A primary school building in Malawi
A close up shot of Theonas, a VSO volunteer

Welcome to Theonas' Blog

All about Theonas

Theonas standing outside a school he volunteers at

Moni onse! I’m Theonas Kalumika, an education specialist volunteer in Malawi. Before I started volunteering for VSO, I was a primary school teacher for 13 years and spent 18 years as a primary education advisor. I’m delighted to have the opportunity to update you more on how your support is changing the lives of many children.

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. 

 

Theonas Kalumika's updates

VSO volunteer Theo, student Thoko, teacher Peter and VSO volunteer Prisca.
Halifax Trading Malawi

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.

Teacher Peter, VSO volunteer Theo and student Thoko.
Halifax Trading Malawi

Life in Peter's classroom

In this update, you’ll meet Peter, one of the dedicated primary school teachers I work closely with. Peter will tell you about his experience teaching a class of 200 children and the difference the learning centre and educational tablets are making to his students. You’ll also hear about 10-year-old Thoko, who’s seen incredible improvements in his learning, attendance and enjoyment of school since the project began. 

VSO volunteer Theo and VSO staff member and Project Manager, Atu.

Meet Atu, Project Manager

In this update, you’ll hear from VSO staff member and Project Manager, Atu, who manages the education project here in Malawi. He’ll tell you a bit about his role and how the learning centres and educational tablets have helped children learn in the schools he works at.  Atu supports me in my work as an Education Specialist, and makes sure I have everything I need to support the students.

VSO volunteer Theo, teacher Peter and VSO volunteer Prisca.
Halifax Trading Malawi

Meet Prisca: A day in her life

In this update, you’ll meet my fellow VSO volunteer, Prisca, who’ll share more about her own experiences on the project. You’ll also hear more about the VSO learning centres and tablet technology, and how these are making a real, lasting difference to children across Malawi. Thank you as ever for your continued support.

VSO volunteer Prisca, teacher Peter, student Alinafe, and VSO volunteer Theo, standing outside a classroom block.
Halifax Trading Malawi

Join me on a Malawian school tour

In this update, I’ll be taking you through one of the 17 primary schools I work in. I’ll show you around the school grounds, inside one of the classrooms and a VSO learning centre, and how the children use the educational tablets. 

VSO volunteer Theo and headteacher, Artwel.
Halifax Trading Malawi

A day in the life of a head teacher in Malawi

In this update, I'll be handing you over to my friend and head teacher of a primary school in Malawi. He tells me how, thanks to you, the educational tablets have made a life-changing difference to the children in his school. 

Theonas standing outside a school he volunteers at
VSO/Halifax Trading

Transforming education for children across Malawi

In this update I’m delighted to introduce you to VSO’s education project, where me and my fellow volunteers are providing educational technology and sharing our skills in hundreds of primary schools across Malawi. The impact this is having on children’s attendance, confidence and learning is incredible - and it’s only possible thanks to your kind support.

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

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Noel
It’s good to hear about the use of iPads and tablets to improve primary school learning. These early stages where children learn to read and write and do maths are so important.
Theonas
A close up shot of Theonas, a VSO volunteer
Indeed there are more problems here which cannot be listed despite the great need to make the children acquire the basics of education. The huge classes lead to issues of class management as you might have overheard on the video clip. Here classes with seats are sometimes available for senior classes only like grade 6-8, but in some schools only grade 8 enjoys them. Noel, let me encourage you to keep on supporting VSO with your finances otherwise it is through your support that most children have accessed digital learning. We appreciate your heart.
SAV User icon
Alison
if children aged 7-9 are attending the Learning Centre in groups of 30, does that mean that each child in those year groups gets sessions? If not, how do teachers decide which children will attend?
Theonas
A close up shot of Theonas, a VSO volunteer
As for groups of learners attending sessions in the Learning Centre, take note that all learners are grouped in groups of 30 or 40 learners and each group is given an equal chance through the use of a timetable, this is where we appreciate and encourage you to continue supporting VSO so that more iPads or tablets are bought to allow more learners to attend a digital class at once. With these small groups of 30/40 learners, it is difficult and time consuming where a school has 300 learners plus because the learners will have a chance of attending one session only per week.
SAV User icon
Alison
Did the children in the 'normal' classroom need encouragement to make it sound so noisy? I imagine not! And it makes a great contrast with the Learning Centre.
Theonas
A close up shot of Theonas, a VSO volunteer
What I know is that the noise is not by design it's a class management issue where the learners have been left uncontrolled for too long despite being a large class and they are are used to making noise otherwise learners were supposed to be quiet in class. Of course with inclusive education that Malawi is practising, some learners with learning disabilities especially those with mental problems and unsettledness could be some of these noise makers but the noise is on the higher side. .Alison, this where you will see that managing a class in highly enrolled schools is a challenge here in Malawi, one teacher against 100 + learners as opposed there where you have a teacher, assistant teacher and a volunteer to manage a class of 30. However, you can see that the quietness in the learning centre provides for a good environment for concentration and focus to most learners. This is because the number of learners in the group is small and that as we support the schools in the project we emphasise that learners should raise hands if they have issues and need support of some kind.
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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