M’bawa Primary School
Dedication: Brian and Joelle Kelly Family Foundation
Completion Date: April 12, 2024
School: M’bawa Primary School
District: Mangochi
Country: Malawi
The Need is Established
A relevant and exciting aspect of this project is that we learned of the M’bawa School’s needs because we had installed a water well there on October 21, 2021.
When we install a water well, we spend quite a lot of time investigating the school’s needs and then building the project. This gives us the opportunity to meet the residents and hear about their trials. In M’bawa, we met their school headmaster and learned of their educational facilities’ severe lacking in the hygiene department.
Struggles and Challenges
Before the Blossom Project’s intervention, the sanitation situation at M’bawa School was dire. Students had to go into an area of trees and bushes (the bush) due to the lack of proper toilets, and even the temporary toilets were unsafe, leading to even more frequent use of the bush by students.
The authorities had warned the school about potential closure due to non-compliance with education standards. The school, initiated by the community with just four classes and two classrooms, struggled with inadequate infrastructure, making it challenging to provide a safe and hygienic learning environment.
Student and Teacher Testimonies:
- Headteacher: Reported that the school was at risk of closure by the authorities due to the poor sanitary conditions.
- Community Members: Expressed concerns about the lack of proper sanitary facilities, which affected both students and staff.
Everyone was recognizing that the school, initiated by the community with just four classes and two classrooms, was struggling with inadequate infrastructure, making it challenging to provide a safe and hygienic learning environment.
After the Blossom Project
Recognizing the urgent need, WWFA, with the support of the Brian and Joelle Kelly Family Foundation, initiated the Blossom Project at Mphatso School. The project aimed to improve Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) and overall sanitation conditions, fostering a healthier and more conducive learning environment.
Transformation and Impact
The impact of the Blossom Project has been profound:
- Enrollment Surge: The number of students increased from 341 in 2023 to 523 in 2025, demonstrating the community’s renewed confidence in the school’s environment.
- Increased Attendance: More girls are attending school regularly, as they now have access to a hygiene room where they can manage their menstrual health with dignity.
- Reduced Absenteeism and Dropout Rates: Students no longer have to skip school due to unsanitary conditions, and teachers now have proper restroom facilities as well.
- Health Improvements: With better sanitation, cases of waterborne diseases such as cholera have significantly decreased.
Enrollment Statistics (2020-2024):
- 2020: 221 students (109 boys, 112 girls)
- 2022: 369 students (185 boys, 184 girls)
- 2024: 523 students (increase of 148 students, 72 girls and 76 boys)
The Blossom Project is the second major intervention at Mphatso School, building on the transformation that began with the installation of a borehole in 2022. Together, these improvements have transformed Mphatso into a thriving educational institution.
Overcoming Construction Challenges
The project faced challenges, including the initial site having a bedrock, which complicated trench digging. Our resourceful WWFA Malawi team identified a new site nearby, and construction began promptly.
Immediate Impact and Future Prospects
The Blossom Project — with clean water, improved toilets, and a private girls’ changing facility — has created an immediate and life-changing impact at M’bawa School. These improvements are helping students stay healthy, boosting dignity for girls, and encouraging more children to attend school consistently and pursue their education.
Enrollment Statistics (2022-2024):
- Before water well: 150 students
- February 2022 (shortly after drilling): 303 students (176 boys, 127 girls)
- End of 2022: 412 students (203 boys, 209 girls)
- 2023 (before Blossom Project): 432 students (207 boys, 225 girls)
- 2024 (after Blossom Project in April): 458 students (209 boys, 249 girls)
- October 3, 2024 Enrollment was 506 students with more expected in the school year.
- The school ranks #5 out of 15 schools in the district.
Celebration and Gratitude
The project’s completion was celebrated by the community, with expressions of gratitude for the life-changing transformation brought by the Blossom Project. Headteacher Harry Kaninga, who has led M’bawa School since May 2024, expressed heartfelt thanks for the new facilities, which have greatly improved the school’s ability to provide a safe, hygienic, and welcoming learning environment.
Join Us
You can be part of another life-changing Blossom Project by making a donation. We’d love to build it with you!
Gallery June 15, 2023
WWFA visits the school at the start of construction. The old outhouses can be seen.
Gallery October 3, 2024
Gallery of images showing the completed of the Blossom project at the dedication ceremony.
