Expand and the Build Malawi Project...
The Build Malawi Project is now finished!
But it's certainly not over...
Build Malawi Project is now part of UK charity Expand (UK Registered Charity Number 1137120) and we are happy to announce that we are embarking on some projects in the Chisala comnuinity and in the north of Malawi!
Chisala School & Community Centre
The Build Malawi Project was finished in December 2008 and we had a very successful inauguration ceremony on the 3rd October 2008 in which Chisala Full Primary School was opened by His Excellency, The British High Commissioner, Mr Richard Wildash. However, we are still doing some exciting projects at the school and community centre!
The school is now in its third year and has over 520 students. Standard 8 have joined us in 2010 and have just completed their final exams, for which they are awaiting results. The Government has kept its word and given us a total of six qualified teachers, almost unheard of for such a new school, and one of our two volunteer teachers has recently qualified as an assistant teacher and is also on the Government payroll.
The school also has a beautiful new library with a great Chichewa (national language), Tumbuka (local dialect) and English book collection thanks to a number of schools and individuals in the UK who participated in a book drive. A special thanks to Charlie Watson and Alleyn's Junior School in London for their help in this! Reading hour is now an exciting experience for the children and adults alike who use the facilities and the library currently has 20 paying members.
As promised, we have now installed three solar panels on the library block which power outside and inside lights, as well as plug sockets. We have also donated a TV, DVD player, and a satellite dish providing Malawian TV channels that aims to promote education and an interest in Malawian and international current affairs! The school aims to use the facility to create revenue for the library and the school that will go towards a 'Solar Fund' to help maintain batteries and cables in the future.
We have been kindly donated some laptops so we can promote IT Skills amongst the older children.
We have an exciting sports project planned for next year and the school has procured a fantastic piece of land nearby for a football pitch, netball and volleyball courts. Building a little sports centre is planned next year with water taps, showers and changing rooms.
Thank you to all our supporters, who are too many to list here but you know who you are. They include many fabulous individuals (including our families!), UK Trusts, UK Schools, Milton Keynes Rotary Club, World Challenge UK, CCAP church in Malawi and some UK businesses. A big thank you to Andrew Smith who did our website and newsletters.
The Build Malawi Project
Build Malawi is also changing hands and flying solo!
We have had a great relationship with our partners, Action for the Benefit of Children (ABC) who made this project possible. Build Malawi has now decided to part ways and will become part of new charity, called 'Expand' (www.xpand.org.uk). Please see the About page for more info.
We will be emailing quarterly updates on the school's progress which I hope you'll be interested in reading. They will be posted on the website on the News page, but if you would like to be added onto the list then please email Tanya at tanya@xpand.org.uk.
You can check out update pictures on our Gallery page.
Donating
You can donate to Expand online via JustGiving. Please see our Donations page for more information and other ways to donate.
Thanks again! - The Build Malawi Project Team





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