Education is highly valued at VIP and we embrace opportunities to make schools more accessible in remote villages. This past year, we partnered with Valley Presbyterian Church and The Rob and Melani Foundation to build a secondary school (high school) in a location where there is great need. These two organizations are involved with work in Malawi and they are excited to come together to share this project. We recently received news that the Ministry of Education in Malawi approved the site on which we are planning to build. This school’s location will provide children with access to education they otherwise would not have.
The Malawian government established three criteria to evaluate the suitabitly of land on which to build a secondary school. The first criteria reviewed is surrounding primary schools. When evaluating this particular land, they identified 7 primary feeder schools for a secondary school. Next, the location of the nearest secondary school is determined to confirm the need for another secondary school in the area. The Ministry of Education confirmed that the closest secondary school is approximately an hour and a half walk away. This creates a high dropout rate since students walk to and from school, making the commute a 3 hour walk. The third criteria reviewed is room for expansion. Upon evaluation, landowners in the surrounding areas have available space for further development if needed.
This past summer, Chris Woodard, the Mission Director at Valley Presbyterian Church, along with some of the church’s members came to Malawi and visited the land with Liz and VIP’s Malawian staff. Chris along with the team are so excited to be apart of the construction of this school.
“It is a true joy to be a part of something bigger than yourself. When VIP told our church that children from the Sakata district were walking 10 miles to school every day we were floored. Our mission team all felt compelled by the spirit to see if we could help. We followed the leading of the spirit to raise awareness and support in our community and church. This week we received news that the site for the future school was approved by the Ministry of Education in Malawi and the land is being purchased. How exciting it is to be a part of this incredible new adventure where the lives of children in Malawi will be positively impacted by the love of Jesus. We are reminded that when we remain in relationship with Jesus our joy is complete and good fruit will be produced. I am thrilled to see how the good fruit of this school will be a blessing to others.” – Chris Woodard, Mission Director at Valley Presbyterian Church
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