Whilst staying with former Strathclyde student Thomesena O'Byrne at Open Arms Infant Home in Maldeco, Malawi, we were introduced to a wonderful man by the name of Viktor Nyanyaliwa. He moved to the Lakeshore area with his wife the matron of the Infant home a few years ago and has since established a small school.
Victory Primary is open to all and provides essential education that has not previously been available in the area (Mangochi has over 50% illiteracy). The trip to Victory was humbling, teaching the children was an unforgettable experience.
The school believes "that education provides the foundations for a child's intellectual, emotional, social and physical development and is a fundamental human right" and succeeds in making sure the children of Maldeco are afforded this.
Many of the children at the school cannot afford to eat never mind pay school fee's, but thanks to Victory and their feeding programme they get at least one meal a day.
The one thing etched in my memory however is the lack of supplies the children have access to, per 6 person bench the kids had one pencil that they shared and writing on scrap paper and tatty halved school jotters.
Before we left the headmaster arranged for the children to take part in an assembly to thank us for our visit, seeing how happy they were just to be at school was beautiful, as we were leaving they sang the victory goodbye song (check it out here!!!).
In order to help the school and help her thrive we are asking for people, if they can to source supplies, a pen and pencil or a book would mean so much.
For more info visit our website and check out latest news, there are also lots of pictures from Victory Primary available on Flickr
Any supplies can be sent to Students for Malawi, USSA, 90 John Street, Glasgow, G1 1JH where they will be packed and shipped to Victory primary and will make a real difference.