“Oh, I love Mr Pineapple!” said four-year-old Jeremiah. “He’s very happy and yellow. He makes me smile.”
That was the joyful reaction from one of our pre-school learners capturing the magic of arriving at our newly painted, vibrant classroom!
It has been an incredibly busy fortnight rushing to finish painting and decorating the classroom before the end of term in late July. Because we wanted the entire community to feel ownership of the space, we invited children and parents to share their ideas on what they wanted. We now step back with a great sense of pride at what has been achieved by working together with our community.
Previously, the classroom walls were damp from the rainy season due to leaking windows, and anything we tried to display simply fell off. We were absolutely delighted to secure a grant from the UK charity, Mwana, to repair the windows, plaster the walls, and repaint the space with educational illustrations that we can also use as teaching tools.
When asked for ideas, the children said fruits, bright colours, and shapes. The teachers asked for the alphabet, numbers, and space for a future reading corner, while parents suggested a rainbow and a map of Malawi.
Over two weeks, we worked with a local plasterer, carpenter, and labourer, and hired our talented neighbour, Thom, to bring the illustrations to life. The children couldn’t resist peeking through the window openings daily to monitor the progress. Finally, the big day arrived, and they proudly showed off their new space to their families.
Spending the launch morning chatting with parents was wonderful. A bright, inviting learning environment is essential.
We simply could not have transformed this classroom for over 100+ little ones without the generosity of Mwana’s donors.
The children now have a school they can be proud of, parents are thrilled, and our teachers very happy.
We extend our deepest gratitude to everyone who has donated to Mwana in the UK. No matter the amount, your donation goes a long way here in Malawi.
Stay tuned, as I will be sharing more stories from Malawi over the coming months.
Rhoda Fransisco, Head of Moana Nursery School
