By Chisomo Phiri
First Lady Madame Monica Chakwera has expressed gratitude to individuals, organizations, and institutions that are making a positive impact in the lives of underprivileged girls and boys through various initiatives supporting their education.
Speaking at the Presidential “Together for Tomorrow” Appreciation Dinner, held at the Bingu International Convention Centre in Lilongwe on Friday, Madame Chakwera celebrated the Shaping Our Future Foundation (SOFF) achievements.
She emphasized that the success is a collective achievement for all stakeholders involved in helping vulnerable young people.
Madame Chakwera, who is also the founder of SOFF, acknowledged the great success made during the 2023 Malawi School Certificate of Education (MSCE) and announced the foundation’s target to reach 5000 beneficiaries by 2026.
She called for more support to achieve this goal.
Among other achievements, 54 students under the SOFF Bursary Programme took the MSCE, with 47 passing (87%) and 25 accepted into various public universities.
One of the beneficiaries, Winnie Kiombo, commended SOFF and its partners for changing her life through the bursary.
Kiombo, from a single-mother household, shared her struggles and success in accessing school fees and the impact of the bursary on her academic life.
“When I heard I was taken by Shaping Our Future Foundation Bursary, I felt relieved knowing the weight had been taken off my shoulders,” she said.
During the event, the 25 successful students received various gifts, including laptops, and different stakeholders pledged support in cash and sponsorship.
