Our vision is quality early education for all children.
It is out of this shared vision that Mwana was founded by four women based in Derbyshire: Nancy, Eileen, Zoe and Marian came together all with a fierce passion for early years education and social justice for all children. Education runs through everything we do; three of us have travelled to Malawi, and Marian lived and worked there for six years. We are all mothers, and some of us grandmothers, too. We know how lucky we are to have given our own children and grandchildren the tools, education, and resources to thrive. We passionately believe that this shouldn’t be a privilege—it should be a universal right for every single child.
Passion is vital, but practical skills and on-the-ground experience make the real difference. We are proud to have a beautifully well-rounded team: Nancy guides us as an early years educator for over 20 years, while Eileen ensures financial stability and complete transparency through her diligent oversight. Zoe, a UK doctor, registrar and pediatrician, brings a deep understanding of how early childhood experiences shape a child’s entire future, and Marian contributes her UK business background and experience and knowledge gained whilst working in international development in Malawi and Zambia. Together, we combine our strengths to support our Malawian partners, Rhoda, Dalo and xxxx as they give local children a fun, impactful, and high-quality start in life.
A little bit more about us…
Early brain development and stimulation are absolutely crucial. I bring my clinical skills, practical experience from visiting the wonderful country of Malawi, and my experience as amum of two young children to my role as a Board Trustee for Mwana.
Join us on this journey and support Mwana with a donation today, whatever amount you can spare.
I’m Nancy and am so grateful to be a trustee of this foundling charity. Our aim is to plant acorns that from one day oaks may grow. We know that money is tight for many people so please donate what you can – anything you can give will make a difference. None of your contribution will be spent on anything other than direct support to Early Years Education in Malawi. I have spent a 40-year career in Social Care and Early Years Education trying to make a positive difference to people’s lives, no matter how small that may be. I believe that we are a global village and I want to be a good neighbour. Hence my commitment to Mwana Education Support. Supporting Early Years Education can have a disproportionately large impact on life chances and experiences. Many children in Malawi face poverty, malnutrition and limited access to educational resources, so investing in the Early Years helps reduce disadvantages before they become life long realities.
This is grass roots level support that we hope will play a very small part in strengthening Malawi’s population to succeed. At the most basic level it will bring more joy and hope into the lives of children in the three pre-schools we support.
My interest in being a trustee comes from the time I spent volunteering in Malawi, where I worked with children by introducing them to books and reading with them. That experience showed me the importance of education and play in improving children’s life opportunities and inspired a commitment to supporting young people’s development.
Spending six years living and working in Malawi with the UK literacy charity The Book Bus showed me the true, transformative power of education in rural communities across Malawi and Zambia. It was an absolute joy to be welcomed into the homes and hearts of local families. Malawi captured my heart completely. After returning home, I stayed in close contact with brilliant, passionate friends like Rhoda and Dalo, privately funding vital small projects as they set up small pre-schools to respond to the need in their own communities. With the impact of COVID and severe cuts to international education aid, the need for basic, high-quality educational materials became more urgent than ever.
It was out of this need that Mwana was founded by women to partner and support the women of Malawi and teachers in their quest to deliver a quality early educational experience for their children.
Having visited Malawi many times, I have seen first-hand the profound impact that education can have on children- especially at pre-school. As a UK-based paediatrician, my professional background aligns with research highlighting the vital importance of an enriched pre-school experience—especially in Malawi, where poverty rates are exceptionally high.
Early brain development and stimulation are absolutely crucial. I bring my clinical skills, practical experience from visiting the wonderful country of Malawi, and my experience as amum of two young children to my role as a Board Trustee for Mwana.
Join us on this journey and support Mwana with a donation today, whatever amount you can spare.
