Last summer we had an idea…
The lack of educational infrastructure in the communities we partner with extends beyond classrooms. Children at these schools lack resources and equipment for play. We know from research that play is critical to brain development and truly adds so much to the school day. We want our students to play, to run, to laugh, to have a stress reliever.
What if we could give them the gift of play?
Malawian children are resourceful at creating their own fun. Girls play netball; boys play soccer. It’s common to find them playing with homemade balls they’ve constructed from plastic bags and twine. Goals are makeshift using branches and twine if available, if not land marks are used for goal posts.
When an average quality soccer ball costs $113, the dream of owning one is way out of reach for these schools, and even more so for individual children.
We are thrilled to share the incredible impact your support made possible! Thanks to your generosity, we were able to provide approximately 15 soccer and netballs to schools in Malawi. Our project manager, Tresher, helped us secure the metal needed to create goal posts, nets, and netball hoops and frames at Mitembo Primary School in conjunction with the grand opening of their new classrooms. The joy this equipment brought to the students and teachers was palpable! You helped make dreams come true.
One highlight of this fundraiser was when Lisa and Jenny played a soccer game with a group of kids from Sungeni Primary School using their new ball. Their laughter and excitement upon seeing their new ball was contagious—and then to play a game together was pure delight! They were incredible little players and we know those new school balls will be a great incentive to be at school and finish their work so they can play! Another unforgettable moment was handing out balls to a group of teachers. We arrived at a potential project while school was out of session. We knew we’d miss seeing the students, but we spent some good, quality time with the teachers. Upon leaving, we decided to give the teachers some balls that they could use at the school. Their eyes lit up like children again, and they screamed, laughed, and started playing right away. The excitement was incredible.
boy with soccer ball
Receiving a brand new soccer ball is a treat! This student can’t hold back his excitement when he’s handed the new ball! In the background, teachers laugh, filled with joy, seeing how excited the students are.
These balls and equipment aren’t just “stuff.” In a region where poverty is so prevalent, we cannot fully express how much happiness and opportunity these simple items bring. Hundreds of students will now be able to enjoy them, and the new soccer field at Mitembo Primary School, complete with sturdy metal goal posts and nets, will become a community focal point, where teams gather and the spirit of education and sport thrives.
From all of us—and from the students and teachers whose lives you’ve touched—thank you for making this possible. Your support is bringing joy, health, and community to Malawi in a way that will be felt for years to come.
