Charity and Fundraising

The Msalura School in Malwai

At the Inspired Learning Group, we believe in the power of collaboration and cultural exchange to enrich education.

For over a decade, our partnership with Msalura School in Malawi has thrived, fostering mutual learning and support between our communities. Approximately every two years, members of staff across ILG visit the school exchanging expertise and experiences. In 2024, three ILG Headteachers and two Head Office staff embarked on a poignant journey to Malawi, forging deeper connections and understanding. Read about the most recent trip here.

Fundraising Initiatives 

These visits go beyond mere exchanges; they embody our commitment to making a tangible difference. Through generous contributions from our schools including the School Council, in-school fundraising events like Mufti days, and parent-organised initiatives such as cake and second-hand uniform sales, we’ve been able to provide essential equipment and funds to support Msalura’s mission.

Staff are also invested in raising funds. In 2024 a team from Sunninghill Prep School ran the Weymouth Half Marathon raising over £1,200. At Westbury House School, Miss King, Headmistress, and Mrs Ganji, School Administrator, completed a skydive and raised over £3000.

We are currently aiming to raise £10,000 to provide 120 desks for the new school block, which has 4 classrooms in, and build 8 toilets for the pupils. Some of these toilets will be specifically designed for SEN pupils so all children have access to clean sanitation appropriate for their individual needs.

If you’d like to support this important cause you can donate here.

2014 – 2024 Projects 

Days for Girls

One of the major roadblocks to education for girls at Msalura is the lack of available feminine sanitary products. One of the key projects at Essendene in 2017 was the ‘Days for Girls” project – during this period parents met to work together to sew and put together basic sanitary packs for the girls. Working together, a team of some 20 parents and teachers spent afternoons and evenings together making and packaging the packs, which Mrs Ali was able to deliver to the school during her visit in the Autumn.

The Gifted Girls Fund

One of the crucial areas in which parent fundraising has been directed at Msalura is the Gifted Girls Fund. While primary education is free in Malawi, secondary education is not, making it extremely difficult for girls to access education after the age of 11. Fundraising has targeted this area particularly, allowing a number of girls to fund their secondary education and progress onwards towards University.

Find out more about our 100th Girl from the fund

Our 100th girl

Thandie Njolomole

At the start of this term Thandie began her secondary education at Chipoka Secondary School. 

During her years at Msalura Primary School Thandie was consistently in the top ten learners in her year (a year group of around 300 learners) and it was no surprise that in September 2024 she was one of the few selected for Chipoka Secondary.

Thandie is an orphan being looked after by her grandmother.  They get by as subsistence farmers and have no other income.  So Thandie fits perfectly the criterion that was the starting point of the Gifted Girls scheme in 2009 – a very bright young girl with the potential to go on to further education but who would leave school at 14 without the support that we are able to give.  A life changing opportunity that we have now been able to give to over 100 Malawian girls.


A big thank you to all those who have supported the Msalura Gifted Girls Fund over the past 15 years and given these one hundred young girls a chance for a better life.

Water Pump Instillation

In 2018 the parents of Essendene Lodge School organised a spectacular gala dinner. Thanks to donations of raffle prizes from parents, performances from staff, and even the loan of a parent’s restaurant for the evening, over 100 people were able to raise in excess of £7,000. As a result, work on the water pump and rebuilding more sanitary toilet blocks was able to start immediately. Any excess funds were put towards Days for Girls and The Gifted Girls Fund.

Classroom Renovations

Fundraising in the past few years has focused on rebuilding and refreshing the classrooms at the school so they are a better learning environment.