Transforming Chipwepwete Primary School

The latest building work is progressing at Chipwepwete Primary, which is expanding facilities by providing new classrooms, a school office, and a headteacher's office.

Over the past 10 years, Chipwepwete Primary School, a Hope4Malawi feeder school in rural Blantyre, has been transformed. Hope4Malawi first partnered with the school in 2015 to improve the learning environment and support teachers and children. Fast forward to 2024, and the school is unrecognisable. 

In 2015, Chipwepwete Primary had two run-down classrooms and a makeshift area for teaching, with no desks. Five classes were taught outside under the trees, where lessons had to stop if the weather was bad. It was well-ordered, but learning was hampered, and reflected in the poor results.

Since then, Hope4Malawi has funded five classrooms and a school library, bringing hope and opportunities for local children to gain a better education.  But, there’s still more to do.

In 2016, Hope4Malawi celebrated the completion of a new library and classroom block at Chipwepwete Primary.

With classes growing in size, with up to 150 children in some cases, there’s a great need for additional classrooms. The head teacher also has to work in a small, run-down office, and the teachers need office space to mark homework.

Thanks to an amazing fundraising effort by Trinity School in Croydon, building began in July 2024 to provide the school with a much-needed two-classroom block, a school office, and a headteacher’s office. The two classrooms will be equipped with desks and chalkboards.

A team of local builders, headed by Hope4Development builder Ben, have made great headway with the build.

As is normal, the community, led by the school committee and supported by the Village Development Committee, provide the sand for building, which is collected from the local river.

A great partnership between the local community, Chipwepwete Primary School and Hope4Development has enabled this building to progress quickly.

When children can sit in classrooms with a roof and a desk, there's a brighter future for the learners, teaching staff, and the community.

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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, resourcing projects, and student sponsorships continue to provide life-changing opportunities for children in rural Blantyre.

For further information on how to get involved, please get in touch.