Until now, there was no secondary school in Mganja, Malawi. This school gives 400 female pupils in eight classes, i.e. 100 per school year, access to higher education. It is for girls, including pregnant women and young mothers, from the villages in and around Mganja. The whole community benefits from this option in the long term, especially as the Tiyende Pamodzi Girls Secondary School supplements the curriculum with practical subjects. These subjects are suitable for supporting practical activities, which can then also generate income for the village.
Our group has long been aware of this need and joined forces in 2017 to develop a school project. An international group of aid organizations, the local and regional authorities in Malawi (Village Chiefs and Traditional Authority) and the diocese in Dedza decided to build a secondary school for girls that does not exclude pregnant women and young mothers, but enables them to continue attending school. In addition to the official school curriculum, practical subjects are also taught that these girls and their (future) families can use in their everyday lives.
Tiyende Pamodzi Girls Secondary School has been officially open since January 2021. The entire project is due to be completed by the end of 2024. The girls, who started grade 9 on March 1, 2021, will then graduate from high school. So far, eight classrooms, the administration building, the childcare building and eight teachers’ apartments have been completed. The hostel for around 48 girls was completed in October 2023. We are currently starting fundraising for the fourth phase: the last teachers’ apartments and a second hostel.
In October 2023, we purchased the first 12 laptops for the students together with the “Zahnärzte Harvestehude” practice to give them access to digital lessons and networks. We also support the school’s Bursery Fund, which pays the school fees for girls and young women in emergency situations. The annual fee per pupil is 75 euros.
A Rotary Global Grant between the RC Lilongwe and the German clubs Hamburg-Harvestehude, Timmendorfer Strand-Lübecker Bucht and Lübeck-Holstentor has been applied for.
