Bhubesi Pride Foundation

Malawi is listed as one of the poorest countries in the world economically, with HIV/Aids, Malaria, teenage pregnancies, sub-standard literacy and numeracy rates and school drop-outs presenting persistent social challenges. Through sport, education and promoting healthy life choices in a welcoming and receptive community, BPF is enabling transformational change.
Mtema is a 710 square kilometre rural village community an hour’s drive north-west of Lilongwe with a population of 59,000; 35,000 of which are below 18 years of age. Homes here are traditionally constructed of sticks, mud and burnt or unburnt bricks (made from a mixture of water and sand placed in moulds and dried in the open air). Cooking is done over the fire in a separate building with a smoke hole in the roof. People bathe outside. Water is carried, often over great distances, for cooking and bathing.
 

BPF development officer, Wordsworth Rashid, leads a year-round rugby and life-skills program with six primary schools, five secondary schools and one club; involving 700 players, aged 10 - 18. Wordsworth works with over forty actively engaged teachers and coaches to deliver curricular and extra-curricular sessions and coordinate monthly fixtures.

Bhubesi Pride Foundation is realising a dream. Having purchased a 7-acre site in rural Lilongwe, build plans are underway to lay a full-size sports field, netball court and volleyball court and construct a clubhouse (with two large learning spaces, changing rooms, offices, kitchen, canteen and viewing deck), on-site accommodation for visitors, storage space, manager’s house and parking. Plans to sustainably maximise the centre’s use include developing our core rugby and life-skills schools program, and, by partnering relevant in-country and international organisations, introduce additional activities, such as tutoring, adult learning, healthcare, IT and teacher training.