Opportunities for further education
Why sponsor?
Only 20 per cent of children in Malawi go to secondary school. And this percentage is much lower in rural areas. Poor families often cannot afford the fees and costs of a secondary school education, so children and communities miss out.
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Hope4Malawi's sponsorship schemes provide the opportunity for bright, hard working students to receive secondary and tertiary education, giving them the opportunity to reach their potential.
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Statistics show that a child who completes secondary education in Malawi is likely to earn enough to escape the poverty trap.
How can you help?
Sponsor a student at National or
District School
Sponsor a student at Hope CDSS
Sponsor beyond Secondary School
Their future starts today
Sponsoring students at National and District schools
The brightest students from primary schools are selected to continue their education at District and National boarding or day secondary schools, some of the best schools in the country.
These are for the top students in Malawi.
Children lose out because their families cannot afford to pay the fees, transport and other educational costs of around £100 a term.
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Hope4Malawi supports 25 students at District and National schools. One secondary school headteacher says: “We are very grateful to Hope4Malawi, not just because you pay fees but also because you support the students in other ways.”
Sponsorship provides a personal connection to students in Malawi. As a sponsor, you can exchange letters and offer encouragement.
Please consider sponsoring a school student to give them a secondary education and the chance to fulfil their potential.
This is a life-changing opportunity for students like Philip. He says: “Thank you for sponsoring me. Others have been selected but cannot go; please support them too.”
Hope Secondary School sponsorship
Provide a life-changing learning opportunity for a student
In Malawi, secondary education begins in Form 1 and concludes in Form 4. The first students at Hope Secondary School completed their final examinations in 2024. The school continues to thrive, but expansion is necessary to double places to 100 a year.
Currently, only 10 per cent of children in Malawi attend secondary school. However, secondary education significantly changes livelihoods and provides increased opportunities to escape the poverty trap. As a result, students can secure better-paid jobs and families benefit.
The children selected to attend Hope Secondary are from rural families. The school fees, uniforms, exercise books, and stationery costs are unaffordable. The school also needs funds for textbooks, computers, lab materials and other educational resources.
Some families do not value education; they are reluctant for their children to attend school, preferring them to work or help run the home.
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Student secondary school sponsorship alleviates pressure on families. This can help communities see things differently and bring a new way of thinking.
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Government schools in Malawi are generally under-resourced. While the government funds teachers’ salaries, it does not have sufficient funds for fabric and resources.
Hope4Malawi’s vision is for Hope Secondary to be a well-equipped and resourced school where students can enjoy their education and fulfil their potential.
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​By sponsoring a student at Hope Secondary and writing to them twice a year, you can make a big difference for a child growing up in Malawi.
As a sponsor, you will receive letters and annual progress updates. (Please note that letters are channelled through Hope4Malawi and will be read by the sponsorship administrator).
Sponsorship costs £20 a month for the four years a student remains in secondary education. This money covers school fees, uniforms, books and stationery, extracurricular activities and exam fees. Any remaining funds are used to purchase additional educational resources to benefit all students at the school.
Of course, if you prefer not to write or receive letters, we greatly value your support in providing these vital student resources.
If you need to stop sponsoring, we will find another sponsor for the student. Sometimes, students drop out of school or don’t pass exams to progress to the next stage.
Although Hope4Malawi works with the head teacher to help students remain in school, there are times when this is not possible. We will discuss this with you if it happens.
If you can sponsor a student at Hope Secondary School, please complete the attached form and return it to Sara Goodman.
Student sponsorships can significantly improve prospects for a child growing up in Malawi. Thank you for making a difference.
University sponsorship
Congratulations to Leon. After five years at university, he was awarded his 1st class degree by the President of Malawi in April 2021. Leon is now working for an engineering firm in Lilongwe.
Hope4Malawi sponsored Leon through his years at university in Blantyre. He comes from a rural village in Malawi and would have otherwise struggled to have the funds to go to university.
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Leon says, "It's not only about the financial support but the moral, mental and spiritual support. I find joy in the fact that I know I can always turn to you for wisdom and advice. I am eternally grateful."
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Chrissy is the first girl from her secondary school to be selected for a place at University. She started at Malawi University of Science and Technology (MUST) in February 2021.
In her holidays, Chrissy works as a teaching assistant at Chipwepwete Primary School in a role funded by Hope4Malawi. She is hopeful of becoming a teacher when she finishes university.
Chrissy is also the first girl from her village to go to university. She lives with her mum and sister. Her secondary school years were tough, as both she and her mother were put under pressure for her to be married, rather than go to school.
We are delighted to be able to support Chrissy and reward her mum's determination. She now studies at university and is a role model for an alternative future for the girls in her village.​​
Hope4Malawi sponsors 10 students at university who were previously sponsored through secondary school. These students commit to work on other Hope4Malawi projects during their vacations to encourage younger students in their studies. If you benefited from university education and want to pay it forward, please consider donating to our university fund. Both lump sums and monthly amounts can be given. University fees, accommodation and living costs are around £1,200 a year for four years.