All about Hope4Malawi
Supporting education and development in Malawi
Malawi is one of the world’s least developed countries, where 75 per cent of the population earns less than £2 a day. Many families struggle to buy food, and children often miss out on an education.
Our Story
In 2008, Sara and Mark Goodman visited rural Blantyre in Southern Malawi and were moved by the number of bright, ambitious children who lacked basic educational resources.
They returned to the UK determined to make a change, and in 2013, they launched Hope4Malawi to support education development in these communities.​
Early projects and growth
Hope4Malawi’s first initiative was to ensure children had access to food. The first school kitchen at Mpemba Primary School was built in 2013, launching the first feeding programmes for over 1,000 children daily.
By 2020, Hope4Malawi had funded the building of three school kitchens, six classrooms, two libraries, toilet blocks and Hope Secondary School.
​
Hope4Development and local leadership
In 2021, Hope4Development was established as an NGO in Malawi and now has six directors, three of whom are local Malawians. This move empowered the community to take ownership of the charity's work.
The team’s vision is to create a better future through education and a sustainable future for local communities. They also aim to enable children and young people to develop and thrive physically, mentally, and spiritually.
Partnership with Schools
Hope4Malawi now partners with four Government primary schools that feed into Hope Secondary School – Chipwepwete, Tapani, Chimwembe and Mafunde.
Improving infrastructure and learning facilities, including classrooms, libraries, toilets, teacher housing, and learning resources, has enabled more children to progress educationally.
Hope Secondary School and Sponsorship
Since 2017, Hope4Malawi’s sponsorship programme has enabled bright, hard-working students to continue their education.
As primary education improves, more children from rural communities are selected for secondary school, which their families cannot afford.
Hope4Malawi partners with Hope Secondary School to provide new facilities, staff support and resources, bursaries, school uniforms, exercise books and learning resources, enabling the most vulnerable students to continue their education
Sponsorships support a cycle of education that enables more children to attend school each year, progressing from primary to secondary and higher levels and then into the workplace.
Hope Skills Centre
In 2023, Hope4Malawi launched the Hope Skills Centre, near one of its partner primary schools. This multifunctional centre offers vocational skills training, work experience and social spaces. It serves as the staff base for the Hope4Development team and as a hub for community projects, helping them to bring change through relationship-building and training.
The centre also hosts the Youth Development Programme, launched in 2024, as well as an organic farm that teaches sustainable agriculture practice.
Looking ahead
This work would not be possible without Hope4Malawi’s army of supporters and volunteers, as well as the dedicated individuals, schools, churches, and businesses that provide regular and one-time gifts. This makes a life-changing difference for families in rural Blantyre.
We have amazing people supporting and working with us in Malawi and the UK to make all this happen, and we are so grateful for their dedication and generosity.
Hope4Malawi policies
Our key policies and procedures
Safeguarding:
Hope4Malawi takes safeguarding seriously, in line with the Charity Commission’s advice. We take steps to ensure child and vulnerable adult protection. You can read our Safeguarding Policy here.
​
Data Protection:
We operate under the terms of UK GDPR and the DPA 2018. You can read our Data Protection Policy here.
​
Allocation of your donation:
100% of your donations go directly towards development in Malawi to enable children to have a better future.
Charity running costs:
Hope4Malawi funds all UK running costs (and the costs incurred visiting Malawi by paid staff members) through:
-
Gifts specifically made to cover these costs by a small number of trustees and supporters.
-
Part of the Gift Aid recovered from HMRC (unless specifically excluded by the donor).
Trustee and volunteer visits to Malawi:
The costs of trustee, volunteer supporter and team visits to Malawi are self-funded, mainly by matching contributions made to the charity.