DATUM Foundation

DATUM is proud to announce the completion of its latest sanitation project, the building and provision of a new water supply system for the Secondary School in the rural village of Chisala in Northern Malawi.

DATUM has previously built a bore hole and water supply system for the school but given the success of the educational establishment, which now welcomes 450 pupils with many boarding, it was crucial to remediate any problems of low pressure on the existing water supply.

The project was approved by Trustees, the Education Department for the Northern Region and school management, and works began in early 2022.

We are please to announce that the new supply became operational in March 2022. Indeed, our local representative has now inspected the works and confirmed that all elements are installed and operational – ensuring that all pupils and staff at the school are now assured access to clean water.

DATUM Trustees, pupils and staff of Chisala Secondary School thank everyone for their help and support on this important project.

Earlier this morning, we spoke to Elizabeth Nyali, the head nurse and midwife of a community clinic in Chisala, Malawi.

She told us of the devastating impact of the Storm Ana in southern Malawi, as well as her fears this latest climatic shock will lead to widespread hunger in the country. With another storm brewing off Africa's East, already vulnerable people will not have the time to recover.

Read DATUM Foundation's latest news on Medium here: https://medium.com//storm-ana-the-impact-of-the-floods-on-peoples-livelihoods-is-devastating-says-head-nurse-651d0c9b5969

Storm Ana: “The impact of the floods on people’s livelihoods is devastating” says head nurse A healthcare worker in Chisala, Malawi, has described the impact of the Tropical Storm Ana as “devastating”.

📢 We at DATUM are delighted to announce that Dr Timothy Rawson, Dr Jasmin Hodgson and Nicholas Blomfield have joined the charity as Trustees.

Timothy, Jasmin and Nicholas, who joined in late 2021, will bring with them a wealth of invaluable experience in healthcare and legal and strategy planning, further supporting the delivery of DATUM’s charitable objectives.

Welcome to you all!

Tim Rawson Jasmin Jessica Nick Blomfield

Over the past 10 years DATUM FOUNDATION has assisted with and completed the building of twelve schools including two libraries.

Not only do we strengthen children’s capacity to learn, we aim to equip students with the tools to maintain their new schools and continue to thrive long after our support has finished.

Healthcare workers in Malawi, like Elizabeth, continue to run youth counselling sessions under the current COVID-19 restrictions. Working with local communities sharing information on HIV, contraception and other aspects of health and wellbeing.

Whilst DATUM Foundation continues to support those in rural Africa during this difficult time. Our friends in Malawi have shared with us an image of an area where 600 Pine Trees have been planted in order to grow and sell to fund continued growth within the community.

Malawi National Examination results are out and 19 students from our schools have passed their MSCE exams!

Students now hope to further their education at technical college's and healthcare universities.

With the help of our supporters we can equip students with the tools to maintain their new schools and continue to thrive long after our support has finished.

Datum Foundation believes everyone has the right to an education, good quality healthcare and clean water.

If you have connections or yourself are willing to help us achieve our aspirations, we would be delighted to hear from you!

We are keen to develop new partnerships and find opportunities where there are links with Datum Foundation’s aims. Please follow our page and send us a message via DM.

Elizabeth Nyali is a healthcare worker in the local village of Chisala, today she talks to us about the current Covid-19 situation in Malawi.

"This time the number of positive Covid-19 cases is declining about 50 to 60 per day. We are now receiving AstraZeneca starting with health workers, teachers, police and army.
There is a fear among the community of being vaccinated due to lack of awareness."

Health workers like Elizabeth continue to encourage everyone to get vaccinated so we can successfully end the global pandemic.

22nd March is World Water Day 🌏💧

Many of us don't think twice about how easily we have access to clean water, soap and sanitizers. But many people around the world don’t have that luxury.

Every year approximately 297,000 children under five die every year from diarrhoeal diseases due to poor sanitation, poor hygiene, or unsafe drinking water and 2.2 billion people lack access to safely managed drinking water services.

Poorer communities are most at risk of lack of drinking water, and of a proper sanitation system. That's why DATUM Foundation works to ensure that all the schools and clinics we help build are installed with clean water facilities.
https://datumfoundation.org.uk/water-and-sanitation/

MEET FISHER ZIMBA

Fisher is the Headmaster at the Secondary School we built in Chisala. He helps DATUM
Foundation in our efforts to support primary and secondary school projects and keeps us informed as to the local situation and latest news from on the ground in Malawi.

Without the dedication and insight from our local colleagues like Fisher, we would have not been able to achieve what we have to date.

Today he tells us "Schools are back on track, however we still face the everyday challenges of schooling in rural Africa" - Fisher explains how long-distance travel for supplies to allow the children to complete year end exams is troublesome.

Your support goes a long way in making a difference to how we are changing the face of education. To find out how you can support our work visit https://datumfoundation.org.uk/