Brilliant Exam Results at APU Malawi

Christie has announced some wonderful news from APU Malawi:

The results for both the Junior Certificate Exam (JCE) and Malawi School Certificate Exam (MSCE) have been published. Our teachers and students at APU are celebrating their amazing success.  Although the results for the JCE were made available in September, the results for the MSCE were only made public yesterday.

These exams were written by last year's Form 2 and Form 4 students in June 2012.  

APU Form 2 students achieved a 100% pass rate on their Junior Certificate Exams.  The national pass rate was 66%.

APU Form 4 students achieved a 91% pass rate on their MSC Exams.  77 APU students wrote this exam and 71 of them passed.  The national pass rate was just 51%.  Not only did 91% of our girls pass, but they passed with grades that are far higher than our last year results, putting APU on the map as one of the top girls' schools in the country.  

This class of 77 girls started Form 1 at APU in our second year of operation.  Every one of these students was on full scholarship and were selected out of thousands of applicants.  This selection process was not based on academic achievement, but on the fact that they had all demonstrated courage and determination in their quest to remain in school despite their stories of hardship, orphanhood, poverty and in many cases, abuse.  The fact that these girls have achieved grades equal and superior to students attending the best government and private schools in the country is truly astounding.

APU teachers have a great deal to be proud of.

Thanks everyone for your continued support!

Christie

Disappointment for APU's first graduating class, the class of 2011 ... BUT THERE IS ALWAYS HOPE!

Tiyamike

APU was hoping to have at least 10 graduates from our first graduating class, the class of 2011, receive government scholarships to the University of Malawi. Sadly, only 2 of our girls, Tiyamike Brave (left), and Bridget Guzani (below), were awarded scholarships. 

Bridget

It has been a long journey for the girls whose hearts were set on going to university. They wrote their MSCE (Form 4 national exams) in July 2011. Then they waited. They found out their results in October of 2011. Then they waited. They finally wrote their university entrance exams in March of 2012. They waited again. The names of the students selected to go to UNIMA (University Of Malawi) have just now been released. This news is heartbreaking to many of our APU graduates who, according to Henry, "poured their souls into their studies ... they worked their lungs out ..." in the hope of going to university.

This year, a total of 8507 candidates sat for the 2012 University Entrance Examination in Malawi. 6373 of these students candidates passed. Only 907 in the entire country have been granted government sponsorship to attend the university. Thankfully, this is NOT THE END OF HOPE for our graduates. We have a number of APU students who have earned the grades and the right to a university education. 

The university of Malawi is now inviting applications from qualified students capable of paying tuition. The closing date for these applications is Oct 9, just a couple of weeks away. 

Memory and Henry are going to advise some of their students to apply for self sponsored admission to the university in order to keep their options open. There is an outside possibility that sponsors, their villages or even their extended families might step up to cover the university tuition (approximately $2500 per year) for some of these girls. 

I believe that there is a way for these girls to attend university, and we all know that they deserve it. They have made it this far ... why not keep going ... after all ... they are GIRLS ON THE MOVE!

If you are reading this post, and are interested in sponsoring one of our UNIVERSITY HOPEFULS, please contact us at support@malawigirlsonthemove.com.

Amy's Blog

Link to Amy Bronson's Blog: 
Amy is the daughter of a Rotarian from the Lethbridge East Rotary Club. She is doing an internship with CIDA in Lilongwe and attended the APU graduation ceremony. She has written about her experience in her blog.

The following are recent photos of the girls and the buildings/projects at APU Malawi. 
Thanks to Henry for sending them.

Singing at Graduation

Staff Duplex #3

Getting Ready for Grad

Solar Panels

A service was held for Ken Haywood on June 30th.  Ken's ashes were spread at the base of a newly planted Baobob tree.

CIRCLE of WOMEN - Cerianne's visit to APU

Cerianne Robertson of Harvard University 'Circle Of Women', visited APU in early June and wrote the following about her visit …

I obviously had a fantastic time and learned so, so much.  It became obvious to me that APU is not only providing an education for girls who may otherwise have little opportunity to attend secondary school but is also succeeding to teach the students to be leaders who believe in their own abilities, and even responsibility, to change their communities for the better.  I have not stopped telling everyone in Circle how wonderful the school is and how lucky we are to have found you!!

Thanks for your visit Cerianne!  The girls at APU were so happy to meet you and we are all thrilled by the new partnership that is beginning between Circle of Women and Atsikana Pa Ulendo (APU).

Circle of Women

   Circle of Women , a group of undergraduate students from Harvard University, has successfully approved their proposal to partner with APU!

This partnership includes the funding of Class Block #4, the fourth and final Class Block that was called for in the original project definition for APU Girls Secondary School. The estimated cost for this building is $65,000. The furnishing of this building is estimated at $5,000.  Depending on their fundraising success, Circle Of Women are hoping to have funds available so that construction of this building is begun in September, 2012.
Cerianne Robertson, Director of Circle Of Women Think Tank, visited APU from May 29th through to June 4th. The purpose of her trip is was:
          a) to collect more information for impact assessment purposes,
          b) get a better sense of how they might be able to continue a partnership with APU in the future &
         c) to learn more from APU’s model as a young but extremely successful school for girls.  Cerianne's visit was greatly appreciated by Memory, Henry and the students and we look forward to our developing relationship with Circle Of Women!

Construction Update at APU Malawi

Laboratory North View

APU Project Manager Henry Mdyetseni and his locally-trained labour crew are working almost beyond their capacity to complete four parallel construction projects. Their goal is to complete these projects by Sept 2012.
The science lab, begun in 2010, is now 75% complete. The funds for the completion of this building were recently donated by a couple in Victoria who wish to remain anonymous. Our students and science teachers are eagerly awaiting the completion of this building so that they can enjoy learning science through hands-on experimentation in their new lab. In addition to donating towards the construction, this same couple donated an extra $10,000 to be put towards the purchase of science equipment for the lab.
Staff Duplex #3 is already 60% complete. This is incredible progress, as this building was only just begun in March. Henry and his team have been moving full steam ahead on this building as it must be ready by the end of August in order to satisfy the requirements of the grant that helped fund the building. The funds for this building have been provided by the Rotary Club of Lethbridge. Being able to provide APU's teachers with good quality housing will make a huge difference in APU's ability to attract high quality teachers who are willing to bring their families to the rural school.
Hostel #5, an $80,000 building, is now 80% complete. The first $20,000 for this building came from the fundraiser held last June by the Women Helping Women group in Victoria.  This hostel will provide accommodation for student teachers at the future APU Teacher's Training College.

Finally, the most urgent and demanding project that is being tackled at APU is the installation of the third and deepest well, as well as the construction of a second water tower. APU has been suffering from a severe water shortage due to the fact that the original wells were not producing a high enough volume of water for the school's water needs. Three Rotary Clubs on Vancouver Island: Sooke, West Shore, and the Oak Bay Rotary Club, have donated more than half of the funds needed for this project. With this 100-metre-deep well in place, we know that APU's water needs will be taken care of well into the future.  Thank you Rotary!

Hostel - West View

Southern View

Hostel

Trusses

Teachers' House from front

Women Helping Women Fundraiser

Note: some photos removed as per request

On Sunday, June 3rd, APU graduate and Pearson College Scholar, Maness Samuel, and APU co-founder, Christie Johnson, attended the 2nd annual Women Helping Women Fundraiser in Victoria.  It was a wonderful event hosted by an incredible group of women. Maness (right) spoke passionately about the urgent need for access to further education for her classmates, the APU graduates of 2011.  This group of women has now successfully raised a total of $34,000 towards the construction of the APU Teacher's Training College. The first $20,000, raised last year, was put towards the construction of a hostel for the student teachers.  The funds raised this year will be put towards the construction of a joint-use facility, the APU TTCC or Teacher's Training College Complex.  This facility will include a library, a computer lab, learning spaces for APU student teachers, as well as administration offices for both the Secondary School and the Teacher's Training College.

Read more about Women Helping Women here.

Below: Christie and Maness and two enthusiastic junior fundraisers!!

Lethbridge Rotary Club donates laptops

Tania Stilson from the Rotary Club of Lethbridge has managed to collect 67 laptops for APU.  She has arranged for them all to be 'cleaned' for free and is now working on figuring out how to get them to Malawi.

Now we need to ensure that there is a classroom space to set these computers up in. Eventually the computer lab will be located in the Admin/TTCC (Teachers Training College Complex) building. Once the Science Lab is finished the computer lab can be set up in one of the currently used classroom spaces and the Science Lab (4 learning spaces) can be used as classroom space.

A HUGE THANK-YOU TO TANIA AND THE LETHBRIDGE ROTARY CLUB!

Friend Development Committee Report, March 2012

Here's a summary of what's been happening over the past little while:

• 1500 people heard presentations by Henry Mdetseni (Project Manager at APU in Malawi) and Christie Johnson (Executive Director, APU-MEF Canada) during the month of February.  Hundreds of these people are current or past donors who were very eager to receive an update about APU.
• Everyone who has contributed to the sponsorship of an APU student since 2007 received a letter of thanks that included, where possible, letters from their students and current pictures of their students.
• Everyone who has contributed to APU construction (including electricity, wells, etc.) since 2007 received a letter of thanks and an update about the school's progress to date.
• Every Rotary Club that has contributed to APU has received a detailed letter reporting on their contributions to date, an 8'' by 10'' 2011 Gradation Photo, and a carefully written request for further funding.
• Every Rotary Club that Henry and Christie visited has received a follow-up letter, including a request for funding.
• APU Photobooks have been distributed to Sheila Haywood, Anne McClellan, and the Interact Club of Dawson Creek.

APU TOUR - Day 26

Some photos removed as per request

Henry outside the Victoria Legislature

It has been a whirlwind of a month filled with speaking engagements, meetings, and fundraisers, with the occasional bit of recreation and pure fun thrown in!  Everywhere we go the energy of APU supporters helps to motivate us and the growing momentum of support for our GIRLS ON THE MOVE is evident in the number of people who  are eager to share their ideas, support, and energy as well as pledging their support in the form of sponsorships for our girls, and funding for construction.

It is snowing outside today and I am personally very pleased that Henry is finally learning about a real Alberta winter after such unseasonably warm weather. Today is a much needed day off and Henry is spending the day learning to snowshoe and ski at Castle Mountain in Pincher Creek.  It hasn't taken him long to figure out which button to press to turn on the seat warmer and is racing me for the front seat in any vehicle that might have one.  We are both feeling a wee bit sluggish after too many hours riding in cars on the way to make various presentations and too many rich meals at Rotary meetings, but we certainly can't complain!

Schools Visited:

SMUS Senior School

Pearson College

Interact Clubs

Terwilligar

Dawson Creek

Oak Bay

Rotaract Clubs Visited:

University of Lethbridge

Rotary Club of Olds, Alberta, Cheque Presentation

Rotary Clubs Visited

GREATER VICTORIA DISTRICT

Royal Oak

Saanich

Nanaimo Daybreak
Oak Bay

Harbourside

Sooke

Sidney By The Sea

Victoria

Westshore

ALBERTA

Barrhead

Stony Plain

Spruce Grove

Parkland After Dark

Morinville

Northern Lights

Whitecourt

St. Albert

Cochrane

RC of Calgary Downtown

RC Calgary South

Lethbridge

Kiwanis

Lethbridge East

Lethbridge Urban Spirits

Lethbridge Sunrise

Community Visits

Metchosin House

University of Lethbridge Health Sciences

Southern Alberta Teacher's Convention

As you can see, Henry and I have truly been ON THE MOVE in an attempt to keep Atsikana Pa Ulendo also ON THE MOVE!  

Take care everyone, and thanks for all of your support!

Christie

Simon, Laura, Henry, boating in Pedder Bay, Vancouver Island

Christie and Henry, Calgary Stampede Grounds

Henry's First Sled Ride

Rotary Club of Calgary Downtown

APU Fundraising and Information Tour 2012

February

2012

Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
			1	2	3	4
			Henry arrives
5	6	7	8	9	10	11
	12:00 Royal Oak 6:00 Saanich RC	12:00 Oak Bay	6:30AM Harbourside 12:15 Sooke 6:30 SMUS	7:15 Sidney By The Sea 12:00 Victoria RC 7:00 Metchosin House	12:00 Westshore	8:15 H and C to Edmonton
12	13	14	15	16	17	18
	12:00 Barrhead 3:45 Terwilligar 6:00 Stony Plain +		7:00 Morinville	7:00 Northern Lights RC 12:00 Whitecourt	7:00 St. Albert 5:30 DC Interact
19	20	21	22	23	24	25
	H and C to Calgary	7:00 Cochrane 12:00 RC Calgary	12:00 Rocky Mtn House	7:00 Olds Drive to Lethbridge	8:45 Catholic TC 10:30 Alberta TC
26	27	28	29
	12:00 RC Lethbridge 5:00 Lethbridge Urban Spirits	12:00 RC Kiwanis 6:00 Lethbridge East	7:30 Business Professional Group 4:00 U of L Health Sciences 7:00 U of L Rotaract	7:00 Lethbridge Sunrise 9:00 to Calgary 6:15 Henry’s departure