Wil jij (letterlijk) dubbel zo veel impact maken? Doneer dan nu via de #wildeweek: www.wildeweek.nl/project/vakschool-malawi
Alle donaties die OneHeartMalawi in april ontvangt worden namelijk verdubbeld door Wilde Ganzen!

Wil jij nóg meer impact maken? Start dan een actie: www.wildeweek.nl/project/vakschool-malawi/participate/how-to-participate

Mariska vertelt waarom je zoveel impact maakt met jouw donatie:
“De impact van het OneHeartMalawi beroepsopleidingencentrum is sinds 2024 steeds zichtbaarder geworden. Elke ochtend wanneer Aaron en ik onze kinderen om 7.30 in Malawi naar school brachten, zagen we OneHeartMalawi studenten te voet of op de fiets op weg naar hun school, de OneHeartMalawi vakschool, die om 8.00 open gaat. Onderweg naar de school van onze kinderen kwamen we langs 4 laswerkplaatsen waar afgestudeerde OneHeartMalawi studenten stage lopen, aan het werk zijn of zelfs hun eigen laswerkplaats huren en runnen.

Hoeveel energie geeft het dan voor ons om deze studenten eerst een half jaar op het project land hard aan de slag te zien om te leren en hen daarna succesvol te zien in het werkveld. OneHeartMalawi collega's Anthon en Maureen zijn ontzettend betrokken bij de afstudeerde studenten. Met hen samen heb ik velen van hen bezocht bij de verschillende laswerkplaatsen. De derde groep lasstudenten, afgestudeerd in december 2025, hebben de afgelopen 3 maanden stage gelopen. De managers van de laswerkplaatsen zijn erg onder de indruk van hun kunde en de kwaliteit die ze leveren en een aantal studenten kunnen daarom in dienst blijven. Eén van de managers wil zelfs een nieuwe winkel openen en die laten managen door één van de afgestudeerde studenten. Na deze positieve ervaringen zijn ook de studenten die in juni afstuderen welkom om stage te komen lopen. Daarnaast zullen er vanuit OneHeartMalawi leningen in de vorm van machines worden aangeboden zodat er 2 lascoöperaties kunnen worden opgestart. De studenten die nu bezig zijn met de lastrainingen kunnen daar dan ook stage lopen na hun afstuderen in juni dit jaar.

Het maakt mij zo ontzettend trots om de studenten te zien groeien, zowel tijdens de trainingen als daarna in het werkveld. Het is prachtig om te zien hoe ze naar zelfredzaamheid toe werken onder begeleiding van het gepassioneerde lokale team. Dit is waar OneHeartMalawi het voor doet. Met jouw donatie verander je levens en geef je een kans aan kwetsbare jongeren die simpelweg in een land zijn geboren die niet dezelfde kansen biedt als in Nederland.”

Wil je die impact maken? Doneer dan hier: www.wildeweek.nl/project/vakschool-malawi

#impact #wildeweek #wildeganzen #donatieactie #verdubbeling #oneheartmalawi

Leuk nieuws! Misschien heb je al gehoord over de actie van Wilde Ganzen. Alle donaties die OneHeartMalawi in april ontvangt worden door Wilde Ganzen verdubbeld!

Tijdens de Wilde Week op 12 april vanaf 11 uur stelt Beppie Heijne haar schilder atelier open in ‘t Pakhuys, Stationsstraat 5 te Alphen tijdens de Culturele Manifestatie in Alphen.

Beppie:
“Ik voel me betrokken bij stichting OneHeartMalawi, opgericht door o.a. mijn nichtje Mariska en haar partner Aaron.

Net als wij, willen ook de ouders van kinderen in Afrika dat hun kinderen zelfredzaam kunnen worden. In Nederland kunnen kinderen tussen opleidingen kiezen, in Malawi/Afrika zijn kinderen helaas afhankelijk van kansen. Stichting OneHeartMalawi biedt die kansen vanaf 2024 op hun vakschool in Monkey Bay, waar jongvolwassenen trainingen in lassen, naaien en ICT kunnen volgen.

Voor de nieuw te starten opleiding ‘houtbewerking’ moet het projectland uitgebreid worden met een extra werkplaats en hier is geld voor nodig.

Omdat ik mee wil helpen om de jeugd in Malawi een betere toekomst te bieden, bied ik mijn schilderijen te koop aan. Ook verkoop ik leuke Afrikaanse cadeautjes.

De opbrengst, die ook nog eens verdubbeld wordt door Wilde Ganzen, is voor OneHeartMalawi.

Wanneer? Op 12 april 2026 vanaf 11.00 tijdens de Culturele
Manifestatie in Alphen (Noord-Brabant)
Waar? In mijn atelier in 't Pakhuys, Stationsstraat 5 in Alphen

Je bent van harte welkom om een kijkje te komen nemen. Mariska en Aaron zijn net terug uit Malawi en zijn die dag ook aanwezig.”

Lukt het niet om te komen maar wil je wel Beppie's actie steunen dan kun je op onderstaande pagina een donatie doen. Ook vind je hier in het scroll menu een impressie van Beppie's werk:

www.wildeweek.nl/fundraisers/beppie-heijne

#wildeganzen #wildeweek #verkoopschilderijen #donatieactie #verdubbeling #oneheartmalawi

The Cape Maclear walk: Mindset training at the OneHeartMalawi Vocational Training Centre

In Malawi, you notice that hope for a better future is often lost. Young people think they have to do the same work as their parents, such as selling food on the street or become fishermen. Young women often think that their only option is to get married and have a child. They believe that this will secure their future, but the relationship often ends, leaving the young women behind as a single mom without financial security. Because of this mindset, the OneHeartMalawi calendar with extracurricular activities, such as the Cape Maclear walk, are essential for the future of the youth.

Last Friday the 13th of March at 6:15 we left the project land in Monkey Bay with 58 participants from the OneHeartMalawi team, both students and staff. We walked our way through the mountains with as final destination the touristic village, Cape Maclear. A walk of nearly 20 kilometers. This was not just a walk, this was a walk to remember and to learn a life lesson. Because just learning a skill, welding & fabrication, tailoring & fashion design or ICT, isn’t enough to succeed in life. Having the right mindset and believing that you can create a better future for yourself by working hard is equally important.

During the walk, we had to deal with mountains, heat, aching legs and blisters on our feet, but everyone still reached the finish line. We always make sure there is a ‘rescue car’ in case people really can't continue anymore and to give them a bit of support. They can make use of it but they will never be dropped at the finish line, to give them confidence that they can still make it the last part. Some were fast, others more slow, others had a short break, but no one gave up and we finished as a team.

After the walk there was time to enjoy, to have a drink, lunch, swim and play games, before returning back to Monkey Bay with the truck. In the end, Aaron gave a speech about the walk. That whatever everyone went through during the walk is the same as what real life is like. After learning the skill, the students will start their careers, with their own business, an internship or a job and it is all about the mindset. It is very important to stay mentally strong, keep the goals in sight, make use of the support you get (like the ‘rescue car’), but after that continue yourself and overcome challenges. And it is possible: step by step, one foot after the other, just like with the Cape Maclear walk. It was clear to see the impact of Aaron's words on the students. We believe this experience and life lesson will stay with the students throughout their future careers and the rest of their lives! 💚

#youthempowerment #mindset #selfsustainable #believeinyourself #capemaclear #longwalk #oneheartmalawi

On February 7th, the third group of OneHeartMalawi tailoring & fashion design graduates received machines to start their own businesses.

As with the first two groups, important witnesses were present at the official ceremony, such as the parents of the entrepreneurs, the instructors who trained them, the (supportive) staff, the board and the village headman.

A loan agreement was signed to repay the sewing machines monthly. The young entrepreneurs have 20 months to repay the loan and are given the first few months to get their businesses up and running. After the machines are repaid, new machines can be purchased to offer the same opportunities to the next graduates.

Since more and more students graduate and it is taking more time to follow up all the young entrepreneurs individually, field officer Maureen Philip was recruited last January. Maureen is the graduates’ contact person. She plans the ‘come back’ meetings at the OneHeartMalawi vocational centre, visits the graduates at their businesses, helps them overcome challenges, gives them advice if needed and follows up the loan payments. A crucial role, which Maureen fulfills well. Since the 6-month training is just the beginning for the young adults and their future starts after they graduate and start their own businesses on the ground. Welcome to the OneHeartMalawi team Maureen!

We can't wait to see what impact this loan will have on the future of the young entrepreneurs! 💚

Zodiak Online was also present at this beautiful day: www.facebook.com/100064481388635/posts/pfbid02tLZXCy55MsBV4L2zXQLAe5abVURLP6MynSgt7AxDDnDkmmA2mfn4r17EVf8TBonpl/

#sewingmachines #youngentrepeneurs #startingpackages #offeringchances #oneheartmalawi

Meet Esther Philip, our OHM electrician!

Girls and women in Malawi face more challenges compared to boys and men. For example, when parents can’t afford to pay school fees anymore, a girl tends to be taken out of school earlier than a boy. From a young age, girls carry more responsibilities, like taking care of their siblings and helping their mom in the household. The number of child marriages and teenage pregnancies is high. This causes serious risks to their health and limits their future opportunities, especially education. In general, girls have fewer opportunities to access education than boys, which keeps them economically dependent on men.

At the OneHeartMalawi Vocational Training Centre we want to give chances to both young women and young men. However, because of the hard situation in Malawi for girls and women, we are thrilled to see that more and more women start the welding & fabrication course. Next to that, we like to empower women in other professions. Esther Philip is our electrician and it is beautiful to see how she talks to the female welding & fabrication students and inspires them. Today we would like to introduce her.

Esther:
‘I am Esther Philip and I am 32 years old. I have 3 sisters and 3 brothers and I am the first born. I have two kids and have a big responsibility towards my siblings and my 2 kids. I know OneHeartMalwai from the beginning, when it was still in the building phase. I grew up and went to school in Monkey Bay. I always wished to be an engineer. Unfortunately, I failed to finish that study because of finances. In 2015 I went to the university in Blantyre for 2 years. After that, my dad couldn't pay the school fees anymore. I have my electrical engineer certificate, but wished I had a degree. In 2017 I went back to Monkey Bay to try out on the ground what I learned at school. I am the only female electrician in Monkey Bay. It is not always easy to find work, since male electricians sometimes take my jobs giving a lower quotation to the client. But it is getting better and better and I find more work through word-of-mouth recommendations.

I advise the female welding & fabrication students not to look down on themselves. They have the ability to achieve. If they have the ambition, they will succeed. My ambition is to be an approved electrician contractor. I want to give opportunities to fellow electricians and teach others, both girls and boys.”

Esther told us she wished she was younger because she also wants to learn the welding & fabrication skill. We guaranteed her that her age is not an issue and that she is more than welcome to start at the OneHeartMalawi Vocational Training Centre to broaden her profession. 💚

#WomenEmpowerment #electrician #chances #career #oneheartmalawi