Meet Alinafe

In this update, you’ll hear about the barriers to education faced by girls in Malawi - and how your support is helping us tackle these. I’ll also tell you about an incredible 9-year-old called Alinafe*, and how the educational tablets you’ve made possible are making a huge difference to her learning.

February's featured volunteer

Peter, Alinafe and Theonas stand outside her classroom

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.

Malawi VSO pin badge

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. 

 

February '25 volunteer update

In Malawi, poor learning conditions and a lack of resources have created huge 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. Our education project is a growing, global initiative that puts children and their educational needs first. We’re using education technology and volunteer skill-sharing to overcome the challenges that hold learners back. With your help, we’re making a lasting difference to children’s education right across the country. 

Primary school students outside a learning centre
VSO/Halifax Trading
Primary school students lining up to enter the VSO learning centre

Positive progress

At the moment, children in primary schools across Malawi are eagerly awaiting the results of their December exams which come out at the end of term in March. I always found exams nerve-wracking when I was at school – can you remember yours? Unlike me, the children at the schools I work in were feeling relaxed and well-prepared for theirs. Many even told me they enjoyed the exams. 

Their confidence is thanks to the VSO learning centres and educational tablets we’ve introduced here thanks to your support. Every day, I see students who previously struggled with their reading, writing or counting making huge progress. So, I’m feeling positive and optimistic about results day and can’t wait to hear what the children have achieved. The positive changes we’re seeing for students in Malawi simply wouldn’t be possible without your kind support – thank you for helping us make a difference. 

If you’d like to wish the children luck or have any questions for me, you can post them below in the Q&A section. 

Doreen sitting in the learning centre with an educational tablet
VSO/Halifax Trading
Girls and boys in class 2 learning on their tablets in the VSO learning centre

Girls' education

It’s vital that all children in Malawi have access to the quality education they deserve. Yet, like in much of sub-Saharan Africa, certain groups of children here face particularly tough barriers to education. For example, children living with disabilities, those from very poor families, and those living in remote, rural areas. It also includes millions of children across Malawi simply because they are girls.

Things like early marriage, teenage pregnancy, and cultural norms that place more importance on boys’ education, often force girls to drop out of school. When I was young, my sister dropped out of school in class 7, aged just 13, because she was expected to get married. Sadly, this wasn’t unusual at the time and, today, there are still far fewer girls in school than boys. 

Like my sister, nearly half of girls in Malawi are married before they turn 18. And almost one in three become mothers while they’re still children themselves. I heard the other day that less than a third of girls here make it past primary school, which is heartbreaking . Without an education, girls lose out on opportunities, leaving them stuck in a cycle of poverty that’s hard to break.

I believe education can change everything, which I why I’m so proud to work on this VSO project. When girls stay in school, they are more likely to get jobs, earn money, and make better decisions for themselves and their families. When women are educated, their children also tend to be healthier and more likely to go to school - breaking that cycle of poverty for good. 

Right now, we’re tackling some of the main barriers to education in Malawi. By providing quality resources and safe spaces to learn, along with support from volunteers like me, we’re encouraging children to stay in school. Families also see the difference we’re making to their child’s learning, so they’re more likely to support them to continue with their education. 

Thanks to your support, girls across Malawi are getting a quality education and being supported to stay in, and do well at, school. By unlocking their potential, we can support more girls to move on towards brighter futures and break the cycle of poverty for good. 

I’d like to tell you about a young girl called Alinafe, who is one of the many students you have impacted with your support. 

Alinafe standing with her two grandmothers outside their home.
VSO/Halifax Trading
9-year-old Alinafe with her grandmothers, Teleza and Eliyana, outside their homes

Alinafe's story

Alinafe is 9 years old and lives in a rural village with her brothers, mother and grandparents in extreme poverty. Their small home is built with mudbricks and a thatched roof, and they have no running water or electricity.

On a normal day, Alinafe will wake up early, sweep the house, wash the dishes and then go to school. She is in class 2 and taught by her teacher, Peter, who I work closely with. After school, she likes to play ball games with her friends. Alinafe told me that one day she’d like to become a teacher herself. 

Alinafe’s mother and grandmothers all dropped out of school when they were young. Their family couldn’t afford for them to attend and, because they were girls, they were also expected to help out in the home. They don’t want the same fate for Alinafe. They believe education is important for all children. They want to see Alinafe get a job, become independent, and follow her dream of becoming a teacher. 

“It’s important that Alinafe goes to school. It’s important she continues so she should not be like me.”
 

Teleza
Alinafe’s grandmother
Student Alinafe sits on a step and smiles while using a tablet
VSO/Halifax Trading
Alinafe learning on her tablet

Alinafe is happy that her family encourage her to go to school. There are children in her village who are not as lucky. Some don’t go to school because their families can’t afford to buy school items like pens or uniforms. Other families don’t see the importance of education for girls and keep their children at home to help with chores or care for younger siblings.  

Despite attending school regularly, before the tablets arrived, Alinafe struggled with some of her lessons. She found the classes too crowded and didn’t know how to read or how to count from 1 to 100. She didn’t have the resources or support she needed to help her learn. But now Alinafe is using the tablets and attending the learning centre regularly, she’s able to read, write names, count to 100 and even multiply and subtract. 

“I see a big difference because before she used to go to school to play but now, we see she is actually learning. She can write and even teaches us some things.” Eliyana, Alinafe’s grandmother 

I see how much of a difference the tablets have made to Alinafe’s learning. She’s made great progress and is enjoying school much more. She told me “When I started going to the learning centre, I really liked it. When I go, I am happy.”

Hear more about life as a school teacher in Malawi in Peter's blog

Student Alinafe stands and smiles outside her classroom
VSO/Halifax Trading
Big smiles from Alinafe after another great day at school

Thank you

I’d like to thank you all again, from the bottom of my heart, for your support of VSO volunteers like me. With you standing by our side, we’re able to continue our important work across Malawi and build the foundations needed to improve education for children here. Right now, you’re helping ambitious girls like Alinafe access the education they deserve. You’re helping to break the cycle of poverty. And you’re ensuring more children can grow up to enjoy happy, independent and successful lives. We simple couldn’t do any of this without you. Thank you.  

Don’t forget, you can ask me a question or send a message of support below or email sponsoravolunteer@vsoint.org. 

Take care, 

Theonas

VSO Education Specialist, Malawi

*Pseudonyms used to protect identities 

 

A close up shot of Theonas, a VSO volunteer

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

SAV User icon
Hannah
Thank you for your update. It's great to hear how much has been achieved this year. Well done!
Theonas
A close up shot of Theonas, a VSO volunteer
Dear Hannah,

Thank you for taking the time to leave me a message, it means a lot to hear from kind supporters like you.

Please enjoy a restful Christmas break and happy new year ahead.

Theo
SAV User icon
Anne
Hi Theo Thank you for the update. It was a great video. Keep up this excellent work and meanwhile enjoy your Christmas!
Theonas
A close up shot of Theonas, a VSO volunteer
Dear Anne,

Many thanks for your kind wishes. Your support really motivates myself and so many others here in Malawi to keep going.

I hope you have a relaxed, restful Christmas. Enjoy.

Theo
SAV User icon
Anonymous
It is a very good thing you do,educating the children,are there still more children who need this?
Theonas
A close up shot of Theonas, a VSO volunteer
Dear friend,

Thank you for your kind message.

So far we have made great steps to reach over 200,000 children with educational tablets, which is transforming education. We couldn’t do it without your support. We are still striving to reach more children – by 2029, we hope to reach more than 3 million children in 6,000 schools. How incredible would that be?

You’re helping to reach a goal that will transform millions of children’s lives.

Thank you for your support.

Take care,

Theo
VSO Volunteer Nitin Singh

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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