We are delighted to share some stories of our ex-pupils on this page. See some of our videos on this page.
Stella Dzimbiri is a Nursing Officer in the Paediatric Surgery and Intensive Care Unit in Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Blantyre. She spent some time in Norway on a professional exchange programme with hospitals in Oslo. Her journey to nursing began at Karonga Girls’ Secondary School in 2006. Her grandparents looked after her because her parents had died. They had to sell their belongings to raise enough money for her first term of schooling. By the second term, the school recognised the poverty of Stella’s family, and she was awarded a Mamie Martin Fund Bursary, which supported the rest of her time at school (2007-2010).
Hannah Dickens is a first-class degree graduate in accounting at the University of Malawi. She dreamed of becoming an accountant since primary school. The Mamie Martin Fund and the Soko Fund were able to support her through her education. After her graduation, Hannah was awarded a Certificate of Achievement for “outstanding performance in academic excellence” by TotalEnergies Malawi, a sustainable energy company. Hannah hopes to use her skills in accounting to help young Malawian women to set up small scale businesses.
Handy Kamanga was helped through her education by the Mamie Martin Fund and the Soko Fund. She graduated from the University of Malawi with a degree in Media for Development. Due to MMF’s support, Handy has been inspired to give back to the community. She started a recycling initiative called WeRecycle365 which turns wasted plastics into construction materials. As well as this, Handy has worked for Plan International as a Gender and Protection Officer, a charity focused on girls’ education. Handy has also represented MMF as an ex-pupil at the Malawi-Scotland High Level National Conference in Lilongwe. She now works as the Instagram manager for MMF.
Annie Nkhoma is a graduate in Soil Science at Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources. She was supported by the Mamie Martin Fund when she was at Karonga Girls’ Secondary School because her parents were struggling to pay her fees. At University, she was supported by the Soko Fund. She aims to work in the Malawian government or for an NGO in Malawi. She wants to become a role model to younger girls who because of their poverty, feel they can’t go further in their education.
Linvell Chirwa is a midwife and nurse at the Mitundu Community Hospital, near Lilongwe. She is a matron of 10 health facilities in her district. Linvell was supported through her secondary education by the Mamie Martin Fund which allowed her to pursue her dream of becoming a nurse and midwife. MMF has inspired her to support vulnerable people in her society and she has become an advocate for women’s rights in her community.
Maclina Kumwenda is a graduate in Physical planning from the University of Malawi. Until April 2023 she worked as a Site and Administration Officer at a renewable energy company. . As part of her role, Maclina managed construction projects, processed bills and conducted site visits. That contract has ended and she hopes to find another position soon. MMF was able support her through her education at Elangani Secondary School from 2009 to 2013. She feels the funding she received encouraged her to continue her education and have the passion to follow her dreams.
‘Elena’ was a pupil at Karonga Girls’ secondary School and is now at the Miracle Technical Institute in Mzuzu studying Community Development. She has been supported by the Mamie Martin Fund in her education. Elena had a difficult start in life, with high levels of poverty and the threat of child marriage. Even though child marriage is outlawed, it remains a significant problem in Northern Malawi. A local woman helped Elena by giving her a safe home during the school holidays. Elena hopes to become a nurse in the future.
Benadeta Singini is a senior prosthetist and orthotist based at Mzuzu Central Hospital. She worked for ‘500 Miles’, a charity which provided prosthetic and orthotic devices. That work is now absorbed by the hospital. ‘The charity ‘500 Miles’ supported Benadeta to achieve a Diploma in Prosthetics and Orthotics in 2013. MMF had helped her through her secondary education at Ekwendeni Girls’ Secondary School from 2004 and 2008. She loves her job and is highly valued in her workplace and community.