< News Archives – Page 3 of 17 – Mamie Martin Fund

Category: News

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A poem from Malawi

This poem was written by two of the schoolgirls we support in Malawi. Blandina (16) and Lucia (15) are part of a group being supported by the Lancashire West Methodist Circuit. They are now in Form 3 . Secondary school in Malawi is four years/forms. Their boarding school is just outside Karonga in the North of Malawi and consistently achieves very high academic results. 

The Black Tear

A poem by Blandina Ngoma and Lucia Mbukwa, St Mary’s, Karonga, Malawi

I’m pruned from the poor
even never to reach the moon
which is my fate
yet to arrive late
I’m disposed in the dirty
and never to fulfil my destiny

My hope vanished
my dream became invisible
and I was nothing
yet you made me invincible
rescued me from the uneducated
and straightened my contour
like a gospel singer
I will praise you forever

You are indeed the saviours
to wipe my tears
you brought me to school
took me away from my sweet sorrow
that dug and dragged me below
yet loud and loud
my education calls from the west

‘Donors’
yes, I heard it well
they are here to build me
now blue and white I dress
gather my future to the race
enjoy the sweet of my sweat
and never betray my future.

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“When girls are educated, everything is possible.”

This quote from Chief Theresa Kachindamoto, Ngoni traditional leader in Malawi, sums up the rationale for our work. We support girls’ secondary education in North Malawi by paying their fees. We provide for basic necessities like soap and sanitary wear. These costs are managed locally by our Malawi Country Director, Mercy Sibande.  Each term Mercy visits all of the seven schools which we support. She meets all of the MMF girls there, checks that they are well and provides pastoral and motivational support.

Education is not a luxury but a basic human need. In Malawi 47% of girls are married before age 18, one of the world’s highest rates of child marriage (UNICEF Malawi Annual Report 2022). Chief Kachindamoto, quoted above, is one of the loudest Malawian voices against child ‘marriage’.  Girl children who have been married do not continue with their education. 

On this International Women’s Day we reaffirm our commitment to girls’ education. In this, our 31st, year we are as sure about its importance as ever. When we were established in 1993, the importance of girls’ education was poorly understood. It is now known to be pivotal to the development of any nation. 

We are funded almost completely by individual donations. Thanks for your part in supporting the vital education of these girls. Happy International Women’s Day.

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Alan’s news from Malawi Jan 2024

MMF Treasurer and Co-Convenor, Alan Laverock, is currently in Malawi and sent us this news from Mzuzu and a message to our donors,

“Malawi is in a mess. There’s no easy way to say this.

The Malawi kwacha was devalued by 44% against the dollar late last year; this means that imported items – fuel, fertiliser and so on – are now much more expensive in Malawi. But, misinterpreting devaluation, local people have also hiked their prices. So, staples such as maize are now not affordable to many people. It also means that inflation is very high – a one-off 44% increase across the board has that effect.

Alan Laverock, MMF Treasurer and Co-Convenor

One effect of all of this is that there will be hunger in the villages. There are something over 2,000 kids in Mzuzu alone living on the streets, or working the streets at night to bring in some income. Selling bananas and mangoes, stuff like that. And worse.

As I write this, the rains have possibly just started – everyone is planting but no one is sure that the rains will continue. When I first came out to Malawi, in 2008, the rains started in November. Climate change in action and it’s the poorest who suffer. As always. This might lead to crop failure in a few months, if the rains do not continue.  

However, there is hope. There is a new generation of young Malawians who do not accept that this is the way it has to be. Young people are rejecting the old ways and the effects of that. They realise there is choice. They do not have to be smallholder farmers. And if they do go into farming (nothing wrong with that), they choose to be there and choose to do smart farming. Farming with modern techniques. Farming with machinery. Farming for profit, not survival.

You, our donors, are a part of that. Mamie Martin Fund is for educating girls. Educated girls can change their environment. We are already seeing this with girls who have been through the school system with the help of the Mamie Martin Fund. They are already making a difference.

There is the old saying about give a man a fish and he will eat for a day, teach him to fish and he will earn a living. But men will sit in a boat and drink beer all afternoon – so teach the woman to fish! And, in effect, this is what Mamie Martin Fund is achieving. Girls who know what they want, who have planned careers and who are making these careers happen.

Of course, individually they will not change their country. We do not expect them to do so. But they change themselves, their families, their villages and beyond. And, if there is an army of girls like this, educated and clued-up, then change will be real and sustained.

Yes, there is hope for Malawi. Thank you for being part of that.”

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Reflections of a new Trustee

Phil Wright, a new member of the MMF Board reflects on his journey to here:

“Back in February 2023 my daughter Hannah, who is currently a Mamie Martin Fund volunteer, started to follow MMF on Twitter. And so, the journey to trusteeship began . . .

From that point, MMF followed Hannah back (I think that’s how it works?) and so a link was forged. It was forged to the point of me being registered for the Manchester Marathon to run alongside Han to raise funds for MMF. Marathon duly completed, I contacted Moira (who had been a great encouragement to Hannah) and we met with her and Mercy in Skelmersdale at a brilliant tea-party where Mercy shared news from Malawi. I was hooked!!

Since then, I have joined the incredible team at MMF to help with the oversight of the charity’s work. I have been warmly welcomed and incidentally re-united with a former colleague from Malawi (who ironically used to oversee my work as a headteacher in Zomba, as part of the school’s board of trustees). It has been interesting to learn how the charity works, the impact of the work on the lives of young girls in Malawi and the important role Mercy plays as she engages with the girls at school.

The supporters of MMF are amazing and dedicated in their fundraising and awareness-raising in support of the girls in Malawi, through the imaginative initiatives they undertake.”

Thanks, Phil, your support is much appreciated.

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Triumph for Elena

Elena had a very difficult start in life. Thanks to a local pastor’s wife she was brought to Karonga Girls’ Secondary School in North Malawi in 2016. Passing the entrance exam, she was given a place at the school and was also awarded an MMF bursary. She was a shy and quiet child who looked neglected and much younger than her 16 years. It was wonderful to see her appearance and demeanour changing over the next four years and she became strong and cheerful. However, her father remarried and, during the summer holiday after Elena’s second year at school, her step-mother and brother tried to give her away in marriage. Child marriage, though unlawful, continues to be a real threat to children in rural areas in Malawi.

Old sign at Karonga Girls’ Sec School
Elena in Form 3 with stable and safe accommodation

She escaped early marriage by running away back to school. She travelled alone for nearly 100 kms, asking strangers for help with transport, till she arrived at the home of the lady who had first rescued her. Her courage was rewarded and that become her home during school holidays. Sadly the lady passed away just after Elena finished school. The living situation then became unsafe for Esther who was brave enough to seek help.

Elena did not get grades good enough for university study but she secured a local college place to study for a Diploma. Well-wishers came forward and supported her with accommodation (essential for her safety at that point) and fees. After two years, Elena proudly sent MMF photos of her graduation with a Diploma in Professional Community Development with merit. Many young women in Malawi cope with hardships and barriers. Elena is a shining example of how courage, with some help, can overcome adversity and triumph.

Elena at her graduation in 2023

We are proud to have played a part in Elena’s journey from being an undernourished, frightened child to being a confident, professional woman.

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“Her tomorrow”

Mercy Sibande, MMF Country Director, wishes the One World Shop in Edinburgh a happy 40th birthday in this video. Mercy visited the shop in May this year and shared her first-hand knowledge of the impact of Fairtrade benefits to communities in Malawi. In this video she tells the story of a girl whose family lost everything but the girl can continue at school because of MMF support. 

“She was assured that her transport fare would be paid for to go back to school (as well as fees and basic needs). That gave her hope and excitement to say that she can go back to school. At school now she is working hard in the hope that her future, her tomorrow, […] will change her community, her family plus the Nation as a whole.”

All of us at the Mamie Martin Fund join Mercy in congratulating the One World Shop on its 40th birthday. It’s a huge achievement to have supported Fairtrade producers around the world for all that time. Education is always prioritised by farmers when receiving Fairtrade premiums on their produce sold. We are happy to support the One World Shop in small ways and we appreciate their support of our work on their social media channels. 

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AGM 2023 – Sat 4th Nov 13:00 – 15:00 UK time

Are you signed up for our online AGM yet? Our keynote speaker is Precious Mhone who works in Embangweni Secondary School for Deaf Children. She will tell us about her school, the community and her pupils. Her positivity shines through, even as she describes some of the barriers faced by these young people. Then Kevin Simpson of Malawi Fruits will speak to us about how that organisatoin is empowering women in the agricultural sector in Malawi.

Photo: Malawi Fruits
Mrs Precious Mhone

We’d be delighted to have your support at this AGM. You can register here (free) or watch the livestream on our Facebook page.

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Legacy and in-memory giving

Within the last month we have received a bequest from a supporter. After years of supporting MMF, she also remembered us in her Will. This is a great boost to our funds in these difficult times and, on behalf of our girls in Malawi, we are grateful. This is something that is easy to do and we provide a codicil wording if that would be helpful. 

About the same time, a family related to the Sinclairs (Mamie Martin’s grandchildren) had a sudden bereavement. Barry Smart was widely loved and respected. Barry has recently retired. At the request of his ex-colleagues through the family, we set up a page through which people could pay their respects with a donation. The response has been astounding in financial terms and heart-warming in terms of the messages posted on the page.

We are so grateful to the family for allowing this to happen and to all of Barry’s friends and colleagues for turning this tragedy into hope for young Malawian girls. Barry supported MMF because he wanted Malawian girls to have the same educational chances as his daughters and granddaughters. 

Our condolences to all those who are grieving for Barry.

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Our Helen is a winner!

Helen did it! She completed the incredible ROC England route in under 7 hours. She came 1st in the female 40+ category and an astonishing 3rd in the female category and 37 (out of 151) overall.

We love the champagne-spraying video on Instagram of the winners with Helen in her MMF tee-shirt.

This triathlon invoved 111 kms – swimming, cycling and running, The running included up and down Scafell Pike, the highest mountain in England at 3,209 ft.

Helen trained hard and daily for this immense challenge. It clearly paid off. She has been fundraising hard too. Her employer, Barratt Developments plc, matched her first £1k, giving her total a lovely boost. Thanks to them and to all her generous donors. Her funds will support deaf girls at secondary school in Embangweni, Malawi through the Thompson Fund, managed by the Mamie Martin Fund. The Thompson Fund was set up and is being continually supported by family and friends of Jack and Phyllis Thompson, family friends of Helen.

Direct link to Helen’s fundraising page: https://tinyurl.com/Helen-ROC Remember that any suggested admin donation is by JustGiving, not MMF, so there is no need to add anything extra.

Embagweni school