End of Term Update: Thank You for Another Wonderful Term

Dear Friends and Supporters,

As the nursery school closes on Friday 24th July for the summer holidays, I wanted to take a moment to thank each and every one of you for your continued kindness, encouragement and generosity. Everything we have achieved this term has been possible because of your support.

I am delighted to share that attendance has remained consistently high, with between 90 and 100 children aged 3 to 5 years attending the nursery school every day. Seeing the classrooms full of eager, smiling children continues to remind us why this project matters so much. At the beginning of the year, we purchased 20 bags of maize flour to safeguard the children's daily breakfast. The children have consistently consumed around two bags each month, meaning we still had 10 bags remaining at the end of June. This forward planning has ensured that every child continues to receive a warm bowl of porridge each morning, despite ongoing concerns around food security.

Our dedicated nursery school volunteers have continued to make excellent use of the digital writing tablets you helped provide, while also showing remarkable creativity by transforming everyday recycled materials into educational toys and learning resources. Their ingenuity has created a stimulating environment without relying on expensive equipment. The Nursery School Committee, made up of 10 parents from Sani Village, continues to meet every month. Their commitment to listening to parents, acting on feedback, and planning improvements is helping ensure that the nursery school remains locally led and sustainable for years to come.

Although caring for almost 100 young children each day is no small task, every child has received:

• A health assessment from nurses from the Malawi Ministry of Health. - An oral polio vaccination.

• An informal literacy and numeracy assessment.

• Support tailored to their individual stage of development.

Children preparing to transition into primary school have received additional support to help build their confidence, including afternoon learning sessions at Gogo Amani's home, where they enjoy educational videos and extra learning activities.

Looking back over the past few months, I can honestly say it has been a very successful term. The volunteers have shown extraordinary dedication, consistency and compassion. If I were to grade their work this term, they would receive a well deserved A for their commitment to the children's nutrition, development and education.

Thank you once again for believing in this vision. Together, we are doing far more than providing breakfasts. We are creating opportunities, nurturing confidence and giving children the strongest possible start in life. We wish you and your families a wonderful summer and look forward to sharing more updates when the children return for the new term.

With sincere gratitude,

Sarah

Kwathu Breakfast Club Sani Village, Nkhotakota by Lake Malawi www.kwathubreakfastclub.com

Happy New Year and a Warm Welcome Back to Term One

Dear Friends and Supporters,

I would like to begin by wishing you all a very happy New Year and the very best for the year ahead. Thank you, as always, for your continued kindness, encouragement, and support.

I am pleased to share that the children returned for the new school term yesterday, 12th January.

The area has experienced heavy rains over recent weeks, which meant some children were unable to attend, but we were still delighted to welcome 65 children back on the first day. As the weather improves and the sunshine returns, we expect attendance to rise again to around 100 children.

With the rains now easing off, we are moving ahead with plans to repaint the classroom, helping to keep the learning environment clean, bright, and welcoming for the children. At the same time, we have begun sourcing quotes from local carpenters to build small chairs and tables for the classroom so the children can learn in comfort.

At present, locally made wooden chairs are averaging around $7 per chair, including materials and labour. In contrast, ready-made plastic chairs are significantly more expensive at approximately $16 per chair, largely due to transport costs, as the nearest suppliers are based in Lilongwe. We would genuinely welcome your thoughts on which option you feel would be best — wooden or plastic.

Thank you once again for standing with us. Your support continues to make a real and lasting difference, and we will, as always, keep you updated on our progress.

With warm thanks and best wishes for the year ahead,

Sarah Kumvana Amani

Kwathu Breakfast Club

Sani Village, Nkhotakota by Lake Malawi

A Long Overdue Thank You and an Important Update from Kwathu Breakfast Club

Dear Friends and Supporters,

My sincere apologies for the long silence. I wanted to take the time to write properly and share a meaningful update, as the past three months have been fully dedicated to strengthening the foundations of the nursery school and ensuring its long-term sustainability.

During this period, a significant amount of work has gone into re-registering the nursery school and supporting the re-establishment of a local Nursery School Committee. I am pleased to share that we now have 10 committed committee members, and they are due to attend their official Committee Orientation Training from 22nd–24th December. This training will focus on governance, record keeping, safeguarding, care of materials, and accountability, which are all critical for the programme’s future.

Thanks to your generosity, this year alone we have served over 100 children, providing them with daily porridge, learning materials, and a safe space to learn, play, and develop. What began as a simple breakfast initiative has grown into a structured, community-owned early learning programme. We have also recently secured funding to repaint the nursery school, including a bright, child-friendly mural.

Maintaining a clean, welcoming, and aesthetically stimulating environment is vital for young children’s development. It supports learning, pride, wellbeing, and a sense of belonging, and we are excited to refresh the space for the children and caregivers alike. Looking ahead to the new year, our priorities are focused on quality and sustainability:

1. Sending 4 caregivers to UNICEF-accredited 21-day training in Lilongwe, covering Early Childhood Development, health and safety, child safeguarding, fundraising, and sustainability.

2. Securing funds to hire a local carpenter to build children’s small chairs, and tables so learners can sit comfortably and learn with dignity. None of this would be possible without your continued kindness and belief in this project.

Thank you for walking this journey with us, for your patience, and for your unwavering support. You are helping build something lasting for the children and community of Sani Village.

With heartfelt thanks and warm wishes,

Sarah Kumvana Amani

Kwathu Breakfast Club

Sani Village, Nkhotakota, Malawi