Because of our donors: Four local students accepted to university
Your support could send a record number of Manjawira students to university
Jun 04, 2026
Your support could send a record number of Manjawira students to university
For the first time in its history, Manjawira Community Day Secondary School has four graduates accepted into Malawi’s public universities.
This isn’t just a milestone—it’s a transformation made possible by your support.
Through our donors, We4Malawi has invested in Manjawira Primary School, an overcrowded rural school serving 1,100 students across eight grades.
These four graduates are the first local secondary students to benefit from those improvements. Congratulations to the two young men, Kingsly Willium and Aubafia Frank, and the two young women, Shamin Sappangwa and Ongani Sifa, on their academic achievement.
Special congratulations to incoming freshman Kingsly Willium (above), who earned the highest university entrance score among five secondary schools.
Behind their success is a simple truth: when you invest in a child’s education, everything changes.
Since 2019, We4Malawi has provided essentials many students lack—solar lamps for studying at night, school supplies, and hygiene kits that help girls stay in school.
Now, those investments are paying off. And just as importantly, younger students are watching and beginning to believe the same future is possible for them.
A record-breaking year
This fall, these four students will join three others already on scholarship. Together, they form We4Malawi’s largest-ever university cohort:
Seven students—four young women and three young men—are entering various institutions of higher education.
This is exactly what We4Malawi was created to do: help talented students, especially girls, stay in school, avoid early marriage, and build independent futures.
Why we need your help now
The school year begins September 1, and these students need support in place before they arrive on campus. Because four additional students qualified for university this year, we’ve increased our 2026–2027 fundraising goal from $72,000 to $86,000.
Each university student requires $3,500 in first-year support, covering:
- Tuition, housing, and food
- A laptop and phone
- Basic living supplies and travel
These are the essentials they need not just to attend—but to succeed.
What your gift makes possible
Your support funds a full pipeline of opportunity:
- 31 students in secondary school, university, or technical training
- 11 university students beginning or continuing their degrees
- New ninth-grade students entering school this September
- 80 preschool children at the Liphava Learning Centre
It also sustains the educational foundation that makes all of this possible:
- Primary school supplies and solar lighting
- Teachers and staff for early childhood education
Here’s how your support is allocated:
Why donors trust We4Malawi
- 100% of donations go directly to programs—no administrative overhead
- Registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit
- Bronze Seal of Transparency from Candid (2026)
- Strong on-the-ground leadership in Malawi
The bigger impact
We4Malawi focuses especially on girls because education is one of the most effective ways to prevent early marriage and poverty. When a girl stays in school:
- She marries later
- She earns more over her lifetime
- She invests back into her family and community
This is how generational change begins.
The team behind the work
Thom and Lucy Khanje lead the work in Malawi with steady, on-the-ground commitment, while Jackie Combs Nelson, president and co-founder, works alongside a dedicated six-member board to support the mission.
Seven students are stepping into a future
that once felt out of reach.
With your support, they won’t just attend university—they’ll graduate, lead, and open the door for others to follow.
How to help:
- Click the donate button to support us.
- Make checks payable to “We4Malawi” or use Zelle/PayPal to We4Malawi.com
- Visit We4Malawi. org to learn more about our work
- Interested in trying your hand at grant writing or hosting an event? Give us a call.
Visit We4Malawi.org to learn more.
We4Malawi! We for Education!
GRATEFULLY,
Jacqueline Combs Nelson, co-founder and president
(847) 276-0773 Jackie.Combs.Nelson@gmail.com
1560 N. Sandburg Terrace #2115 Chicago, IL 60610
We4Malawi 