Educating and Empowering Children In Malawi
Transforming lives and creating a brighter future for Children in Malawi
Embedded Files
About Light & Shine Ministries
Light & Shine Ministries is a non-profit organization which strives to improve the welfare of Malawain adolescent girls and young women by keeping them in school and helping teen moms return to school so that they might attain the required education and skills to help them realize their hidden potential and sustain their lives. This can be achieved by supplying them with school resources such as school uniforms, tuition, exercise books, and textbooks. We intend to train them in entrepreneurship skills of farming and home economics.
Maggie Sikwese
Maggie Sikwese
Executive Director
Growing up in a rural community, I experienced many challenges such as walking long distances to school, lack of textbooks and exercise books, insufficient tuition, and a community that regards girls as inferior. Most of my peers, who were brighter than I was, did not pursue education further. I also lost hope and felt that I would not achieve much until I met my Sunday school teacher, Mrs. Makhalira, who would come to our community and encourage us about the value of education. I truly believe I can be the next Mrs. Makhalira to the most vulnerable girls whose futures seem hopeless.
After attaining my bachelor's degree in 202, I went out to the same community and carried out an assesment exercise through village chief, Masanda Bingu, asking permission to meet girls in the community. Long story short, I asked the girls some of the challenges that kept them from finishing their education. This is a community where teenage girls do not reach up to grade 8 of their elementary school. So these are really teenagers 15-18 years old not finishing school and so they end up into early un-wanted pregnancies and early child marriages.
Below are some of the challenges the girls mentioned
Lack of school uniform, shoes and so the headmaster sends us away
lack of tuition, textbooks, exercise books and writing pens
Poor early education background (they missed nursery school or kindergarten, so understanding subjects taught in English is difficult).
Lack of menstruation supplies during school times.
Sometimes, they lack role models. This hit me differently knowing that on this one I can be used as a vessel or a resource.
Maggie strongly believes that we are the answer to one another's challenges. Together we can do more and accomplish so much to break the poverty cycle and magnify our creator who is love!
Will you walk with us as we continue to support and impact the lives of girls and teen moms in this community?
Please also pray with us that we will reach many young women and make a difference in their lives, both economically and spiritually.
Look at mother Mary in the middle and her two daughters, Lusungu and Twitike whom she wants to continue with school.
Look at mother Mary in the middle and her two daughters, Lusungu and Twitike whom she wants to continue with school.
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse