James's F1 challenge

The F1 season may have started in Australia under a cloud of controversy, about cars being too quiet and the disqualification of home-grown talent, but here at Joshua our motor racing season could not have gotten off to a better start.

The only thing is that we don't have a car (quiet or otherwise) nor do we have a driver. What we do have is an incredible pair of legs, in the form of James Pollard, who tackled a half marathon at Silverstone for Joshua and raised an incredible £421.50 in the process, smashing his original target of £300.

And apart from running 13.1 miles James also had to contend with the wind and rain. But despite al this he remained very positive "It was great a day, a touch cold at the start but I soon got warmed up! I didn't set any records but was pleased with the time. It was fantastic that so many people supported me and beating the donation target was the best result"

We would like to say a huge thank you to James for undertaking such a massive challenge all in aid of Joshua.

If you fancy running, walking, swimming, or selling cakes for Joshua, just drop Heather a line on hather@joshuainmalawi.org.uk for help and advice.

Like spandex? Why not sign up for the Heroes Run?

Fashion Show fundraiser is a huge hit

The  final "bride" of the night was rather unexpected

Earlier this year Maria Khotin, along with a team of her fellow students from Tonbridge Grammar, organised an incredible evening of fashion, music, dance and art in order to raise funds for Joshua and a local hospice.

Maria was a volunteer in Malawi last year with a group of girls from Tonbridge Grammar and has seen first hand the difference our work makes to some of the poorest children and families.

Teaming up with the boys at Tonbridge Grammar School, they put on a fantastic night. The whole evening felt like a professionally put together show, with a range of music from Jazz to Pop and with one of the most incredible electric violin performances I have ever witnessed.

There was a raffle with more prizes than I have ever seen crammed on to one table, the refreshments were scrumptious and the fashion, the majority of which was created by the students themselves, was stunning.

Maria and her fellow students raised £1,250 for Joshua - an incredible sum which will make a huge difference in Malawi. I'd like to say a huge THANK YOU to everyone who helped make this event such a success, and for raising such a fantastic sum for Joshua.

If you want to find out more about what it's like to volunteer with Joshua click here.

Or if you have a fundraising event you like to put on get in touch with Heather on heather@joshuainmalawi.org.uk

Sussex Rotary club support has lasting impact

Heathfield and Waldron Rotary Club have been supporting Joshua since 2011, donating an incredible £10,000 towards our life changing work. It’s thanks to their support that we have been able to transform the lives of thousands of disadvantaged children, who without their help would face a bleak future.

Under 5's at our feeding centres have received hot meals

Malawi is one of the poorest countries in the world. 74% of the population live on less than £1.25 a day, HIV/AIDS is rife, and as a result Malawi is home to over 1 million orphans.

Since 2011 Heathfiled and Waldron Rotary Club's support has:

• ensured food for over 2,500 children a week at our feeding centres
• supported one of our field officers for two years 
• given twenty one HIV/AIDS orphans and vulnerable children a secondary school education, nurturing their talent and providing them with the skills to work themselves out of poverty

Lamek is now back in school, working hard for a better future

One young person’s whose life they have changed is Lamek Mankhwala (pictured). Lamek lives with his grandmother, younger sister and three cousins. Both his parents died of AIDS when he was just nine years old. His grandmother was struggling to bring up four children on her own, barely having time to plant and harvest their crops and the family were lucky to eat more than one meal a day. Lamek’s grandmother couldn’t afford to pay his school fees, but thankfully a donation from Heathfield and Waldron Rotary Club came along just at the right time.


“Thank you so much for helping me when you have never even met me. School will help me to be a better person and I will get a job and be able to support my grandmother and sister.”

Stella is working towards her dream of becoming a nurse

Another student who is looking forward to a brighter future thanks to their support is Stella Kandiona. Stella, like Lamek, is an orphan, and also lives with her grandmother. Her father died of AIDS when she was just one and her mother when she was eight.

Thanks to Heathfield and Waldron Rotary Club's incredible generosity, Stella is now back in school with her friends working towards her dream of one day becoming a nurse. Her English is excellent and she asked me to pass on this message:

“Education is important to me so that I can learn things that I did not know and I will be able to support myself in the future. Thank you so much for supporting me.”

Without these donations from Heathfield and Waldron Rotary Club, we simply would not have been able to help Lamek and Stella, but thanks to their backing we are delighted that their lives are changing for the better and they are looking forward to a brighter future. 

For more information about how your Rotary Club can make a difference in Malawi, please visit www.joshuainmalawi.org.uk or e-mail heather@joshuainmalawi.org.uk tel 01273 275713