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Before the start of the 2024 academic year, the Foundation distributed over 800 school uniforms to children from low-income families across 14 partner schools.
Ahead of the 2024 academic year, the El Chay Foundation distributed over 800 school uniforms to children from low-income families across 14 partner schools in the Northern Region — ensuring that no child misses school because they cannot afford to dress the part.
The distribution exercise took place over two weeks, with Foundation staff visiting each partner school to measure students and hand out uniforms directly. Each child also received a pair of shoes, a school bag, and a set of exercise books.
School uniforms are a significant barrier to education in Malawi. Without a uniform, many children are turned away at the school gate or feel too embarrassed to attend. By providing uniforms, the Foundation removes one of the most visible and immediate obstacles to school attendance.
"When my daughter received her uniform, she cried with happiness," said one parent from a village near Mzuzu. "She had been staying home because she had nothing to wear. Now she goes to school every day and she loves it."
Headteachers at partner schools reported that attendance in the first week of term was the highest they had recorded, with several schools achieving near-100% attendance among Foundation-supported students.
The Foundation thanks the donors and corporate partners whose contributions funded the 2024 uniform distribution. Plans are already underway for the 2025 distribution, with a target of reaching 1,000 children for the first time.
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