Laptop donation helps African student’s futures
Cranfield recently donated laptop computers to the worthy Bwengu Project which supports 51 deprived village communities in north Malawi.
The laptops went to good use by supporting students in Mzuzu University who are now using them to complete their dissertations. They have also been able to record films on one to watch in the new village cinema.
The Bwengu Project came to our attention when Cranfield director, Brett Barton, met Tony and Sue Melia, founders of the charity, at a breakfast meeting in July 2011.
Brett was very impressed with both their passion to make a difference and also the high percentage of funds received that are directly used in their various projects. Tony & Sue’s presentation lasted about 20 minutes and they highlighted their objective to help disadvantaged people in Africa, to use something as basic as a computer which we all take for granted.
Tony and Sue founded the Bwengu Project in 2004 when Tony returned from a trip to South Africa and was shocked at the misuse of donations to the community out there. Ever since, the couple have worked in north Malawi each year completing various building projects of local schools, churches and medical centres and generally supporting the community.
Tony Melia told us that our laptops had made a positive effect on the students learning and said: “To change the world is nice but to bring change and hope through knowledge is the best gift one can give, this is what Cranfield has done for us.”
