There are 2 ways to sponsor a student:
1) Individual Sponsorships 2) Scholarship Fund

Simeon Banda’s graduation – March 2024

Dear Maria;

I am happy to write to you this Easter season and Alleluia is our Song. I will be glad if you are doing fine. Here; we are all doing  fine. It was just on 30th March that I lost my Aunt so we had the burial ceremony on 31st. So I was in Mzimba on 31st to pay the last respect to my only beloved sister to my Father.

I write to express my sincere gratitude for the graduation gift you sent me so that I too  participate and enjoy with friends on the great day we had.  We had our graduation on 13th March in Zomba. I went there on 12th and I was accompanied by cousins who stay there in Zomba.  It was and will remain the great day in my life as I’m the first person in my family and village to graduate from the University. So I was very happy getting my degree and looking  at all that was happening. It was along journey.

I would also like to thank  my sponsors and the entire malawi twin team for their support since I started my journey of University studies. You all have not got tired of me and everything was reaching me in its proper time that I don’t get disturbed in my studies.

In special way; May I also express my sincere gratitude to the late Monsignor Fr Denis Chitete who was just like my Father and Brother.  He was so concerned about my education.  This was deemed after my secondary education when Late Mary woodHouse was no longer able to manage pay my University education.  Late Denis fought hard and gave me hope that things will work out. And indeed it worked and now Iam with you to the last minute of my studies.  He encouraged me in many ways and He could at times invite me to the cathedral where I could spend time with him. May his soul continue resting in peace. 

My Mother; sisters and the whole family are also thankful for the great things you have done to me. It’s only joy that has filled in them for now their only son has made it  and will bring about change in the family.  It is our wish that we see you all come to Malawi. My mother; sisters and I will always be praying for you and the whole Malawi twin team. 

Lastly; I wish you all a happy Easter. May the Lord God bless you always. 

Yours Simeon Banda 

Maggie Mwambeni’s graduation – March 2024

Maggie Mwambeni gaduated with very good grades in Nursing and Midwifery

Good news from St Anthony Parish – March 2024

Greetings from St Anthony Parish, Changoima. I have some good news to share with you; Lenard is now at Nasawa Technical College doing Brick Laying. And Suzana will this April be at Magomero Community College. She will study Early Childhood Development and do tailoring as a minor. We thank God it has worked. Looking at their grades and the stiff competition for places in colleges, we have been lucky.

Our currency, the Kwacha has been going through devaluations and this is affecting the cost of living and the school fees have been adjusted.

Our Secondary School Students are all in School, we have no dropouts. Next week Wednesday they will close for the second term holidays.

Our sponsorship numbers are growing

– November 2023

This academic year (2023/24) we are sponsoring 53 secondary school students:

• 23 students from Changoima Parish
• 11 students from Karonga Parish
• 14 students from Matumba ( Fr. Alfred’s previous parish)
• 5 students from Kanyama Parish.

From January 2024 another 4 students, in tertiary education

• 3 in Community colleges
• 1 at University. These students will start in January 2024.

Justina Veremu

I am Justina Veremu, born on 12^th December, 2008. I come from Mkomeko Outchurch – Kanyama Parish, the group village headman Mkomeko, Traditional Authority Kasumbu. I am the 4^th born in a family of 4 children; 3 boys and myself. Both parents are living, but separated. I live with my dad, a subsistent farmer.

I did my primary school education at Makota and Mkomeko Catholic Primary Schools. I am in Form 1 at Makota Community Day Secondary School. I thank you so much for helping me with the school fees. I promise you that I will work hard in class. God bless you. Yours faithfully, Justina Veremu

Vincent Kachaje

I am Vincent Kachaje. I come from Lumwira Outchurch (Under Kanyama Parish), Makhuyura village, Traditional Authority Kasumbu. I am the 1^st born in a family of 3 children, a boy and 2 girls. I am 15 years old, born on 3^rd March, 2008. Both parents are living and subsistent farmers. I did my primary school education at Makota Catholic Primary School from standard 1 to standard 8. I am now in Form 2 at Umbwi Secondary School, in Dedza District. I thank you so much for helping me with the school fees. I promise you that I will work hard in class. I will always pray for you. God bless you. Yours faithfully, Vincent Kachaje

Simeon Banda’s greetings from the Polytechnic – November 2023

It is with great joy that I’m writing to you this moment.  I rejoined the college on the 17th September while the semester was almost over.  But I made every effort to make myself through the system. The school mood was activated in me and it didn’t cost me time to catch up.  On the 4th of  October I successifully defended my final year project. This gave me zeal to continue working hard. And I wrote my end of year exams from the 17th of October   to  26th October. So far the exams were fine and I will make it come the exam results. On the side of assignments  and other assessments; I participated in almost all assignments except for  one lecturer whom assured me that she will retrieve my previous course work grades.  But all in all I wrote well and it is with great certainty that I will do well.

I arrived home on Saturday in the evening.   I found the family  fine and are very happy seeing me having completed my studies. It is a thing they never imagined. 

I want to express my gratitude to you  and the whole Malawi twin team and my sponsors for the unwavering support you have rendered to me since the time I started my studies.

Above all I thank God and his Church for all this to come to pass. With God’s guidance and mercy I am writing to you today. Yes; my education  can only be articulated on the spiritual point of view.  While at college; I was involved in several positions at the church and I  served as the Catechist for two years at our college church.  During this time I had the opportunity to learn a lot about the church and it’s teachings. It was a blessing for me to serve in such positions. No wonder today God is allowing me to say my story. I thank God for everything  and in everything   .  May he take care of you and continue guiding his church      .
The exam results will be  out by mid December.  I will share with you once they come out. And I will keep you updated on any development to emerge. Lastly; I wish you all a nice stay. May the Lord God bless you all. Yours SIMEON BANDA

Easter greetings from Frank Paul – April 2023

The joy of the risen Lord be with you you all.

My pleasure to let you know that besides my agribusiness endeavors, I’ve also secured a short piece work with karonga Diocese as an Out grower project coordinator for a project implemented around kaning’ina forest in Nkhatabay district. This is at least keeping me occupied for the mean time.

Unlike the previous message, karonga has now received good rains and there’s hope for a better harvest of rice if it persists.

Kind regards to everyone

Frank

Frank Paul Mwakila’s internship in Israel

Report: 8th October 2022

Dear Madam

Greetings!
With much pleasure, I write to express my gratitude for the opportunity to stay in Israel for one year. It was a long period with routine activities of farm work and studies. At times the farm work was so intense and hard, but we persisted.
Central to my stay here was to gain practical experience on farm operations. Hence the program is hysterically called learning by doing. I thank God for the knowledge gained.

From the farm work, I was able to make a bit of some savings and it’s my pleasure to share with you:

1. Bought a rice farm in the village ( 2 acres)
2. Started building Mum’s house in the village. It’s almost done. Once finished, will be able to share with you.
3. Secured some land for construction where I intend to build a hostel for rent in the near future.
4. Started an agri-products enterprise (maize and rice) though it’s season based and on small scale.
5. Some savings for my initial start up what I get back home.

These are some on the list of my success activities while in Israel. However and unfortunately my Visa to UK was declined of which I had wished to share much on all the activities and my business models that I would like to venture into when I get back home. I would have loved to share with you and see the prospects of getting the proposal done. In a nutshell, it’s a hostel near a university campus and with an ever increasing intake of students, there’s high demand for accommodation places. With the Malawi standards, the investment is not scary as it would be elsewhere in Europe, yet the returns are worthy to reckon. I will be more than willing to share with you more details about the project including what is at hand.

My flight was scheduled to be on 10th October next week. However, it has been shifted towards the next weekend because of the Jewish holidays. Will update you on this.

Special thanks to all Malawi-Twin family for supporting my trip to Israel. Have been able to realize a lot in my life within this year because of the opportunity to come here. I don’t take it for granted and may God shower upon each one of you his heavenly graces. I still hold the optimism to visit you in the near future. If all goes well, I’ll consider flying from Malawi.

Yours
Frank Paul

Photos of some of our sponsorship students: May 2022

New Year Greetings from from Frank Paul – 1st January 2022

Happy New Year. 🎉🎉🎉. 2021 was a wonderful year in my life. Full of memories and success both academically and social life. I attribute all this to your help and commitment to better our lives. I sincerely appreciate. Though we ended on a sad note with the passing on of Fr Denis, we pray for the eternal repose of his soul.

Extend my New Year regards to all members of the Malawi-Twin family. With best wishes
Frank Paul

Thanks to your generosity, Malawi-Twin is now sponsoring 25 girls and 15 boys,
a total of 40 pupils (October 2021)

In October 2020 Malawi-Twin sponsored 22 secondary school children and 3 university students.

Fr. Denis is overseeing 9 girls and 8 boys & Fr. Alfred 16 girls and 7 boys

Letters from our sponsored students

Dear Sponsor,

My name is Moses Eletsani from Matumba village. I am 17 years old. We are seven children in our family and I am the last born. My parents are poor and the struggle to get money for my school fee.

I did my primary school education at Kadothi Catholic Primary School and I am now in Form 2 at Magomero Community Day Secondary school (CDSS). Thank you so much for helping me in paying my school fee.

I will always pray for you. Stay blessed.

Yours faithfully, Moses Eletsani

Dear Sponsor,

My name is Thomas Chimeta aged 19. I am the last born in a family of five children. My parents are farmers by occupation. I come from Kanjinga village in the parish of Matumba. I am a catholic student learning at Magomero Community Day Secondary School (CDSS). I am in form 1 and my desire is to reach the university level and get employed as a teacher.

Thanks for helping me in my studies. With you in prayers.

Yours faithfully, Thomas Chimeta

Dear Sponsor,

My name is Lucia Chibwazi from Lyabunya village Traditional Authority Kachere, in the district of Dedza. I am aged 15 and I am the 5^th born in a family of six children. My parents are farmers and find difficulties in paying for my school fee. I am in Form 1 at Chimphalika Community Day Secondary School (CDSS).

I learnt my primary school education at Lyabunya primary school. I am from Lyabunya Church, one of the out stations of Holy Angels (Matumba) Parish.

Thanks for the help of the school fee for my education.

God bless you. Yours faithfully, Lucia Chibwazi

Dear Sponsor,

I am Milica Steven from Genda village Traditional Authority Kachere in the district of dedza. I am aged 15 and I am the 1^st born in a family of four children. My mother and father are subsistent farmers.

I learnt my primary school education at Chimwangalu primary school and I am now in Form 1 at Chimphalika Community Day Secondary School (CDSS). Here is my photo:

Thanks for supporting my education. I will always pray for you.

Yours faithfully, Milica Steven

Photos from Magomero Community Day Secondary School (CDSS)

Photos from Fr Alfred of some of our sponsorship students

The pictures above are for form 4 boys & girls from Magomero taken during today’s Mass at their school, praying for their good health & success. It was Fr. Cosmas Mkanda, an assistant Priest who celebrated the Mass. It was so fascinating. With love & prayers, Fr. Alfred

I hope all is well with you amidst covid tagedy! The two pictures above were taken yesterday on 22nd October 2020 during Mass @ Chimphalika Community Day Secondary School (CDSS). These are form 4 students from Chimphalika CDSS who are anticipating to commence exams next week Tuesday. We, therefore, had a Holy Mass special for them praying for their good health & success.

Malawi-Twin sponsors support 22 secondary school children and 3 university students. 8 boys and 9 girls in Fr Denis’ parish and 5 girls in Fr Alfred’s parish October 2020

Will you please help us to change this by sponsoring a student in Malawi?

Malawi is one of the least developed countries in the world with 50.7% of the population living below the poverty line.  This is one of the lowest-performing nations for literacy in sub-Saharan Africa.  

School fees pose a huge burden to families who struggle to raise enough money to send their children to secondary school, as government only fully funds primary school.  In addition to the prohibitive fees, a lack of secondary schools in the country means that many students need to walk or cycle great distances each day to attend school (sometimes more than 10 miles), which hugely impacts on attendance and study time.    They will happily do this because they are so keen to gain an education

Since 2003, the Malawi -Twin team has been co-ordinating a programme to sponsor the education of many children in both secondary school and university. With the invaluable generosity of our sponsors, many bright students from very deprived backgrounds, have been able to succeed academically.  They are now working in their communities as Catholic priests, a doctor, nurses, teachers and social carers, in secretarial and other careers.

With your support, we would like to continue this important project, aiming to help as many students as possible through secondary education.  Secondary students must study for four years to gain the Malawi School Certificate of Education (MSCE). In some circumstances a promising student may need an extra year to achieve a higher grade in the examinations.

There are two ways in which you could sponsor a student …

Individual Sponsorships

To sponsor a student in a Community Day Secondary School, we are asking you to give £75 per year for a period of four – sometimes five years.  The students we will support come from the most underprivileged families and the sponsor will have access to all the information regarding their backgrounds, as well as reports of their school progress whenever possible.   A photograph of your student will also be supplied.

Scholarship Fund

Malawi girls face further challenges and dangers with schooling; the long distance to school increases the risk of sexual harassment and rape.   Many young girls drop out of school due to unwanted pregnancy, early marriage and contracting diseases such as AIDS.   Also, a gender-based division of labour at home implies that girls are more frequently withdrawn from school to undertake household chores.   

Therefore, girls are encouraged to study as boarders, benefiting from safe accommodation, additional tuition and regular meals.

The Boarding fees added to the PTA fund bring the total cost of secondary education to £200 per year.

Thinking of the welfare of the girls in Malawi and wishing to give them equal opportunities, we have created the scholarship fund.    This way,if you cannot commit to an individual sponsorship, you can still make a positive impact in the education in Malawi, contributing to build this fund.

We suggest a monthly contribution of £10, by standing order, to the Corpus Christi Church bank account.

Your donations will be administrated by the Malawi-Twin sponsorship team and used exclusively to jointly sponsor girls in boarding school.

Other donations

Any other donations will be gratefully received and will go to the Scholarship fund.    Cheques need to be payable to Corpus Christi Church and either posted to me or left at church in an envelope addressed to me.

All Donations to our sponsorship fund can be gift aided.

To offer support in any of the options mentioned above or for further information, please contact me via email post or phone.

We hope you will embrace this project and help a child in Malawi to have a better future.

Maria Neves

Sponsorship success story….

Greetings from the Polytechnic – a letter from Simeon

I would like to thank you for you are always praying for me and always available to support me. We closed the semester on 27th March. I wrote well the exams and its my hope that Iwill do well. I arrived home on 28th March. My sisters and mother are all greeting you.

I would also like to inform you that the school is yet to administer the exams for the first years who have not finished writing their examinations due to the effect of the presidential declaration of the state of disaster of Coronavirus which commenced on 23rd March. The 1st years started late writing their exams. So the school has not communicated the opening date for the next academic year. At first the tentative opening date for the school was 3rd August, 2020. I will be often writing you to keep you updated.

I would also like to inform you that if all goes well I will be starting 4th year the next academic year. And its a year that I will be going to do my attachments in 2nd semester. And its a year we start our Degree. I am remaining with two years to complete my studies.

Lastly, I would like to wish you all the best may The Lord God protect you and your country from Coronavirus. Let’s also pray for the complete healing of the whole world from all the diseases and troubles faced. Just 3 cases have been reported yesterday in Lilongwe. Its my Prayer that it shouldn’t go far. Greetings to the Malawi Twin team. Yours, Simeon

Frank Paul Mwakila, second born in the family of four children and the only son. My parents are mere small scale farmers in the village where until now, I live with them. With God’s grace, I managed to secure a place to study at St Patrick’s Seminary. After my high School education in 2010, I joined the major seminary where I studied Philosophy. Unfortunately, I did not proceed to study Theology, rather I was withdrawn in 2014 after my philosophy studies. God’s ways. It was then, in an attempt to make ends meet for myself, that the Monsignor Fr Chitete was kind enough to help secure sponsorship for my studies in the public university. My life in college could have been unbearable without the support.

I’m in the second semester of my third year, studying Agricultural Economics (four years’ program). If all goes well, I’ll complete my undergrad studies next year in August. My studies are progressing well and I hope all will be fine. It is also my pleasure to let you know that I’ve been elected the President of the students’ union for the Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources. It’s all God’s grace and I don’t take it as a definite privilege. Thanks and may God bless you and the Malawi-Twin Project family.

Paul gives special thanks to his sponsor & family, all parishioners from Corpus Christi Parish and the sponsorship coordinators who have all contributed toward his well being.