About

Ambrose is 10 years old and this April will be setting out to do something a little unusual in his Easter holidays. He will be taking part in a 250km bike ride out in Malawi, to raise money for the inspiring charity – African Vision Malawi (AVM).

Ambrose enjoys being out on his bike but has never been to Africa and to date, cycled a total of 40 miles on a dedicated cycle track – so this really is a stretch!! The expedition will involve cycling in the heat, over rough terrain, 50km a day, in the rural areas, close to Lake Malawi – with some rest stops along the way!

At the end of the bike ride, Ambrose will be staying in - Sam’s Village (please read on and see the ‘film’ below..) and spending some time in an African classroom at Songwe School. (African Vision Malawi has 18 educational partnerships, linking schools in Malawi with schools in the UK. Through regular correspondence both teachers and the children learn ‘from’ and ‘about’ each other.) Ambrose’s school has for the last two years been linked to Songwe – a marginalised school in a rural district, with very limited resources, large classes and a shortage of teachers… Ambrose’s Sports teacher has donated some footballs to the school and Ambrose is looking forward to helping to organise a match with the local children.

Ambrose will also be tree planting with the rest of the group going out – to offset his flight and learn together with the local children (in a special workshop which has been arranged) about the impacts of climate change and plastics on the day-to-day lives of the local people.

Ambrose is a little anxious at being the ‘youngest’ rider in the group of volunteers going out to Africa this Easter. He has, however, been training hard and is keenly aware (having sponsored with his parents a young orphan girl – Esther’s education over the last 5 years and written to her) of some of the challenges facing young people trying to get an education in rural Malawi. He has also seen through both ‘Songwe School’ and ‘Esther’, the difference African Vision Malawi is making in one of the poorest countries in the world.

The 250km ride is going to be a physical and mental challenge for all the team taking part and may well change the way Ambrose views the world for the rest of his life. It would be great if you could support him to help AVM continue their life-changing work.

African Vision Malawi (AVM) is a registered charity, whose mission is to see: “a healthy, educated and self-sufficient community in Malawi” – one of the poorest countries in the world. Started nearly 15 years ago, AVM has made an incredible difference – through providing clean water, nutrition, sanitation, education and training to 40,000 children and vulnerable adults. The charity’s aim is to help people to help themselves, by enabling them to become self-supporting and thereby build better, fairer lives. To this end, it has worked together with the local people over the last 5 years, to build an inspirational Vocational Training Village called ‘Sam’s Village’, using traditional materials and skills. (Click HERE)

Sam’s Village is a self-sustaining training village with solar power and permaculture gardens built ‘by’ the local people, ‘for’ the local people - with the Charity’s support. Recognised by UNESCO, AVM has received initial funding through the UNESCO STEP (Skills and Technical Education Programme) initiative to launch an ambitious series of vocational training courses to help some of the most vulnerable (orphans, disabled people, marginalised women and those with HIV, who struggle to get training elsewhere…) become financially independent.

Over 200 people already have been trained during a residential stay at Sam’s Village. With these skills, they are now offering invaluable services to their local community and providing for themselves and their extended families. The UNESCO grant ends early next year, but you can help this life-changing work to continue. Your donation will help at least one person to attend a course for free, fund their training and living costs. (Within 2 years this programme aims to become self-sufficient as training organisations pay to use Sam’s Village but for now, we need to help fund its early stages.) You can see Sam’s Village and hear from some of the people whose lives it has transformed, by watching the film here. HERE

Please support Ambrose as he cycles 250km through Malawi during this Easter holidays 2020. We are paying all of our own cost to participate. Thus, every penny of your donation will go directly to some of the most vulnerable young people in Malawi. African Vision Malawi prides itself on having only volunteers in the UK. There are ‘no’ paid staff… Thank you so much for helping to make a difference.