A look back at 2024: A time for reflection
In this update, we look back at this year and reflect on some of the wonderful achievements that we've accomplished together - thanks to your support. You can watch a short video to see for yourself how valuable your gifts are.
November's featured volunteer
Moni onse - hello everyone! I’m Theonas Kalumika, VSO Education Specialist in Malawi, and I’ll be taking you forward on your Sponsor a Volunteer journey. Read on to find out how, with your support, we’re giving children here the education they deserve.
In Malawi, poor learning conditions and a lack of resources have created barriers to children’s education.
Over two thirds of students don’t finish primary school and those that do often lack the skills needed to thrive as older children and adults. Many primary schools have classes full of hundreds of students but only one teacher, meaning many children get left behind in their education, and eventually drop out altogether.
By supporting children with educational tablets, they're taking huge leaps in their learning. I was very excited when I heard about the work VSO is doing in schools in Malawi, and ever since I started volunteering I've been able to share my knowledge with everyone here. I can't wait to update you on how our work here in Malawi is going, and how your support is helping change children's lives.
November '24 volunteer update
Halifax Trading Malawi
Project update
Did you know the Malawian academic calendar is the same as the UK’s? That means children here are also finishing up their first term of the academic year. They will have their first set of exams in December, so I’ve been busy helping students to prepare.
Thanks to support like yours, schools that have received tablets in the past are continuing to use them, meaning that children are seeing huge leaps in their learning and are feeling positive about their upcoming exams which is a great indication of improvement!
Halifax Trading Malawi
I’ve also been supporting in refresher teacher training sessions and have observed them working in learning centres with ease. In turn, students are always enthusiastic when they get to go to the learning centre – they visit in groups of 30 at a time, three times a week. They queue up outside eagerly, wash their hands and take off their shoes before they enter, and patiently wait for a tablet and headset to be handed to them. It’s very sweet to see how happy they are to learn.
VSO is also delivering tablet batteries, chargers and replacement headsets to ensure the technology is in working order and schools are operating smoothly. It’s fantastic to see all our hard work pay off and the truth is, we couldn’t have we couldn't have made transformative changes without you by our side.
Some incredible achievements so far
As we almost reach the end of 2024, I look back in awe at what we’ve managed to achieve with you by our side. Of course challenges have come up this year, but it has been an incredibly successful time overall.
A snapshot of what we’ve accomplished so far:
• The project is supporting 515 primary schools across Malawi.
• Over 3,700 teachers trained to use educational tablets so they can effectively support in learning centres.
• 15,000 solar-powered educational tablets provided.
• Over 217,000 children have accessed e-learning on the educational tablets.
• Reading skills have increased by 10% and numeracy skills increased by 15% in three years.
• To support learners with disabilities, 11 wheelchairs were distributed to 10 schools.
• Successfully developed a sustainability plan to share with all 515 schools to outline how to manage and care for technology.
I’m sure you’ll agree we’ve made good strides in transforming education for children here in Malawi. We couldn’t have done it without you. Thank you for standing by us as we make lasting change for Malawi’s future.
To thank you for your ongoing support, I’d like to share a short video with you to show how life-changing your gifts are. Click the video below to see how far your donations go.
From us all here in Malawi to you – please know how grateful we are for your valuable support. We can’t thank you enough for giving the children here a brighter future ahead.
I’m looking forward to winding down as we near the end of the year. I’m hoping to spend quality time with my family and to rest and recuperate ahead of a new year ahead. Here’s to seeing what goals we’ll strive for in 2025, with you by our side.
Speak soon,
Theo
VSO Education Specialist, Malawi
Statistics from Project Report 2024
Want to ask a question?
VSO’s Sponsor a Volunteer team will share your message with the VSO volunteer and get back to you with a response. Your email address will not be used, disclosed or transferred to any VSO personnel, it will be stored securely in accordance with VSOs privacy policy. A sample of messages including display names will be published to the Sponsor a Volunteer homepage each month.
Your latest questions answered
Hi Theo, Thank you for your Email and I will start my response by mentioning I have a Great Grandson, Christian names Theodor Norman. You volunteers are giving your countries a promise of a better life in the years to come. Be proud of yourself Theo.
Theonas
Dear Norman,
Ooo that's nice to hear, Norman. It is very inspirational and encouraging to hear about Theodore, who is 3, doing great work with a tablet computer. Rarely, can you find a child at 3 using a tablet, here, you may hear such ages to be at a day care centre.
Norman, I am 60 now. My life has been spent in teaching and supporting education related projects. I was once an inspector and advisor of primary schools hear in Malawi before I joined VSO. I had at one point in my life visited UK when I was doing some studies. I lived in Luton for five years from 2009 to 2014. I liked being there and learnt many things. However, when my Visa ended I returned to my home, Malawi. I hope one other day I will revisit UK and meet Mr.Norman, God willing and keeping fingers crossed.
Norman, honestly you right, learning through the tablets makes children to learn fast and quickly because from my experiences the learners learn at their own pace and they are entertained as the learn, this makes them to develop great interest in the lessons . Indeed, if things continue going on like this, we may have a better Malawi. At this juncture let me thank you sincerely, Norman, for the support you give to VSO, it is making children here in Malawi and other parts of the world access tablet usage. Thanks, thanks a lot for this kindness.
Hope to reach 80 one day, like you, despite the tough conditions we are experiencing.😜😜
Greetings to Theodor.
Regards
Theo
Ooo that's nice to hear, Norman. It is very inspirational and encouraging to hear about Theodore, who is 3, doing great work with a tablet computer. Rarely, can you find a child at 3 using a tablet, here, you may hear such ages to be at a day care centre.
Norman, I am 60 now. My life has been spent in teaching and supporting education related projects. I was once an inspector and advisor of primary schools hear in Malawi before I joined VSO. I had at one point in my life visited UK when I was doing some studies. I lived in Luton for five years from 2009 to 2014. I liked being there and learnt many things. However, when my Visa ended I returned to my home, Malawi. I hope one other day I will revisit UK and meet Mr.Norman, God willing and keeping fingers crossed.
Norman, honestly you right, learning through the tablets makes children to learn fast and quickly because from my experiences the learners learn at their own pace and they are entertained as the learn, this makes them to develop great interest in the lessons . Indeed, if things continue going on like this, we may have a better Malawi. At this juncture let me thank you sincerely, Norman, for the support you give to VSO, it is making children here in Malawi and other parts of the world access tablet usage. Thanks, thanks a lot for this kindness.
Hope to reach 80 one day, like you, despite the tough conditions we are experiencing.😜😜
Greetings to Theodor.
Regards
Theo
Dear Theo, Thank you for your April newsletter. I am very impressed by the valuable service you and your colleagues are doing in Malawi. The children are obviously gaining enormously from the new educational technology you are providing. Thank you.
Theonas
Dear Jenny
Oooo, that's nice to hear, Jenny. Your encouraging words will be shared to my colleagues and I am pretty sure that this will empower us all to work well through our hardships and efforts in the field. Continue giving support to VSO so that some rural children may access the basic education knowledge and skills. We salute you.
Regards
Theo
Oooo, that's nice to hear, Jenny. Your encouraging words will be shared to my colleagues and I am pretty sure that this will empower us all to work well through our hardships and efforts in the field. Continue giving support to VSO so that some rural children may access the basic education knowledge and skills. We salute you.
Regards
Theo
Thank you for your report. Congratulations on the wonderful work you are doing. Long May you continue Regards Ganesh
Theonas
Hello Ganesh
Thank you so much, Ganesh, for your encouraging words. It is very kind of you to have time and read through my report. Let me also say that your support Ganesh, is doing wonderful work here; allowing some children access the education basics in a modern way. All because of the support you are giving. It is not easy when it comes to thinking about the resources and environment for the teaching and learning process in general.
Thanks alot, you can ask things for your information or knowledge about the situation here.
Regards
Theo
Thank you so much, Ganesh, for your encouraging words. It is very kind of you to have time and read through my report. Let me also say that your support Ganesh, is doing wonderful work here; allowing some children access the education basics in a modern way. All because of the support you are giving. It is not easy when it comes to thinking about the resources and environment for the teaching and learning process in general.
Thanks alot, you can ask things for your information or knowledge about the situation here.
Regards
Theo
Did you know?
We bring about lasting change not by sending aid, but by working through volunteers to empower communities in some of the world’s poorest regions. You can read more about VSO’s areas of work and discover more about our projects here.
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