Category: Donations

Community, Donations, Education, Healthcare, Malawi, Youth

Phase Two Complete: Menstrual Health & Hygiene Program Now Reaches All 10 Primary Schools

Phunzira

Phunzira is delighted to share the successful completion of Phase Two of our menstrual health and hygiene program in partnership with Supreme Sanitary Pads, a social enterprise based in Nkhata Bay that produces reusable menstrual pads locally.

Following the impactful rollout of Phase One in six primary schools within the Nyumba Ya Masambiro (NYM) catchment area, Phase Two has now been delivered to the remaining four primary schools—meaning that all 10 primary schools in the area have now received the education and distribution program.

Following the training received in phase one, phase two was taught and rolled out by Stanley and Shidah from Nyumba Ya Masambiro. As in Phase One, the program was delivered to both boys and girls, with a mixture of joint and separate sessions to ensure sensitivity to local customs while actively working to break down stigma and misinformation surrounding menstruation.

In addition to student sessions, local ambassadors from the school mothers’ groups were trained to ensure the sustainability of the program. These ambassadors are now equipped to continue delivering menstrual health education within their schools and communities, strengthening long-term impact.

Each student who participated received a reusable sanitary pad pack containing:

  • 1 lined tote bag (which can also be used as a school bag)
  • 5 reusable sanitary pads
  • 2 pens
  • 2 pencils
  • 1 exercise book
  • 1 eraser
  • 1 pencil sharpener

As before, boys participating in the program were encouraged to pass the sanitary pads to sisters, mothers, or friends who could benefit from them—fostering understanding, support, and shared responsibility.

Each pack provides enough reusable pads to manage a monthly period, with pads lasting up to two years when properly cared for. The packs also include educational guidance on menstrual hygiene and safe usage. By providing a reliable, washable, and long-lasting alternative to disposable products or chitenge rags—which are commonly used and highly prone to leaks—the program helps ensure dignity, comfort, and significantly reduces the risk of school absenteeism during menstruation.

With the completion of Phase Two, this initiative has now reached every primary school within NYM’s catchment area—marking a major milestone in our mission to make education more inclusive and equitable.

Supreme continues to operate as a true social enterprise: every purchase supports local employment and reinvests profits into the business and further educational outreach. We are proud to continue working alongside them to address menstrual health challenges, break stigma, and help girls stay in school.

This achievement represents a significant step forward for the Ruarwe community. We now look ahead to finding the funding with the view to expanding the program to the two secondary schools in the area and to continuing menstrual health education for future cohorts of students.

Community, Donations, Education, Fundraising, Healthcare, Malawi, Volunteers

Volunteers Jeremy and Norma assist for 3 months in Ruarwe

Phunzira

Nyumba ya Masambiro and Ruarwe Health Centre were delighted to host volunteers Jeremy Dobbs and Norma Coward for three months. Jeremy and Norma joined us from the UK for July, August, and September 2025. A retired GP and midwife respectively, their main aim was to spend time supporting Paul Kabuzi and the medical team at the health centre, but once they got to Ruarwe, they got stuck in with so much more.

Initially supporting Paul in seeing patients, and supporting midwife Dan with antenatal appointments, care, and teaching, as well as the distribution of reusable maternity pads, they then took on reorganising the clinic, which needed all hands on deck following both Covid-19 and a subsequent cholera outbreak. They provided funds for much-needed medications and organised and funded the repair of all inpatient beds, as well as the toilet and shower plumbing systems at the clinic.

Meanwhile, in the afternoons, they both got stuck in at Nyumba ya Masambiro. They helped to reorganise the library, creating new labels so that all the books could be easily found and facilitating the distribution of excess books to Bunga CDSS, Khondowe CDSS, and Stepping Stones Primary School. They painted two beautiful murals on the library walls and refreshed the existing ones, which had faded over time. They worked with Stanley, the NYM nursery school teacher, to teach phonics, nursery rhymes, and early reading skills to the children, and then headed into Ruarwe Primary School to paint two murals there as well at the request of the teaching staff.

We would like to extend a huge thank you to both Jeremy and Norma for the incredibly generous gift of your time, your financial contributions, and your energy during your stay in Ruarwe! Yewo chomene! We all look forward to welcoming you again in the future!

Community, Donations, Education, Fundraising, Malawi, Nursery

Upwards of 35 Nursery School students this academic year

Phunzira

We are delighted to announce that in this academic year, 2025–2026, Nyumba ya Masambiro’s nursery school has 35 children enrolled – the maximum capacity.

Over the years that NYM has been in place, a number of other nurseries have opened within Ruarwe and the NYM catchment area. However, due to the prohibitive cost of covering both the staff members’ salaries and the porridge meal, these have all closed within a short period of opening. Nyumba ya Masambiro has been able to maintain the nursery as a result of ongoing financial support from Phunzira.

Within the community, there are calls for NYM to open a second nursery class, as there is growing demand for children to attend the nursery at NYM. At present, this would be an unsustainable cost for NYM and Phunzira, but we would be very happy to accept donations towards the nursery and all our other ongoing activities at NYM.

Do get in touch for more information about donating to Phunzira.

Donations, Education, Malawi

Donation of Early Reader Books to the Library

Phunzira

We’re thrilled to announce the donation of over 30 early-reader books to the Nyumba ya Masambiro library, thanks to the efforts of our current volunteers Jeremy and Norma!

From very first A,B,C and early word books to more complex books for children in the first years of primary school, these books will help to spark curiosity, support foundational English and literacy skills, and help young children fall in love with reading from the very beginning.

Early reading is one of the most powerful tools we can give a child. It’s about more than just learning to read—it’s about growing confidence, expanding vocabulary, supporting cognitive development, and laying the groundwork for success in school and beyond. Children who have access to engaging, age-appropriate books are far more likely to thrive both academically and socially. Children from the community frequently ask to come and read with volunteers in order to improve their understanding and English language skills. It is wonderful to have a new supply of books, which children can read both independently and with any volunteers at NYM. 

The books donated by Jeremy and Norma will make a big difference for the young learners who visit the library each day. A huge thank you to them for taking the time and energy to collect all these incredible books and for bringing them out to Malawi, and to everyone who continues to support this journey. Together, we are creating a space where reading is celebrated and learning never stops.

Community, Donations, Education, Healthcare, Malawi

Menstrual Health and Hygiene Program

Phunzira

Phunzira is excited to announce a new collaboration with Supreme Sanitary Pads, a social enterprise based in Nkhata Bay that produces reusable menstrual pads locally. Through this partnership, we have provided a menstrual health and hygiene education program as well as the distribution of reusable sanitary pad packs to schoolchildren within the Nyumba Ya Masambiro catchment area. 

Of the 10 Primary schools within NYM’s catchment area, 6 have been selected to run the first education and distribution program. Two trainers from Supreme Sanitary Pads have come to Ruarwe to run the menstrual health and hygiene education program at the 6 selected schools, as well as training local ambassadors, who can continue to provide the education in the future. The program is taught to both boys and girls, with some sessions separate and some together as is appropriate and considerate of social customs, whilst also working to break down stigmas. Each attendee then received a pack which includes: 1 lined tote bag, which can be used as a school bag, 5 reusable sanitary pads, 2 pens, 2 pencils and 1 exercise book, 1 eraser and 1 pencil sharpener. The boys included in the program can pass on the sanitary pads to sisters/mothers or friends who can use them. On this occasion the funding allows the program to reach 600 students within the area. 

Each pack includes enough pads to manage a monthly period and the pads last up to two years and come with educational guidance on menstrual hygiene and safe usage. These pads not only ensure dignity and comfort but also significantly reduce the risk of school absenteeism during menstruation. And because they are washable and long-lasting, they’re a cost-effective, eco-friendly solution compared to disposable alternatives or chitenge rags commonly used in these rural areas, which are very prone to leaks. 

Supreme operates as a true social enterprise—every purchase supports local employment and reinvests profits back into the business and educational outreach efforts.  We’re proud to work alongside them to address menstrual health challenges, break stigma, and help girls stay in school.

This launch marks a significant step forward in our ongoing mission to make education more inclusive. We look forward to raising further funds in the future to allow us to expand the program to the remaining primary and two secondary schools in the area.

Donations, Education, Fundraising, Malawi, Nursery

New Nursery Uniforms for NYM’s Youngest Learners!

Phunzira

Following ongoing requests from the Nursery School parents, Nyumba ya Masambiro has successfully purchased brand new school uniforms for all of the Nursery School children. Uniforms play a vital role in fostering a sense of belonging, equality and school identity, helping to build a positive and focused learning environment. 

The nursery school at NYM provides foundational education for dozens of children in the local community, setting them on a strong path for future academic success. With early childhood education being a critical component of lifelong learning, initiatives like these make a lasting impact. We want to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who made this possible. While this first round of uniforms was purchased by NYM, going forward they will be purchased by the Nursery School student’s parents, though no child will ever be turned away from NYM’s nursery for not having a uniform.

Community, Donations, Education, Malawi

Uniform Donation Supports Students in NYM Catchment Area

Phunzira

Two teachers from a school in Inverkeithing, Scotland, who visited Ruarwe in 2023, organised a generous donation to Nyumba ya Masambiro through the sale of Chitenge items made by their High School Craft Club. As agreed, NYM has put the money towards a range of new school uniforms, which have been provided to a number of vulnerable and low-income students in the region.

For many families, the cost of uniforms can be a barrier to consistent school attendance, because while education itself is free at primary level, parents are expected to pay for uniforms, exercise books, pens and pencils etc. This donation helps ease that burden, ensuring that more learners feel equipped and confident as they take part in their education.

The uniforms were made by a local tailor here within the community, meaning that this donation not only allows some students to attend school, who would otherwise have been excluded, but also contributes to the local economy. We’re incredibly grateful for this thoughtful contribution, which supports our wider efforts to make education more accessible to all children in the communities we serve.

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, 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.

Community, Donations, Healthcare, Malawi

Malaria medications donation to Ruarwe and Khondowe Health Centres

Phunzira

This malaria season has seen a very sharp rise in malaria cases as a result of various factors including the change in climate. This is a nationwide crisis, which has unfortunately coincided with a Forex and a fuel shortage, hampering the purchase and distribution of the malaria treatment Lumefantrine and Arthemeter (LA). Phunzira has been able to make a donation of LA to both Ruarwe and Khondowe clinics, to hopefully see out the rest of the malaria season.

This donation of medications coincides with a nationwide government initiative to distribute mosquito nets to all households, which started in the Ruarwe area at the beginning of November. Alongside the education provided by the clinic staff at the start of every clinic day we hope to see a drop in malaria rates and no fatalities. We are grateful to be able to help the wider community at a time of need such as this, and will continue to focus on education for the whole community about the importance of using mosquito nets correctly and prevention methods community members can take to reduce their risk of infection.