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2024 – DEVELOPMENT, CHALLENGES, AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT
January 2025
The year 2024 at Nyaudzudzun School has been filled with activity and challenges. By the end of the year, the teachers' housing and new toilets were completed. Next, we will focus on terracing the school grounds and building stone walls to prevent erosion, as heavy rainfall and flooding continue to threaten the school area. Additional concrete has been allocated for the construction, and the villagers are committed to sourcing natural stones to strengthen the fences. While significant progress has been made, our school, with 778 students, still faces a severe shortage of teaching spaces.
Throughout the year, donations enabled us to acquire new sports equipment and team uniforms for the football and volleyball teams. We also received textbooks and teacher guides, but the need for learning materials remains immense.
School meals have been one of our biggest commitments, and in 2024, we were able to provide a daily meal for all 778 students. This would not have been possible without the support of food sponsors and monthly donors, whose contributions are crucial to ensuring the continuity of the meal program.
As the number of students grows, the need for additional toilets has become urgent. In March 2024, we began the construction of 12 new toilets – six for girls and six for boys – to improve hygiene conditions and the well-being of our students.
OFFICIAL HANDOVER OF SCHOOL BUILDINGS AND NEW DESKS
September 2024
The Ministry of Education has officially granted us a hand-over certificate for our two school buildings, meaning that the facilities we built are now officially under the management of the Malawian government. This is a significant step for our school.
At the same time, new government regulations required us to acquire a total of 60 new desks – 30 for each classroom. We are very grateful for the donations we received, which enabled us to purchase the desks quickly. Unfortunately, the lack of adequate facilities remains a challenge: three classes still do not have their own classrooms, and teaching takes place in the dining shelter, under a tent, or even under a tree outside. Our goal is to continue fundraising and development work to provide all students with appropriate learning conditions.
LEARNING CHALLENGES AT THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR
August 2024
The students celebrated the end of the school year on July 26, 2024. The program featured student-designed performances, including singing, poetry readings, and other acts that brought joy to everyone. At the end of the celebration, the students enjoyed a special meal: rice and goat meat. This was a great delight for many and marked the perfect conclusion to the school year.
The end of the school year always makes us reflect on the challenges of education in Malawi, where resource scarcity poses significant obstacles to learning. The size of class groups, in particular, is a major issue – a single class can have an average of up to 100 students, which makes teaching and individualized learning difficult.
The state of Malawi's education system in 2024 is concerning: 83% of first-grade students cannot read syllables, and 92% fail to read a single word. This has led us to consider how we could help improve learning outcomes.
We want to ensure that teachers have access to teaching materials and that students have the opportunity to use books at home as well. Therefore, we decided to provide each student at our school with textbooks in three core subjects: Chichewa and English languages, and mathematics.
CONSTRUCTION PROGRESS
June 2024
Our local contact, John Alimoni, has taken a leave of absence from his regular job to focus on volunteer work. He has been overseeing the procurement of building materials and supervising the construction work to ensure that everything progresses according to plan.
The construction of the teachers’ duplex has been ongoing since spring and got off to a strong start under Alimoni’s leadership. He has assembled a dedicated team of masons, with workers coming from the nearby town of Balaka. Alimoni reported that the worksite has been filled with enthusiasm and a positive spirit.
During the summer, construction paused due to workers’ holidays, but it will resume at full speed afterward. The next steps include installing window and door frames, flooring, and plastering. Finally, doors and window glass will be fitted. Additionally, an outbuilding behind the duplex has been constructed to house kitchens and washing facilities. Traditional latrines will be built nearby to ensure practical and functional living conditions.
In the photo, Fagilesi Masauko is watering bricks on April 1, 2024.
SPRING NEWS
March 2024
The number of students at our school has grown once again, and we now have 632 children enrolled. New students have joined us from nearby schools as well as from families relocated from flood-affected areas.
At the beginning of the year, six new girls' latrines were completed, a project that had been ongoing since the previous year. Following this, expansion work on the boys' latrines began, and six new toilets are currently under construction.
During the spring, we received a significant donation that enabled the long-planned construction of a teachers' residence. In rural Malawi, distances are long, and having accommodation near the school improves teachers' working conditions and supports the continuity of education.
The sustainability of our school operations depends on fundraising events and donations. The support from monthly donors and food sponsors has been invaluable. Some of the most important fundraising events last year included the Mahdollisuuksien tori fair, Runoviikko Market, Maalaismarkkinat, Kekrijuhlat, and the Christmas Market in Kajaani. The funds raised from these events have made many school development projects possible.
NYAUDZUDZU SCHOOL’S YEAR 2023
December 2023
The year 2023 brought significant challenges but also major progress in the school's development. One of the most important achievements was the completion of a new two-classroom school building, which helped alleviate overcrowding. Additionally, the school welcomed a new teacher, Evereen Mafaiti, who serves as a mentor for girls, supporting their education and well-being.
School meals, consisting of likuni phala porridge made from a maize-soy blend, continued throughout the year and remained a crucial pillar of student welfare. The funding for school meals relies heavily on donations from food sponsors, whose support has been invaluable.
Improving learning outcomes is a key goal for us. In the spring, our school participated for the first time in national standardized tests, but the results were weak. Nsanje, the poorest district in Malawi, struggles with a lack of resources, large class sizes, and limited support. Teachers are committed to providing additional lessons, and we decided to supply all students in grades 4–6 with textbooks in Chichewa, English, and mathematics.
The effort to enhance learning continues with determination, focusing on improving both the learning environment and educational materials.
BUSY TIMES IN THE GARDEN AND BUILDING LATRINES
September 2023
The school’s vegetable garden was re-established after the flood damage. New crops were planted, and now beans, peas, mustard and rapeseed leaves, sweet potatoes, cassava, and bananas are growing. In the future, the garden will serve not only as a learning environment but also as a means to produce food for the school and generate funds. The income from selling vegetables can be used to purchase new seeds and pesticides.
The lack of toilets has been a significant issue. We sent funds to build 12 new traditional latrines—six for girls and six for boys. Digging began in July, and by September, the first latrines were already completed with roofs.
Additionally, the school held an Open House Day, allowing parents and community members to learn more about school activities. Polio vaccinations were also administered at the school, playing a crucial role in promoting student health.
ARJA AND PAULA'S VISIT
May 2023
In May 2023, members of our association's board, Paula Fisk and Arja Tuurala, traveled to Malawi to observe the school’s operations and assess its current needs. During their visit, several significant projects and development initiatives were carried out.
Paula and Arja donated seven bicycles to the school's teachers. Many teachers face long and exhausting walks to work, so the bicycles greatly ease their daily commute and allow them to dedicate more time to teaching.
The visitors also inspected the school’s well and vegetable garden and engaged in discussions with the teachers and staff about the school's future development plans. Additionally, they visited a nearby public school that utilizes various sustainable development solutions. These insights and ideas were later discussed in a meeting at Nyaudzudzu School and could help improve school operations and student well-being in the future.
The photo shows Paula, teacher Elisabeth, and Arja at Nyaudzudzu School.
FLOOD DESTRUCTION IN MALAWI
March 2023
In March 2023, the southern regions of Malawi experienced exceptionally devastating floods when Cyclone Freddie struck the area. The storm and the heavy rains it brought caused widespread destruction to homes, farmland, and infrastructure. In the villages surrounding Nyaudzudzu School, the floods swept away household items, clothing, and food supplies. Fortunately, no lives were lost within the school community.
We quickly organized an emergency relief fundraiser, which enabled us to provide food, warm blankets, and construction materials to the families most affected. The floods disrupted schooling for a month, but since the school buildings remained intact, the school served as a temporary evacuation center and a food aid distribution point. A total of 427 families received food assistance, and 50 families were supported in rebuilding their homes.
Our local contact, John Alimoni, and teacher Thomas Fodya coordinated the relief efforts together with the villagers. The impact of this swift and tangible aid was immense—parents and community members felt that we genuinely cared for them during this difficult time.
The photo shows the school’s vegetable garden submerged in floodwater.
future visions
January 2023
Since the initiation of our school activities, we have taken on the responsibility of procuring vitamin-enriched soy-corn flour for the daily school meals of our students. The Malawian government is unable to provide school meals, and in impoverished areas, many families can only afford one meal a day, usually consumed in the evening after work. This situation makes it challenging for students to concentrate on their studies. The provision of school meals also encourages parents to send their children to school.
The quality of education in our school is overseen by the Malawian education authority, which has employed teachers and a headmaster at our school. We follow the official Malawian curriculum for our teaching. Classroom sizes are large, with up to a hundred students in a single class, totaling 437 students across five grade levels. On a positive note, we have acquired textbooks in English and Chichewa for lower-grade students, making Nyaudzudzu Junior Primary School one of the few primary schools in the region where every student has their own textbook!
In December, we celebrated the end of the fall semester and rejoiced in the arrival of the school supplies we had sent to the school. Students turned their gaze towards the future by drawing pictures of their own visions for the future.
In January, a new academic year began, and our school welcomed a new teacher, Hessen Nguwo. Next, we are eagerly awaiting the first harvest from our school garden. We have planted fast-growing leafy vegetables to diversify school meals, and fruit trees for future yields. As fundraising progresses, we plan to construct two additional 2-classroom school buildings and two teacher duplexes. This expansion would allow children to continue their education into secondary school and teachers to commit to our school for longer periods. Additionally, we plan to allocate funds for the acquisition of rainwater tanks to improve water supply.
In the photos, you can see the harvest from the school garden, our new teacher Hessen Nguwo, new students at the beginning of the school term, and students presenting their future vision drawings during a lesson.
TEACHERS GETTING READY
October 2022
The new semester is in full swing!
Our school currently has 438 students and six teachers.
The teachers of our school from left to right:
Brighton Khofi, Benson Mononga, Maria Guta, Thomas Fodya and Elizabeth Mangani. Mark Chikumbutso is absent.
towards the new semester
September 2022
The second school building of the Nyaudzudzu school is getting its finishing touches. The roof is finally finished! Final work on the floor and walls is underway.
The children will return from vacation on October 10, 2022 and start the new semester. The goal is to have the classrooms of the second building ready by then. The next goals include acquiring more desks and building a cooling ceiling. One class will still start the year outside under the shelter of the canopy when the new first graders are admitted. The state will also provide us with one more teacher for the new school year.
The journey here has been full of challenges. One of them has been finding permanent, committed employees for the construction. This has delayed the completion of the building and caused unexpected additional costs. The global price increases have been reflected in the steep rise in construction costs in Muona. In addition, structural poverty, weak democracy and deep-seated corruption have put our operations to test. Things don't always work as we would like, but we remind ourselves how big an impact the school has already had on the future of the children of Muona.
The Fingo organisation's project that focuses on building ownership of local people in the development of their community will end in December of this year. Lead by of our intern Bhumika, we are compiling teachers' stories on how the books and other teaching materials have helped improve children's reading skills or how the garden could be used as an aid in teaching and eventually as an addition to school meals.
new development with fingo
June 2022
The Local Innovations development project, funded by Fingo (the umbrella organization of Finnish non-profit organizations), has gotten off to a good start in Muona. The core idea of the project is empowering local communities to take charge on initiatives and implementation for the developmentof an area. In March our contact person John Alimoni and school teacher Thomas Fodya organized a training for 57 participants, including all our school's teachers, parents, students, village leaders, partners and school committee members.
Our association's work and funding for school construction, meals, and clean water was praised. In the brainstorming sessions the participants raised issues that felr important to them e.g. the need for textbooks, nutritious food and drop out rates of students, especially girls.
In May, one of our long-standing wishes came true when the school's students received their first textbooks, which make studying at home after school possible. The school received a total of 400 textbooks and 8 teachers' guides.
The school's garden has also taken its first steps towards blossoming. Sowing has been done and we received seedlings of fruit and shade trees and other plants at the school, including mango, guava, lemon, peach, avocado fruit trees and palm trees. Flowers will be planted around the teachers' office building. The tools and supplies needed to establish and maintain the garden have been paid for from the Fingo project funding budget. Fruit tree seedlings are paid for with specific donations. The school's vegetable garden facilitates education about nutritious food for both children and parents, while vegetables and fruits add variety the children's school meals. This is made possible by the school's well that provides irrigation water and the eco-toilets that will start providing fertilizer over time.
fresh water and school meals
February 2022
The wonderful story of Nyaudzudzu School continues - there is now a tap providing pure water in the school yard!
Building a well has been our goal for years, but we had to prioritize other construction projects until now. The extreme heat of the last few months in Malawi and the rundown well in the village encouraged us to act now. We made a deal with a local well drilling crew, and the anticipation of finding water began. After many days of hard work, the group hit rock at a depth of 18 meters and there was still no water in sight. It took hard negotiations, but the school committee, village leadership and engineers decided to break the rock. The drillers continued to dig down to 27.5 meters by hand, where they finally found about 4,500 liters of clean water resources. The new plan worked! This came at an additional cost, but we needed water. The children started a new semester on January 4, 2022, and for the first time they received clean water from the tap in the school yard.
School meals are another big cause for celebration for us. We were finally allowed to start cooking in the school kitchen - for the first time during the pandemic. The women on the school committee have organized cooking shifts of two women. Our contact John Alimoni and teacher Thomas Fodya emphasize the importance of school meals for children. Many of the school’s students come from poor families and the food delighted them beyond words. Organizing meals increases children’s attendance at school, reduces school dropout rates, and encourages learning.
In January the Nsanje region was hit by a powerful tropical storm and viscous rainfall. As a result of the storm, the whole country was left without power for more than a day as Malawi’s main hydropower plant had to be shut down because of flooding. Schools throughout the country were also closed for the day. Fortunately, the floods did not reach Nyaudzudzu school, but the nearest flood-affected area remained 16 km away. You can find videos of the flood damage in the surrounding areas on our Facebook page.
CELEBRATING OUR FIRST YEAR
October 2021
Nyaudzudzu Junior Primary School has now been running for a full year! It’s been a remarkable time for the 307 children and five teachers, the local community and our organization. The building and running of the school is a result of hard work and commitment.
Covid 19 shut down the school for a couple of months during the pandemic year but we are happy to be fully operational again. In the summer temperatures in Malawi can rise to extreme heights but the ceiling of our school building turned out to be an unexpected superhero. It has helped keeping the building cool enough for classes throughout the hot periods. The next group of first graders will start in January 2022 and our goal is to have the second school building finished by then. Right now we are working on the roof trusses.
The next challenge is drilling a solar-powered well by a nearby riverbed. The well would guarantee access to clean drinking water and enable starting a little garden and planting trees in the school area. A special committee will be appointed to take care of the maintenance of the well.
We are sending big packages of school supplies in a Malawi-bound container still this year. The packages include a lot of art supplies like pens, watercolors and paper that we hope will help unleash the children’s creativity.
Below you can see images of the everyday life at the Nyaudzudzu school, the second building under construction and school meal delivery.
THE SCHOOL IS OPEN!
October 2020
The school is open! Nyaudzudzu Junior Primary School in Muona, Malawi opened its doors for the first students on the 12th of October. Five teachers and 140 pupils started the semester in the two finished classrooms.
The construction work still continues. In the summer we were informed that to open the school we would need to provide a work space for the teachers. Thanks to our local contact person John Alimoni the building could be completed before the opening. The kitchen and lunch hall buildings were finished just in time for the semester start as well.
The Covid-19 pandemic is visible in the everyday life of our school. The semester kicked off a little later than expected as all schools in Malawi had to close. We are also currently not allowed to organize school lunches. Instead every student is given a monthly portion of soy-corn flour blend to bring home.
The school opening has been a significant experience for the whole community. The children’s joy and eagerness to come to school has been immeasurable. Teachers, parents, community leaders and school officials have also expressed their excitement. The donated school supplies like paper, pencils, books and teachers’ office supplies were received with enthusiasm. Parents, teachers and pupils have been given guidance on the use of the eco toilets and composting.
MOVING AHEAD WITH THE BUILDING PROCESS
August 2020
The big opening day is getting closer! Or goal is to start our first semester in September 2020 - depending on the Coronavirus situation in Malawi.
The first school building is complete and the first teaching positions have been filled. Buildings for a teachers’ office and a kitchen/lunchroom are currently under construction. We are working on a plan for drilling a well and aim to have it working by spring 2021. The next item on our list is constructing another school building with two more classrooms. Muona would then have its own four-grade Junior School and the children of the village could start their school journey at a local school.
All 66 mahogany and steel desks are now done. The manufacturing of the desks at a local workshop has been great way to include local expertise and craftmanship into the project and has sparked excitement about the school in the community. Two eco-friendly outhouse toilets have also been completed.
Handing the school over to the local authorities is an important future milestone that we are working on. After the handover Malawi school officials will hire the teachers and pay their salaries. Our organization will still be responsible for providing the school lunches and uniforms. We want all the children to have an equal opportunity to take part in the education, without having to worry about food or clothing. 200 school uniforms have already been made by local tailors in Muona. The meals would be cooked and served by volunteers.
The global CoVid-19 pandemic is taking its toll on Malawi as well as our process but we are getting very close to starting our first semester!
