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.
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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 – and also supports Mpemba School.
Improving infrastructure and learning facilities, including classrooms, libraries, toilets, teacher housing, and learning resources, has enabled more children to progress educationally.
The charity funds feeding programmes for over 2,000 pupils at Mpemba Primary, Chipwepwete Primary and Hope Secondary School, providing a hot mug of porridge daily, which significantly improves attendance, enrolment and concentration.
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.
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Data Protection:
We operate under the terms of UK GDPR and the DPA 2018. You can read our Data Protection Policy here.
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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:
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Gifts specifically made to cover these costs by a small number of trustees and supporters.
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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.
Meet the Trustees
SARA GOODMAN
During a year in Zimbabwe in 1991 as an accountant, I became involved with teaching young people in poor communities the importance of building healthy relationships. The passion to provide young people opportunities to reach their potential has never left me.
It’s been amazing to see how God led us to Malawi and the amazing number of people who have joined us on our journey to build into the lives of many young people from poor rural families who would otherwise not have the opportunity.
MARK GOODMAN
I am a retired management consultant. Since my first visit to Malawi in 2008, my heart has been to help children in rural Malawi gain a good education and assist families in breaking the cycle of poverty. Hence, I was one of the founding members of the charity in 2013.
I work with our building contractor to develop infrastructure for schools and for our skills centre. Additionally, I assist with the critical thinking teaching programme at the skills centre and oversee the finances of our Malawian NGO, Hope4Development.
TINA GUILBERT
Having observed and admired the work of Hope4Malawi for many years, I was honoured to be asked to join the Trustees in 2021.
I am a Chartered Accountant and have worked for 25 years in the fields of education and charity finance, both professionally and as a volunteer.
I welcome the opportunity to use any skills I have acquired to support the work of Hope4Malawi.
SHERRY SPRUNT
My background is in education, with a specialism in teaching and assessing students who are neurodivergent. I have been involved with Hope4Malawi since it began.
I am committed to improving access to education for children in Malawi. The charity’s transformative work is making a lasting difference, and I am eager to support its continued growth and impact as a Trustee.
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I started and now host the Hope4Malawi podcast.
DERRICK JONES
My background is in economics. I’ve worked in the public, private and charity sectors. I’m also a school governor.
Recognising the challenging economic conditions faced by the people of Malawi, I’m keen to see resources managed and used effectively, to provide greater access to education and skills training, and to help students and their communities to develop and live more sustainably. I hope I can help make a difference.
I’ve followed the work of Hope4Malawi for many years and became a Trustee in 2025.
REBECCA STEVENSON
I am married to Guy and have three grown-up sons. I was a primary school teacher with a PGCE, MA in Education, and TEFL qualifications. I am now a tutor and volunteer, teaching English to non-nationals.
I’ve known Sara and Mark for 20 years, and in 2024, we travelled to the Hope4Malawi project to teach English language and literature in schools. We witnessed first-hand the incredible needs there, as well as the wonderful difference that Hope4Malawi is making. I have a passion for being involved.
GUY STEVENSON
My wife Rebecca’s passion and school fundraising for Hope4Malawi led us to Malawi in 2024 to help out in the partner schools.
We saw first-hand the importance of education as a means of alleviating poverty, and English as a key enabler of that goal, as well as the wider impact of Mark and Sara’s amazing work.
I trust that my decades of professional experience in investment banking, consulting and senior positions in aviation and transport businesses can be of value as a Trustee, particularly in support of the finance function, projects and strategy.
SALLY CUNLIFFE
After a career with the BBC, I retrained as a specialist English teacher, working mainly with learners with special educational needs. I believe the training I received will benefit both teachers and pupils of all ages in rural Malawi.
The foundation of my skill set is based on a structured way of teaching reading, writing and spelling. It ensures the basics of English are secure and the weaker students receive the specific help they need. This teaching method is practical, hands-on, visual and engaging. I would love to motivate teachers in Malawi by encouraging them to be creative and kinaesthetic in their teaching.
ALUNDA YOUNG
I was born and raised in Malawi and came to the UK over 20 years ago for tertiary education in International Law.
Now married, I live with my family in the UK and I am re-training to return to the legal field, mainly focusing on social justice and social research.
The work that Hope4Malawi is doing to provide access to better education and the post-education Youth Development Programme in a rural part of southern Malawi aligns perfectly with my values and passion for social justice. Naturally, I want to see my home country make strides out of the cycle of poverty.