In Malawi, poverty means that most children will never attend school beyond their primary years, let alone dream of being able to access university or college education in their lifetime. RIPPLE Africa is helping to improve all aspects of education in Malawi, from pre-school education through to secondary school education. However, RIPPLE Africa’s provision could not be complete without also being able to support some of our most exceptional students to attend university and college in Malawi upon graduation from secondary school. For special cases where students have proved their outstanding merit and strong aptitude in a particular subject, RIPPLE Africa has provided university and college sponsorship in the fields of accountancy, engineering, teaching, nursing, and more. All of our university and college students come from our own communities, have come through the RIPPLE Africa system and are known to us personally, and must have earned their place at university through their own merit. If a student is talented and has worked hard enough to earn a place, RIPPLE Africa feels they should be supported.
The challenges faced by a child in Malawi from the very outset are enormous: health, poverty, education, and resources are all potential difficulties to anyone wanting to succeed in Malawi. By the time a child has beaten all the odds to earn a place at university, RIPPLE Africa believes they deserve all the support they can get to see their dreams through. University and college sponsorship is the most expensive step in completing a child’s education; however, it is this final step which will enable a student to create a real livelihood for themselves. It is this commitment which will transform a child from a clever young person in the community, to becoming a qualified doctor, accountant, teacher, or professional, and will transform their life and the opportunities they will be able to make for themselves forever.
University and college sponsorship is on a case-by-case basis and cannot be taken lightly. Donors need to be able to commit to the student over the full course of their studies — normally four or five years. Costs vary; for example, a four-year degree course in Accountancy and Business Administration at the University of Malawi can cost about £600 per year, and a four-year nursing course at the nursing school in one of the mission hospitals can cost about £2,000 per year. In addition, money will be needed for the students’ subsistence, textbooks required for their course, uniforms in the case of nursing students, and so on. In return, RIPPLE Africa and the student in question will provide regular reports on their progress. If you are interested in sponsoring a student in Malawi to attend university or college, please contact us directly to discuss this.
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