Chimbowe rural school (Malawi) needs support to build a hostel for girls

Meet Chimbowe Primary and Secondary school, rural central Malawi. This is one of the least developed countries in the world, a place where sexism, low education and poverty control the local people and their opportunities in life.

My name is Tertia and I am living here in Chimbowe with other Latitude Volunteers: Georgia, Odette and Jess, trying to make a difference in Chimbowe's schools by teaching in their incredibly understaffed and inequipped schools. We struggle to give the students the education they deserve with up to a hundred students in one class, few desks and chairs and simply a blackboard. It has been an incredible experience learning to live with no running water or electricity in our grassthatched mud hutt, cooking with charcoal fires and carrying buckets of water on our heads, and even more incredible to be a part of this community, this family that now surrounds us. However, it pains us to see the locals suffer, the richer families of this village can only manage one meal a day, and although we bulk feed malnourished kids, provide contraception in a country rife with HIV/AIDS and teach classes, we can't help but think about how much more we could do.

In Malawi gender inequality and sexual abuse is tragically common. I have seen the effects of this on a daily basis. With lack of transport, students walk long distances everyday to get to school. This has held account for many girls to feel unsafe, and choose to ignore their education to stay in their homes. Chimbowe has attempted to tackle this issue by trying to build a girls hostel within the campus, but have run out of funds to finish the job. This has left over a hundred girls sleeping in classrooms. We would be ecstatic to be able to finish the building and install electricity and furniture to make the place habitable and an easy study space for the girls.

As majority of Malawians live off their land, this means there are very few people in rural villages like Chimbowe with jobs. School fees is an issue that causes bright, hard working students to be suspended from school every term due to their families lack of income. Therefore we would like to raise money to help these students along their educational journeys, through school and university fees, through our time being here and after, as well as build up the sports and schooling equipment for their education.

The kids I work with everyday have so much potential, yet lack the resources to achieve their dreams. If you think you or anybody you know would be interested in helping this community and its future, we would be so grateful. Any small donation to this account can make such a big difference, ensure somebody an education, a bed, perhaps safety. We appreciate your time and any help you may give! Many thanks from Chimbowe, zikomo.