Month: February 2025

Community, Donations, Education, Fundraising, Malawi, UK Schools

Donation from High School in Scotland Towards Education Projects in Ruarwe Area

Phunzira

Phunzira has been extremely lucky to receive a donation of just over £350 raised by students at Inverkeithing High School in Scotland. Ruarwe Village was fortunate to have a visit in October 2024 from two school teachers, Madeline and Pilar, from Inverkeithing High School who forged a link between their school and Ruarwe Primary School, as well as getting involved with projects at Nyumba ya Masambiro such as dance sessions, time in the library with students and more. During their time in Malawi, Madeline and Pilar purchased a range of bright and colourful local ‘chitenge’ materials. They took these back to Scotland where the students in the Craft Club at school used the materials to make a range of items for sale. These included covered notebooks, picture frames, keyrings and more. Once created, these items were sold and the money raised donated towards education projects in Ruarwe.

In collaboration between NYM staff and Madeline and Pilar on behalf of Inverkeithing High School it was decided that the funding should go towards school student sponsorship by way of provision of School Uniforms to community students unable to afford these. While primary education is free, students’ families must provide both uniforms and school supplies such as exercise books and pens etc for the student to be allowed to attend. This provision of school uniforms to families identified as severely in need allows their children to attend school and gain their primary education.

A huge Yewo! (thank you) to Madeline, Pilar and the students at Inverkeithing High School for this generous donation, which allows for 50 students to receive a sponsored uniform.

Community, Education, Malawi

Purchase of School Curriculum Books and Newspapers for the NYM Library

Phunzira

With funding from Phunzira, Nyumba Ya Masambiro has been able to make a purchase of 24 Malawian Curriculum Text books. These have been requested by both school teachers and students to ensure access to the most up to date curriculum texts. These texts cover Biology, Chemistry, mathematics, Chichewa, Agriculture and Human and Economic Geography. We are delighted to have been able to supply these texts and both students and teachers are constantly borrowing these books for both studying and lesson planning alike.

NYM has also made a purchase of newspapers, so that community members are able to keep up to date with both national and international news and events. These too have proven very popular and wherever possible new editions will be purchased to keep the community up to date on current affairs.

Community, Donations, Fundraising, Malawi

Repairs to buildings in the aftermath of tropical cyclone

Phunzira


On the night of 10th to 11th January a tropical cyclone ripped through Ruarwe Village and its surroundings. Whilst many buildings in the village received mild damage, they were largely protected by the valley they sit in. Sadly extensive damage occurred at the Nyumba Ya Masambiro and clinic sites as they sit up the hill from the main village. The roof was ripped off the Life-skills Room at NYM, half the roof was ripped off the new Midwifes house and the whole roof ripped off the Medical Assistants House. We are hugely grateful to our donors who reached out to assist with the repairs needed to the properties as well as the replacement of items damaged and destroyed by the water ingress as a result of the missing roofs. Repairs at the two clinic residences were a matter of replacing the damaged roofing beams and roofing iron sheets. At NYM these steps were needed as well as some repairs to the damaged walls and re-limewashing of all the Life-skills room walls. We were delighted to see how quickly the community members and contractors and carpenters came together to make the repairs as soon as the supplies had been purchased in Nkhata Bay. A true demonstration of community spirit, and once again a huge Yewo! (thank you!) to our donors who made this rapid response to crisis possible.