Building work is underway at Hope Secondary School

The latest phase of building work is underway at Hope Secondary School.

Hope Secondary School in Mabala Village opened in February 2021. Through a longstanding partnership with the Ministry of Education, Hope4Malawi has continued to develop this government-run secondary school into what it is today.

It’s a great working school, but now it needs further development. In September 2025, it is expected that over 100 children from Hope4Malawi’s four feeder primary schools will be eligible for secondary education. But there are currently only 50 places available at Hope Secondary School! 

The latest phase of work is now underway at the school to build four additional classrooms, storerooms, a school hall, and additional toilets. The first classrooms need to be built in time for the new school year.

Currently, six teachers live on-site, but more teacher houses are needed as the school is 5km from the tar road. These facilities will allow for expansion to a two-form entry.

Providing a school hall is a major requirement for a bigger school. This will provide space for school assemblies, parent meetings, open days and for sitting exams. 

Previous development has provided four classrooms, a science block, an administration block, toilets, running water and five teacher houses. Solar panels provide light and power, enabling students to continue their studies after dark. There is a fully resourced science laboratory, library and computer room that offer motivational learning opportunities rarely available at other schools. 

Hope4Malawi has a strong connection with the school. As Sara Goodman, Projects Director, explains: "Hope Secondary School is the only school we have funded from scratch and then handed over to the government. It was built in 2020 and opened in 2021.

“I sit on the Board of Governors; we sponsor a third of the students by providing school fees, and we have a significant partnership with the school. When we are in Malawi, we attend staff meetings and hold bi-weekly online meetings with the head and deputy when we’re in the UK.”

The build schedule

Hope4Development’s contractor, Ben, is leading the build, supported by local builders and labourers. “We’ve employed a big team on our build projects at the school before, many of whom are known to us, which helps,” says Mark Goodman, Operations Director.

Hope CDSS - Classroom 1 and 2 – March to August.

Hope CDSS - School Hall - May to October. 

Hope CDSS - Toilets - September to November.

Hope CDSS - Classroom 3 and 4 – start May to June slab (to be continued when sand and water are available), maybe in March 2026, after the rains are finished.

It can be challenging getting materials to the site. The school is located a distance from the tar road, along a dirt road, with hills and bridges to negotiate. This is why building work is primarily done in the dry season. 

Another challenge is the supply of water. A solar pump powered by solar panels at the school is used to extract water from the borehole, but there is often a lack of water in the borehole.

The community collect and supplies the sand for building as part of their contribution to the programme, which is a government requirement. This works well, but it’s a struggle for them to provide the amount of sand needed for such a big project.

Community involvement plays a role in supporting the success story and gives everyone involved a sense of value for what they are helping to achieve.

Making progress with the build.

---

Can you help a child in Malawi?

Thanks to the support of our partners, sponsors, fundraisers and volunteers, Hope4Malawi's Youth Development programmes, school building projects, resourcing initiatives, and student sponsorships continue to provide life-changing opportunities for children in rural Blantyre.

For further information on how to get involved, please contact us.