25 children back in school as Government of Malawi launches Secondary Education Trust

Blantyre, 22 March 2019 – The Government of Malawi, with support from UNICEF, has officially launched the Secondary Education Trust and the international phase of the Funo Langa fundraising campaign. This follows the successful launch of the national Funo Langa fundraising campaign with New Finance Bank in December 2018.

Over 3 million Kwacha has already been raised from Malawian individuals and companies. With this launch, 25 vulnerable students who previously dropped out of school are being re-admitted to school with scholarships provided by fellow Malawians.

“Every child has a right to quality education. The Secondary Education Trust brings together existing scholarship schemes, including UNICEF’s, to ensure we are more efficient in reaching vulnerable children in need of support to get a secondary education,” UNICEF Malawi Representative Johannes Wedenig said. “The extension of the Funo Langa fundraising campaign to the Malawian diaspora has the potential to raise much more money for children in need of an education.”

The Trust is mobilizing financial and technical resources from both the public and private sectors. The funds raised will be used to support students from poor families, including paying for school fees, uniforms, bags, sanitary pads, stationery and boarding fees.

The international phase of the Funo Langa fundraising campaign aims to build on the national Christmas campaign by targeting Malawians living outside the country, through Malawian Associations via the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. At the same time, Malawian companies, expatriates and ordinary citizens are can continue to make their local donations.

“The launch of the Secondary Education Trust is exciting for Malawi. It is a great step towards ensuring Malawi has an educated population that can contribute towards the development of the nation,” said Minister of Education, Science and Technology, Hon Bright Msaka, SC. “I urge Malawians in the diaspora to play a part in raising more money, and for private sector companies to continue to make their contributions.”.

UNICEF Malawi has promoted the Secondary Education Trust as one way that individuals and businesses in Malawi can support the education of vulnerable children in the country. A donation of 125,000 kwacha can fund a child through one year of secondary education.

For audio versions of the quotes and additional resources, see here: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/zrkmsqsrfolwvsl/AADFyl3HRnphnPuwhDM71DIN52a?dl=0   

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Cash or cheque donations can be made to

Bank Name: FDH Bank

Account number: 1970000176195

Account name: Girls’ Secondary Education Trust