There are many great stories about charity work that makes a real difference to the lives of others. High profile events such as Live Aid, Children in Need and Red Nose Day raise enormous amounts of money to help a variety of people who could do with a little extra help. We take a look at how money raised for a Malawi school has made a real difference to the community by funding a project from beginning to end and giving power back to the people in the local area.

Not for profit organisations realise that to really help a community overcome its hardships it is necessary to help the people take control of their lives again. Charity is not just about dishing out enough food to tide people over or building a school and leaving without helping set up. What makes a real difference is going that extra mile. Give a community the resources and knowledge it needs and then they can regain control of a situation. In the case of a food crisis this could be by supplying seeds and fertilisers rather than just handing out food packages, and teaching efficient irrigation methods to improve yields.

When it comes to Malawi school projects, it is beneficial for the community to be involved every step of the way from planning a building to equipping it and finally learning how to keep it maintained and use the resources provided to best effect. If a not for profit or charitable organisation just builds, stocks and leaves a school, the local community have little knowledge of how to use it to best effect, and the short term help can become a long term hindrance.

A community that is involved in planning and construction of a Malawi school can take the skills learned from the project and reapply them in a different part of the community, whether it be digging foundations, erecting walls, plumbing or wiring. Once these skills have been learned they are there to use for good, thereby adding to the whole community. The same can be said of the skills that are taught when it comes to essential resources within the school. Running a library, scheduling lessons and teaching skills are all important, and they are skills which can be used in the community after a charity has helped and left.

A simple act of donating to a Malawi school project goes far beyond ensuring that children in the community will get an education. The donation is part of a larger project that helps everyone in that community and gives them a chance to take control of their lives not just in the immediate future, but in the years to come too.