Education Is Often Denied to Those Who Need It Most
Thirteen-year-old Priscilla dreams of becoming a medical doctor. However, her father’s €2-a-day income cannot cover the cost of sending her to Salima Secondary School, a boarding school where she earned a place after excelling in her primary school exams.
Born into a family of three, Priscilla and her twin sister, Prisca, represent their family’s hope of escaping poverty. They have demonstrated remarkable academic talent. Yet, like many young people in Malawi, their deep desire for education does not guarantee access.
In a society where education is a privilege reserved for the wealthy, Priscilla and Prisca believed their story would be different. They held on to the hope that someone would recognise their passion for learning and support their journey.
Their father, who once sustained the family by moulding and firing bricks—a livelihood now threatened by environmental concerns and the government’s gradual shift toward cement blocks—can no longer afford to provide for his family, let alone pay for his daughter’s schooling.
While Priscilla and Prisca continue to hope for assistance in pursuing their education, YESI remains steadfast in advocating for support for bright students like them.
At YESI, we’re working with students from rural communities in Salima, Malawi, to provide them with access to education—one of the most powerful tools for lifting individuals, families, and societies out of poverty.
*Priscilla is a Form 1 student at Salima Secondary School, while her twin sister Prisca is in Form Two at Msalura Community Day Secondary. Secondary school tuition fees in Malawi range from €25 at Community Day Secondary Schools to €80 at boarding secondary schools. To donate to the YES Initiative Secondary School Tuition Sponsorship program, please click here:
