150 Students Graduate from El Chay Foundation School Support Program

The El Chay Foundation held its annual graduation ceremony at the Mzuzu Community Hall, celebrating 150 students who successfully completed the 2024 academic year under the School Support & Education program.

The event brought together students, parents, teachers, community leaders, and Foundation staff for a day of celebration, reflection, and renewed commitment to education in Malawi.

Students dressed in their Foundation-provided uniforms marched proudly into the hall to the applause of hundreds of family members. Each graduate received a certificate of completion, a school kit for the following year, and words of encouragement from Foundation leadership.

"Today is proof that when a community comes together to support its children, anything is possible," said the Executive Director in her keynote address. "Every child here has shown resilience, determination, and a hunger for knowledge that inspires all of us."

Since its founding in 2010, the School Support & Education program has provided uniforms, learning materials, and school infrastructure support to over 1,200 children across 14 schools in the Northern Region. The 2024 cohort represents the largest graduating class in the program's history.

Teachers from partner schools reported an average attendance improvement of 28% among supported students, with several students achieving top marks in their district examinations.

The Foundation announced plans to expand the program to three additional schools in 2025, targeting communities in the Rumphi and Nkhata Bay districts. Donors and partners interested in supporting the expansion are encouraged to contact the Foundation directly.

The ceremony concluded with a cultural performance by students and a community meal shared by all attendees — a fitting celebration of the collective effort that makes the program possible.