Why this school?

There was no secondary school in Mganja. This especially affected girls. If they went elsewhere to attend secondary school, they often came home with a child instead of a certificate. Girls who stayed in the village and did not go to school also became mothers at a young age. The result was that they had to live from subsistence agriculture. This means a life in deep poverty for themselves and their children.

What do we want to achieve?
By educating girls (even when they are pregnant) and young mothers, the living conditions of these girls and women, but also of their families, will improve. As a result, the living standards of the entire community will improve. That's why we want:

1. to build and manage a Community Day Secondary School for girls and young mothers in Mganja, together with the Diocese of Dedza
2. to add vocational skills such as organic farming, sewing and home economics to the standard curriculum
3. provide childcare at the school so that young mothers can take lessons
4. to build hostels for girls from remote areas

Construction

In June 2019 we bought a piece of land of almost 8 hectares and the first borehole was drilled in August of that year. Designs were made with a local architect. After an official tender, a local contractor started construction. The majority of the entire project has now been completed: eight classrooms, 1 office building, a childcare building, toilets and eight staff houses have been built. A first hostel for girls who come from far away was opened at the end of 2023. A second borehole has been drilled with a solar water system connected to it that supplies the entire campus with water. A solar electricity system has also been installed. The school is therefore completely self-sufficient.

Management and Board of Governors

The daily management of the school is in the hands of the headteacher, Mrs. Josephine Kanjala, and the deputy head teacher, Mr. Elliot Yona. They manage a team of 12 teachers. There is also a Board of Governors appointed by the diocese. The school has a parent teachers council and the students have divided leadership positions among themselves. In 2023, 100% of second-year students have passed the Junior Certificate exams. Secondary school in Malawi has four years of learning. The first students will take their final exams in 2024.

The students

The intention is for the school to grow to 300 students. The girls and young women at school are very motivated. They even come to school on Sundays to ask teachers to give extra lessons. The school has access to sewing machines. All students were able to take a sewing course. This should become an official examination subject in the future. Agriculture is already an official exam subject. At our school, girls have the opportunity to put this into practice on the spot. The management regularly plants new trees on the site together with the students. Bicycles are now available for girls who have to walk far every day.