As the sun begins to set, the sky explodes into a canvas of orange,red and pink. 20 year old James Phiri (name changed) quickens his pace, careful not to miss the only bus out of his village, located in Southern Malawi. The 16 hour arduous journey thereon, will bring him to the University of Mzuzu, where he is pursuing Bachelor of Education in Science.
This is a trip that he makes every quarter to put himself through college and to pursue his dreams of becoming a teacher one day or working for the World Food Program. Life has always been tough for James, and money barely enough for the family's daily needs. His parents are subsistence farmers and they live in a hut made of burnt and unburnt bricks, with a grass roof on their heads.
James was always interested in studies and Malawi's free primary education systems, gave him the perfect opportunity to fuel his knowledge. But as got selected into a good Government secondary school, his worries increased. 'I didn't know if I would be progressing with my studies because of the financial crisis. When I started Form1 at Blantyre Secondary school, fees was a major problem followed by basic needs. It was very difficult for me at that time, because I would go into class thinking about my fees , wondering who was going to pay for it! And this attitude led to a lot of mental stress'
In the beginning, some of James's friends, who were from affluent families, helped him with some basic needs and also lent him other things useful for school. But that would not get him far. And that was when he heard about the Bright Spark Trust. ' They told me that Bright Spark would pay my school fees and also assist in pocket money to be used for groceries, books, stationery, materials and transport. But they look for the most deserving and needy students, who can't afford to pay fees on their own'
James did not waste any time in filling up the necessary forms and prayed that he would be selected. His joy knew no bounds when he was counted in as one of the needy kids who would be embraced by the Bright Spark Family. This would mean that he could continue his education, without worrying about the fees and he would have help to buy books, stationery and other costs for his education. But he also knew that he had a responsibility to work hard and deliver consistent results. ' Life changed when Bright Spark kicked in and I was working hard knowing that this is the opportunity to go further with my studies and to achieve my goals. Fortunately I finished secondary school with a good 14 points and got selected into Mzuzu University'
With University aspirations kicking in, James's anxiety increased. 'I was worried because this is the stage where I would need a lot of money to use in academics, smart phone, laptop. I had come this far and was not willing to give up. Fortunately Bright Spark did not leave me alone. They agreed to pay for my fees as well as give some upkeep to use during the period of study. I use that money for food, groceries, registration, transport and other things.'
James is doing well at University. ' With Bright Sparks, I see my dreams rising up and my future will shine like a morning star. They are pushing me where I am going, that means I will keep on going until I find what I want in life. I thank my mentor and friend Alastair and Bright Spark from the bottom of my heart'
Bright Sparks Trust continues to help hundreds of deserving kids every year. Their model is unique in terms of depth and duration of assistance. This long term financial aid helps level the field and the kids can realize their fullest potential, breaking the cycle of poverty for themselves, assisting their families and villages, and potentially taking on influential roles in Malawian society.