Sponsorship for higher education in Malawi

This year 23 young people who are hardworking and bright, but can’t afford to pay school fees, have access to secondary school in Malawi through Care in Action. There have been impressive results from some graduates from previous years, as they have gone on to teacher training, rehabilitation for the disabled, or employment at a tea company.

School can be a challenge to complete in Malawi. Only 54% of children make it to the end of primary school, where there can be 160 children in a class. When it comes to secondary school, fees are introduced which is another hurdle for children from low-income families. But we can help them beat the odds!

Wiseman is now studying for a diploma in Computer Engineering, a very marketable skill. He says “Without Care in Action I just can’t imagine where I would have been now. This programme helped me with all my needs for secondary school. To say the truth I am here because of this programme.”

We work with Mary Gondwe and Fatima Mauluka who manage the programme. They pay the school fees, buy school supplies and communicate with students and teachers to encourage education. As heads of thriving local community centres which are supported by Care in Action they are well placed to identify which students have the greatest need and ability.

With our help, 11 sponsored children graduated from Secondary School in 2019. The determination of each sponsored child is inspiring, as most of them have previously been chased out of school for not paying fees. These include two boys with disabilities, and to have reached secondary school when pen control is a challenge is a massive achievement in Malawi. Their main request besides fees is for revision books to help them study as they can’t rely on notes in the same way as other students.

There are real challenges, like in November one of the students was admitted in hospital and Fatima and other students went to support him. On another day Fatima’s work was interrupted by tear gas. People had rioted, breaking water taps and shops, angry at police for stopping them from taking revenge on a man who had murdered a boy after he witnessed a crime. Sometimes people erupt with frustration at their daily struggles. But when we give education we give hope for decent work and better opportunities.

A girl who was sponsored, Promise, lives with her Aunt and four cousins. They don’t understand her goal to be a biomedical scientist. They tell her instead of reading she should look for a husband and have kids. Promise has shown her determination to break the mold by achieving excellent grades at the end of high school. To go on to join the medical field she needs sponsorship for university fees, and with our help this is possible!

Our sponsors are giving Wiseman, Promise, and 23 children in Malawi and 33 children in Ukraine, the chance to earn a decent living, contribute to society and one day support their own family. We would like to make more university and vocational study accessible and change more lives for the better, so if you want to be involved do contact us. As local administrator Mary Gondwe says, “When you help an orphan to go to school you write your name in their heart.” They won’t forget it!

 

References: UNESCO education and literacy information for Malawi