Developing Hope Skills Centre

The development of the Hope Skills Centre is a focus for Hope4Malawi in 2024. 

Work began in April to build a teaching block at the centre, ready for the new Youth Development programme courses starting in September. This building will include a full IT suite, a tailoring room and a bike maintenance workshop. Additionally, there will be teaching space for bigger groups and breakout groups.

A team of 30 local builders are working hard to complete the block, opening formally in September. The community is committed to the project and is providing sand.

In addition to building new facilities, the Hope4Malawi team has been busy

delivering and developing a full range of vocational, business, teacher training and faith-based courses.

A three-day training event was held recently for the ten local chiefs from the Villages Development Committee. This was an opportunity to share and discuss gender equality issues and the importance of encouraging girls to attend school, focusing on the training and support provided through Hope4Malawi’s Freedom programme.

Twenty-two students completed two weeks of Life Skills and business training in April.

An organic future for farming

The 22 students attending the new Life Skills and Business course at Hope Skills Centre in April learnt about the benefits of farming organically with compost rather

than fertiliser. With climate change affecting crop production, compost increases the fertility of the soil; it is rich in nutrients and retains more water. 

Students spent time in the classroom and out in the fields, learning about the organic farming techniques used to develop the agricultural land at the centre.  Hope Skills Centre also benefits from having a solar water pump, making watering in the dry season easier.

On completing the course, Cuthbert (pictured centre) said it had changed his thinking: “I learnt about composting in class, experienced hands-on training in the field and saw the impact of using compost. This course has changed my mindset. I won’t be using fertiliser again.”

Aubrey with the first crop of maize. He leads the agriculture programme at the Skills Centre.

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Can you help a child in Malawi?

Thanks to the kind support of our partners, sponsors, fundraisers and volunteers, Hope4Malawi's school building, resourcing projects and student sponsorships continue to provide life-changing opportunities for children growing up in rural Malawi.

For further information and ways to get involved, please contact.