party for the elderly.

Lots of vulnerable elderly people in the community were invited for Christmas lunch. As you may know, there is a food crisis in Malawi and all of these elderly villagers are living in extreme poverty. They don’t have enough to eat every day.

Thank you so much to the generous people who donated money to ensure this event was able to happen. There was money for a lovely lunch and for bars of soap for each person who attended. We had hoped to be able to give each of them a small food parcel to take home but hadn’t managed to raise enough to do this. Thankfully, the donations received provided for a substantial and nutritious meal. We would love to be able to do more for the elderly on an ongoing basis, maybe a party for the elderly once a month, but obviously this has a financial cost. If you would like to help with this please do get in touch contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com

These elderly people were so thankful to be invited to lunch and for being included. The lady with the walking pole in one of the photos with Levison, said to him

“I have been trying to get nice food for Christmas but to no avail. I didn’t know God, through your supporters, has prepared this for me. Only God knows.”

The lady in the red cardigan at the end of one of the tables told Levison

“This is the best meal I have ever had. So some people from far away value me as well? Is it for free or I must pay? I don’t have anything to pay for the food. God should bless them.”

Another lady said;

“Just a word for you my son. God should bless you and those who are supporting you.”

Senior Group Village Headman MweneIbuluma made a speech at the lunch. He said that he and all the villagers appreciate the efforts made by Levison, the Foundation and all the donors to support school attendance for the children. He said he is happy that the development is progressing well. He said;

“Who knew that this man will bring such a life changer to Ibuluma community reaching thousands of souls? Is this not a lesson to us all?”

Levison said some of the women had tears in their eyes as the headman was making his speech. Levison himself messaged me later to share the photos and videos and wanted to pass on his thanks to everyone for their support;

“I personally sincerely thank you so much for this wonderful event. These are the people who are vulnerable and most in need and they have felt joy today.”

As you can see, cooking isn’t straightforward and it is hard work. We are so grateful for those who give up their time to support feeding the vulnerable. This is why we need more cooking pots – they don’t last as long as our pots would last on an electric cooker – and the quantities of food needed are great. Your help would be appreciated. You can give via DonorSee https://donorsee.com/project/29519?share=1 or via our website Donate money and gifts to Changing Lives Malawi or contact me for our charity bank details contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com Whilst we can’t change the whole world, we can help this community to have a better and brighter future by giving them a helping hand towards self-sufficiency.

Thank you for supporting Changing Lives Malawi and the projects we help with. Thanks to those who supported a party for the elderly. You are a vital part of our team and we couldn’t do what we do without you. Together we can continue Changing Lives (in) Malawi. With best wishes for a very Happy Christmas, Sarah and the team of volunteers at Changing Lives Malawi x

Why vulnerable teenagers need sponsors

Whilst there is still so much to do to improve the lives of the most vulnerable, here are some of the reasons how being a sponsor can and does make a difference.

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Sarah’s blog 18/7/25

Levison sent me a graph today with information about teenage pregnancies in Malawi. I knew the rates were high but I am shocked by just how high. Chitipa District, in the far north, has one of the highest rates of teenage pregnancies in Malawi. Over half of teenage girls age 15-19 become pregnant. The actual figure is 543/1000. Since Bright Futures Secondary School opened in 2022 there have been only 2 teenage pregnancies.

As well as helping to vastly reduce teenage pregnancies, here are some of the ways that having a sponsor is helping to give vulnerable teenagers, living in extreme poverty, hope for a brighter future:

  1. Secondary School has to be paid for in Malawi. None of the students who attend Bright Futures Secondary School could afford to go to secondary school without having being matched with a sponsor to help pay for their education. There are so many more young people wanting this opportunity.
  2. Being matched with a sponsor means that, as well as their education being free, each student at BFSS, receives a substantial and nutritious school lunch each day. This, for most, is their only meal of the day, and means their families don’t have to worry about feeding them with the family’s very limited food supplies.
  3. Having a nutritious lunch each day is helping students to stay healthy and help them concentrate on their lessons.
  4. Being matched with a sponsor means free school uniform, stationery, shoes and a torch for studying at home.
  5. Being matched with a sponsor means that there is hope for a brighter future through education, instead of doing piece work in the fields for a pittance.
  6. Being matched with a sponsor means that students are kept busy at school and after school activities and less likely to get into trouble.
  7. Being matched with a sponsor means that young people have access to counselling as all have lost family members and lived through trauma. Bright Futures Secondary School takes a holistic approach to caring for the students both in and outside the classroom.
  8. Being matched with a sponsor means that girls are far less likely to be married off too young. Some families are so desperate they consider giving their daughter to an older man in exchange for a dowry to feed the rest of the family. Levison has managed to prevent girls as young as 11 being married off.
  9. Being matched with a sponsor is helping ensure young people are more literate, numerate and have skills for their futures.
  10. Being matched with a sponsor is giving vulnerable young people, living in extreme poverty, choices and chances that they wouldn’t otherwise have had.

We need more sponsors to ensure that more students can have these opportunities and have hope for a brighter future for themselves and their families. Will you help us help them please? It is only £25 per month to sponsor a young person. You can sponsor as an individual, a business or a group of friends or family. It might be the most important thing anyone ever does for that teenager. Will you make a difference to one young person and change their life? contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com .

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our sponsors and supporters for helping to make a difference to each of the students. Also, for the teachers at Bright Futures Secondary School, to Levison and the rest of the team …. a huge thank you. When we see statistics like this it is very clear that, although there is much to do, we are Changing Lives (in) Malawi. Thank you, Sarah x

S2 students received new uniform and stationery when they sat their exams recently
planting banana tubers in practical agricultural lessons
Students prepared the ground and planted sweet potato vines as part of their practical agricultural lessons. This crop helped feed them and their fellow students.

our new QR code to make a donation

International Day of Charity

On International Day of Charity will you join our supporters by donating to one of our projects. You will be helping some of the most vulnerable children in Malawi.

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Sarah’s blog 5/9/24

“Show kindness and compassion to others” is the slogan of the International Day of Charity set up by The United Nations.

As you might know, because we are supporting a whole community living in extreme poverty. Support in the rural far north of Malawi is minimal so we are trying to work with the team there taking an holistic approach. Which is why you will see me doing so many appeals for different projects. However, they all lead to the end goal of self-sufficiency and sustainability.

Currently, there is new accommodation being built for teachers as there is nowhere locally for them to rent. It’s really difficult to get teachers to come to such a rural location and of course they need to be paid!

We still have nine young people who have passed their primary school leavers exams who are desperately looking for sponsors so they can attend Bright Futures Secondary School. Secondary Education needs to be paid for in Malawi. None of the young people we support can afford to pay. Being sponsored ensures the student gets free secondary education, free stationery and uniform and a free school lunch. This is, for most, their only meal of the day and means at home there is one less mouth to have to feed.

Ensuring young people get to secondary school also means that there are far less teenage pregnancies than there would normally be and also less risk of girls being married off far too young. Even if students do not pass their final exams (of course we hope that they do), being in school has avoided these risks and students will be far more literate and numerate and have more life skills than if they hadn’t attended secondary school.

So please would you sponsor one of these 9 young people to go to Bright Futures Secondary School? It’s only £25 per month to sponsor a student. You could sponsor as an individual, or split the cost with a friend…or even 5 friends each paying just £5 per month. contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com if you’d like to give a vulnerable young person a brighter future.

Or could you help with core costs of running the school each month? Or make a one off or monthly payment towards the expense of food for school lunches? contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com

Here are some of our projects that we are hoping to get funded on DonorSee

https://gofund.me/df580f5b This is the fundraiser for our School Literacy Project.

With your help, we are Changing Lives (in) Malawi. But it’s always about teamwork and we need to on our team to support hundreds of the most vulnerable children in Malawi, many of whom are orphans. On International Day of Charity, will you help a child? Thank you for reading and supporting our work, Sarah x

Lots of the children arriving at Bright Futures Campus to be fed – it’s their one proper meal of the week. It’s not enough but all we can afford while we help set up sustainable projects.

Clothes and soft toys for the children at Bright Futures Nursery

Vulnerable students were delighted to receive new school uniform when Bright Futures Secondary School opened in Nov 22.

Lots of knitted hats!

The children were delighted to be given these beautiful woolly hats at the weekend… there are lots more on going on the next container

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Sarah’s blog 1/8/24

We have several people who knit for us from time to time…all very talented…I can’t knit and I think it’s wonderful how they dedicate their time and talents to help the orphans we support.

It can get cold at night in Malawi and none of these children have enough bedding so a woolly hat is very much appreciated and they are delighted to receive a gift.

My auntie, who lives in England, visited last month and brought lots and lots of hats that she and her friend have been busy knitting over the last few months. Another friend of hers buys pencils and other supplies so my auntie brought those with her too. There were nearly 200 hats! Amazing!

I waited to post about the hats until the container arrived with the hats that had already been sent…some were knitted by my auntie but others by talented locals from Balfron, Strathblane, Torrance and further afield. We are so grateful for each and every one of the hats, baby cardigans and blankets that are knitted with love and donated to us for the children and babies we help to support.

https://donorsee.com/project/23640?share=1 here is the link to one of our small fundraisers on DonorSee. We will be buying fabric so a group can learn to make clothes. We will also buy some wool so that the knitting group can continue learning to knit. If you could spare a small donation it would be most appreciated. Thank you so much to every knitter and for everyone who supports our projects. Enjoy the photos, Sarah x

we are very grateful for these lovely hats and for all the other beautiful knitting we receive

new hats for the children that will be packed up and sent in the next container

Say ‘no’ to child marriage

Can you help us save some vulnerable teenage girls from becoming child brides? contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com

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Sarah’s blog 10/05/24

The young people we help to support are so vulnerable and life is extremely hard for them. Levison and team are doing an amazing job, working tirelessly to try to give hundreds of children and young people a brighter future.

Maria was at risk of being married off at age 11 because her grandparents couldn’t afford to feed her. Imagine being so desperate that you’d allow an 11 year old to get married to a man. It’s just beyond comprehension. Young girls are far more likely to die during childbirth or have lifechanging injuries.

We have been thankful that sponsors have come forward to support the most vulnerable girls and that they now have a monthly food parcel going into their home to supplement the meagre supplies they already have.

However, Levison has had an extremely trying time over the past few days. One of the sponsored young people isn’t well. Levison found out that the parents were going to take him to a witchdoctor. He spoke with the parents and said that they should take him to the health centre. Levison also spoke with the village chief and he agreed that any sick children should, in the first instance, be taken to the health centre. This will be communicated to the community.

Levison also found out, when he was doing welfare checks at sponsored children’s homes, that two of the young teenage sponsored girls were being married off to men. Arrangements were already underway. Levison went to see the village chief and councillors about this illegal practice. One of the men involved has fled to Zambia. The village heads are going to remind the community about this not being allowed and that parents/carers will be taken to court. For now, these girls are safe. But the situation with families struggling is always in the background. Attitudes to child marriage need to change.

However, there are many girls, like Maria, who have been saved by having a sponsor to support them and through the selfless work and caring attitude of Levison and team. Also, through sponsorship and education, girls who are in school are less likely to become pregnant. Many girls have been saved from becoming teenage mothers by being in full-time education.

We need more sponsors to protect more girls. If you would like to help a vulnerable girl have a secondary education and a brighter future then please do get in touch contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com Please help us prevent more child marriages by sponsoring a girl who needs our help. It’s only £25 per month which is less than £1 per day. You can share that cost with a friend to ensure that as many girls as possible are saved from being child brides. Please help them have a place at Bright Futures Secondary School and choices and chances that they don’t currently have. It might be the most important thing you ever do for them. Thank you, Sarah x

Sunday lunch

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Sarah’s blog 20/03/23

What does Sunday lunch mean to you? I guess it means something different to each of us. It might be that some people are working on a Sunday so it’s just a quick sandwich. Or that your kids are involved in sport so it’s something quick to eat when you can. Are you able to sleep late and have a lazy brunch on Sundays? Or do all the family come and eat together round the table and have a roast dinner?

Whatever the traditional Sunday is at your house, I doubt you look forward to the food you will eat as much as these children do. These children are mostly orphans, living with extended family, or vulnerable children from very poor families. None of these children have a proper meals every day at home. No big charities are feeding children in primary schools in this area. This is the most substantial and nutritious meal these children will get each week.

I cannot imagine only eating once a day. I cannot imagine eating less than this meal for six days of the week. I cannot imagine going to bed so hungry that I couldn’t sleep. I cannot imagine not being able to feed my children. I cannot imagine having to walk a long distance in order to have a meal.

Some of these children have walked up to 20km for this food. And then they walk up to 20km home. We can only afford to run The Feeding Programme once a week. These children need and deserve more. The end goal for this community is self-sufficiency but, until that can happen, we need to feed these children. Up to 500 children of all ages come to receive food each week. Yesterday there were 412 came to be fed. The youngest are always fed first. How can they manage until next weekend’s Feeding Programme? Maize prices have risen and things are even harder than they were.

Can you help us please? We are asking 100 people to commit to £1 per week to help us ensure The Feeding Programme can continue and we can provide for everyone who needs food. contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com Will you spare £1 per week to help us continue feeding these malnourished children? please do help us to continue helping these vulnerable children. Thanks for reading, Sarah x

Kalanga Primary School Visit

Levison was able to visit Kalanga primary school today with clothes and books

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Sarah’s blog 07/03/23

Chambo Primary School is the one nearest to The Foundation and the majority of the younger children who are supported by The Foundation go to school there.

Kalanga Primary School is a bit further away but some children who go there also come to The Foundation. Levison had arranged with the headteacher to visit today with clothes for the children who are all very vulnerable. There were enough clothes to ensure everyone received something.

These uniforms were very kindly donated by a parent whose children went to Sinclair House School, Fulham. This school unfortunately closed during the pandemic. However, we are so grateful that these beautiful clothes have been able to be used by children in need and who will make good use of them.

There were so many boxes of uniforms donated that some have already been given out to children who attend Chambo Primary and also some of the students at Bright Futures Secondary School. The children from yesterday’s blog were given new clothes from this school too.

Levison also took four boxes of books for Kalanga Primary School as part of our School Literacy Project to help the children have access to more books and become more confident readers. The teachers were extremely grateful for all these donations and the children were delighted to have new clothes. Hope you enjoy looking at all the photos, Sarah x

A family in need – no food to give – Changing Lives Malawi

A Generous Donation – Changing Lives Malawi

100 People x £1 per week

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Sarah’s blog 19/2/23

It’s just a quick post today. I am concerned about the children we are helping to support in rural Northern Malawi. There are over 500 orphans and other vulnerable children who come to be fed once a week… that’s all we can afford.

There are no big charities feeding children in schools in that area. All children are hungry, malnourished and don’t eat properly every day…some don’t eat every day.

We need your help to continue feeding these children as food prices have gone up and so many young people need our help.

If you can spare £1 per week… please, please will you help us? 100 people, each giving just £1 per week will ensure that the feeding programme can run twice a week instead of just once. We can make a difference to these hungry children.

Please will you commit to helping us help these very vulnerable young people? If we all give just £1 per week it WILL make a difference. All the money goes to our projects – there are no salaries or admin costs with our charity… every penny will go to feeding these malnourished children.

Email contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com if you would like to change a life with just £1 per week. As a team, we can change lives in Malawi. Thank you, Sarah x

17th Feb 2023- Acts of Kindness

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Sarah’s blog 17/2/23

We should be kind to each other every day, not just on one date because someone has decided that 17th February should be Random Acts of Kindness Day. However, if I have got your attention for a couple of minutes and you have decided to read this, then please do consider our charity for an act of kindness. Here are some of the ways you could help:

  1. can you spare just £1 per week to help feed vulnerable and malnourished orphans in rural northern Malawi? We have over 500 children of all ages who do not eat properly every day. Some walk 20km to get their one substantial and nutritious meal of the week at The Feeding Programme, which is only able to run once a week. There are no charities feeding children in any of the primary schools in that area. If 100 people each commit to £1 per week then we will be able to feed 500+ children twice a week instead of just once. £1 per week… it’s not much….could you help feed a hungry, vulnerable child?
  2. £25 per month will sponsor a vulnerable child giving them more food and education and the chance of a brighter future.
  3. phase 1 of Bright Futures Secondary School opened in November. We are now fundraising for phase 2. We need two more classrooms and more latrines. Can you please make a donation to our fundraiser https://gofund.me/ece5753a
  4. or can you commit to £1 per week to help us provide a free breakfast and lunch at Bright Futures Secondary School? These teenagers do not eat at home and they cannot concentrate in they are hungry.

Your act of kindness WILL make a difference today. WILL you help us? £1 per week is all we are asking… Please commit to £1 per week as your act of kindness today. contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com If every person who read this blog committed to £1 per week then we would be able to feed more children more often. WILL YOU COMMIT £1 PER WEEK TO FEED A HUNGRY CHILD? TOGETHER WE CAN. contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com thanks for reading and helping us so support some of the most vulnerable children in Malawi, Sarah x

Look at the difference that having a sponsor has made for Maria
Please could you commit to sharing £1 per week with these vulnerable children?
Students at Bright Futures Secondary School are learning to grow their own vegetables

10 Teddies – supporting the nursery children

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Sarah’s blog 8/1/23

I’ve had a lovely donation today from a lady who heard me talking about Malawi, and showing photos, at church one Sunday. She has been busy knitting teddies for the children in the nursery as well as a baby blanket and two quilts. We are always very grateful when people have spent time & used their talents to help us support some of the most vulnerable children in rural northern Malawi.

This week, the 75 children in the nursery will receive the gifts we have sent for them. Proper records are kept, so any children who are absent, will receive their gifts another day. This way, we know that all children have had gifts when starting nursery and again when starting at Bright Futures Secondary School.

Each child will receive; a gym bag, a blanket, 2 red t-shirts (nursery uniform), 3 pairs of pants, toothbrush & toothpaste, soap and a picture book with some words in it. These children have missed out on all the stages of pre-reading that we take for granted with our children. We would love for every home to have at least two books. So you should see a post later in the week of the pre-school children receiving all these gifts.

As this is an ongoing project, I would love to be able to send a knitted teddy or other small soft toy for each of them. This would be the first toy they would have of their own. Can you help us? It would be lovely if they each had a teddy to cuddle as they go to sleep at night. please email contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com if you would like to support this project by knitting teddies for the 75 children we help to support who are age 4-6.

Or when you are shopping, could you buy some bars of soap on a regular basis? Or toothbrushes & toothpaste? Quite often, at this time of year, there will be packets of pants in the sales…we need age 3-6 please if you’d like to buy some. Are your children tidying out some of their books they’ve finished reading? Then we’d like pre-school ones for this nursery project and older books for the school literacy project please. The plain red t-shirts we are sending are either round neck or polo t-shirts that are ages 3 – 6 and are in the school uniform department of shops & supermarkets.

As these children are fed each time the nursery meets to try to reduce the malnutrition all the children suffer from, this obviously has an ongoing cost. Could you support helping to feed these children please? Could you commit to £5 or £10 per month towards food for the nursery? Any help you can give will make a huge difference. We need to build a team to support this project and these children to give them a better start. contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com Thanks for your support and commitment to helping us continue Changing Lives Malawi, Sarah x

A Christmas Party for 500

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Sarah’s blog 22/12/22

First of all I must thank a very special couple who have made today possible. They support us in several ways and are also sponsors. They paid for the food for today’s Christmas Party. Food prices are rising all the time so things are very expensive so we are extremely grateful to them for £150 they donated in order that the children were able to have a nice meal today. A goat was also killed and everyone was able to have some meat. It’s a happy day today.

I cannot imagine how much these children were looking forward to their food today. Some may not have eaten at all for a couple of days. This meal is a feast for them and the most nutritious food they get. Unfortunately, there are no big charities or agencies feeding children in schools in this area in the far north of Malawi. (I have written to them several times to ask for support for almost 5,000 in the local primary schools). So all the children are malnourished to varying degrees. The intention was that approximately 200 of the most vulnerable children, most of whom are orphans. Word spread, and soon there were 500 queuing for food, with some children walking from up to 20km away. It’s another world and we don’t realise how fortunate we are. We can only afford to send enough money to feed 500 children once a week. These children need more. They deserve more.

Unfortunately, it rained for a while today whilst the children were there. However, the silver lining is that there were indoor spaces for them to play and have their food now there are two classrooms as well as Emma’s library and Sophie’s Skills Shed. Thank you to the teachers, staff and volunteers who worked hard today to ensure that all who turned up were fed and had a great time. Unfortunately, because it was so busy, Levison forgot about all the Santa hats. He has said they will make an appearance another day. The pupils at Bright Futures Secondary School insisted on looking smart in their school uniform despite the fact that the last day of term was yesterday.

Going forward, we will require more people to support the feeding programme as costs have risen. If you would like to make a one off donation or could sign up for a monthly amount then please do get in touch contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com Or if you would like to help us build the next two classrooms in phase 2 of Bright Futures Secondary School you can email me or donate here https://gofund.me/44a92444 . We need to build the team around these children to enable them to have a better, brighter future. We cannot do that without your support. Hopefully, from these photos and videos you will see that your donations are making a difference and changing lives. If looking at these videos and photos brings a smile to your face could you ask yourself what you could do to support them?

We need sponsors to support the most vulnerable with education and provide food, clothes and welfare visits. We need people to commit to monthly donations to support the feeding programme or free school meals at Bright Futures Secondary School. Or could your company help pay for a classroom? Would you like your name or the name of a loved one over a classroom door? Also there are activities like the rugby coaching fortnight that will be happening in the spring that we need financial help with please.

We are making a difference. We are changing lives. We need you to help us. It’s always about teamwork and we all have a part to play. Will you help? contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com Enjoy and thanks for reading, Sarah x

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Emily and Catherine

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Sarah’s blog 19/11/22

This is the story of Emily and Catherine, two girls who have greatly benefitted from being part of the sponsorship programme.

When students have taken their primary school leavers exams, they are placed according to their grades. The ones who have the highest grades are offered a place at Wenya Secondary School, then after that Chisenga Secondary School.

Part of the reason Bright Futures Secondary School was built, and is so important for the community, is that there are not enough places on offer at Wenya and Chisenga for all students who passed their primary school leavers exams. Those with the best grades get chosen for a secondary school place. The rest do not get a place and have to either leave school with only primary school qualifications, or resit p8 with the hope of getting better exam results the following year and being offered a place at Chisenga. All secondary school education must be paid for. If you cannot pay, even if you are offered a place, then you cannot go. Students at Bright Futures Secondary School, who are the most vulnerable, will not have to pay any fees.

Emily and Catherine both did so well in their primary school leavers exams that they were offered places at Wenya Secondary School which was an amazing achievement for them. They have been encouraged and supported and are thriving and working hard. They have just started in 3rd year at Wenya after passing their second-year exams. They made these short videos before they returned to school and are both growing in confidence which is lovely to see.

When they were originally picked to go to Wenya school, and others were picked for places at Chisenga, I had a huge shopping list of what needed to be purchased for all the students. I suggested that Levison take Emily and Catherine with him on that shopping trip to help him. He had to hire a car as there was so much to buy, and the three of them had a great day. It was the first time the girls had been to town and the first time they had eaten in a restaurant. Good experiences for them before going to their new school.

So, if you needed proof that being a sponsor CAN change lives and DOES make a difference, then Emily and Catherine are great examples of how you could get involved and change a child’s life. There are so many others like Emily and Catherine just waiting for someone to take a chance on them and give them the gift of education. It’s only £25 per month and you can sponsor as an individual or share the cost with a friend. It might be the most important thing anyone ever does for a very vulnerable young person in rural northern Malawi. Thanks for reading and supporting, Sarah x

contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com

Please will you sponsor me? – Changing Lives Malawi

Catherine Nyondo
Emily Mkwala
Two years ago, just before starting at Wenya Secondary School, Emily and Catherine helped Levison with the school shopping list for themselves and the other sponsored young people. It was the first time they had been in town and at a restaurant for lunch. It was a great day for them.
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