Ufulu course for teenagers launches at Tapani Primary

Following the successful launch of the Ufulu (Freedom) programme at three of Hope4Malawi’s partner primary schools in rural Blantyre, Tapani Primary is now the fourth school to introduce the innovative health and wellbeing course for teenagers. 

The 12-session course targets girls and boys aged 11 to 14, and focuses on physical, mental, and reproductive health and wellbeing.

These primary schools are in rural areas, but Tapani Primary is the most remote. The school is miles from the main road and is difficult to reach by car. 

To deliver the course, the Hope4Development team either has to walk to Tapani Primary, around 30 to 45 minutes from the closest drivable road – a bumpy, muddy track – or they can take a motorbike taxi, as a bridge has been built over the river on the track.

The Ufulu programme at Tapani Primary will run similarly to the courses held at other partner primary schools this year, with the course finishing in early July. Children who attend receive a bun and a drink, which gives them energy for the afternoon.

As part of these sessions, the children are encouraged by a short devotional on what God says about them in the Bible. They learn through games, dramas and crafts that they are known, special, important, chosen, a child of God, forgiven, made by God, valuable, unique, loved by God, blessed, and that they have a purpose and can make a difference in their world.

The team is led by Harriet, Hope4Development’s Ufulu course lead and mentor, with support from Idah, our educational support worker, Bosco, Tapani School librarian, and two Youth Development Programme students on work placement.

Tapani Primary will be the final school to host the Ufulu course this year. The annual programme will restart in 2026 at all four Hope4Malawi feeder primary schools – Chimwembe, Chipwepwete, Mafunde and Tapani.

Valuable feedback from parents

Leading up to the launch of the Ufulu programme at Tapani Primary, Harriet, supported by Charis and Idah from the Hope4Development team, hosted a meeting at the school for the local village chiefs, Standard 6 parents, teachers, the Parent Teacher Association, and the mothers’ group.

It was important to gain support for the programme and children’s education in general.

Previewing the diagrams and resources helped everyone to understand the course content and ask questions. This was also an opportunity to inform the parents and chiefs about some of the problems teenagers face. 

Puberty is a difficult time for young women in the rural community. The team briefly explained a woman's cycle, and the different phases she goes through, as well as looking at some 'myth-busting' statements about menstruation. 

Many of these parents and community members have not attended school or had an education, so these themes and ideas were new to them.

The parents’ overall feedback was extremely positive. They felt the topics covered would be more awkward for them to teach their children, so they are grateful to HopeMalawi. 

The course will run at Tapani Primary on a Monday afternoon, until July.

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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.

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