Sparkle healthcare access to the community
SUNGENI is a 27 years old mother who lives in Thom Allan village, which is located around 20 minutes walk away from Sparkle. With no medical facility any nearer than 45 minutes walk away, and no transport to reach Zomba Central Hospital, she is one among thousands of people who are benefitting from Sparkle clinic. She has had to rely on our services for several illnesses which she has experienced over the last six months, which if she had left untreated, could have been life threatening. The arrival of our clinic in our community has helped saved many lives and given people access to healthcare who previously wouldn’t have been given the opportunity.
UK government funding to Malawi is on track to drop by around 90 per cent within two years, from K117.9 billion down to K11.7 billion by 2028. The figures emerged in Parliament last week, where Finance Minister Joseph Mwanamvekha faced questions from MP Francis Belekanyama on how such a steep reduction would affect budget delivery. The Minister's position was that the national budget itself is not at risk, since the reduction had already been built into government planning. Where he was less reassuring was on who absorbs the impact. Per the report, it is Malawi's NGOs, not the state, that are expected to feel this most, given how many rely on UK funding to run health, education and social protection work.
The Sparkle Foundation Podcast is where we shine a light on the extraordinary people behind our mission: volunteers, changemakers, and champions who show up, roll up their sleeves, and prove that one person really can make a difference. Each episode is an honest, unscripted conversation about what drives people to give back, and what happens when they do. Hosted by Sarah Brook , Founder and CEO of The Sparkle Foundation.
We are incredibly proud to partner with Haileybury, an independent school in Hertford, United Kingdom, whose students consistently demonstrate a strong commitment to service, leadership and global citizenship. Through initiatives such as the Duke of Edinburgh's International Award, students have supported The Sparkle Foundation by organising creative fundraising events that make a tangible difference to the communities we serve in Malawi. One such student is Eva Kinsey, who was part of the team that organised a community quiz night in support of our Medical Outreach Programme. Eva kindly wrote the reflection below, capturing the experience from a student's perspective. We are delighted to share her account of the evening and the impact that was made.
