Full Chalkboards, No Textbooks: Help Saint Patricia’s Students Learn

Here in the U.S., many of us take books for granted. We have iPads, the internet, and libraries filled with resources.

Learning feels limitless. 

But in rural Malawi, students don’t have that luxury.

✏️ A Classroom Without Textbooks

When I visited Saint Patricia’s recently, the classrooms were quiet during lunch. 

Desks were covered with loose papers and notebooks, evidence of how students create their own “textbooks” by copying word-for-word from the teacher’s board. 

Mistakes get passed along, key ideas are lost, and all of this happens in English... A second language for both students and teachers.

Amy, who has worked closely with these students, described it well:

“When my boys have come over to America with their study materials, they will have eight notebooks full of whatever they copied off the teacher’s board.”

 

Students in our sponsorship program have been asking—BEGGING—for their own textbooks. Their requests show just how deeply they want the tools to learn correctly and confidently.

From my homeschooling background, I’ve seen firsthand how access to quality materials changes the learning experience. 

The teachers at Saint Patricia’s are dedicated and resourceful, but without proper textbooks, their students face unnecessary hurdles.

Imagine trying to copy everything the teacher writes, day after day, while also trying to understand it, remember it, and prepare for exams. 

That time could instead be spent learning concepts more deeply, asking questions, and practicing problem-solving. 

Textbooks would ease anxiety, reduce errors, and make studying far more effective.

“The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge, for the ears of the wise seek it out.” – Proverbs 18:15

---

 The Need

School has already begun, but it’s not too late to equip these classrooms. We need $5,143 to purchase:

• $1,143 for teacher manuals

• $4,000 for textbooks and workbooks

These aren’t flashy editions—they’re simple, reliable resources that will make a lasting difference in comprehension, confidence, and exam success.

100% of every donation will go directly to purchasing these books for Saint Patricia’s students.

👉 Donate at GivingBasics.org and include “Books” as the subject line so your gift goes directly toward this project.

“Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.” – Proverbs 22:6

---

Why Your Support Matters

Anyone who has felt the joy of holding a book and learning from it can understand the impact of giving these students textbooks of their own.

With your support, students will be able to:

📖 Study more effectively
📝 Reduce mistakes from copying notes
😌 Learn with less anxiety
🎯 Approach exams with confidence
🎓 Progress successfully to the next grade/form

---

A Heartfelt Thank You

I am so deeply grateful for this community. 

Your generosity, prayers, and encouragement remind me daily that God is at work through each of you.

I know there are many worthy causes, and I ask often—but time and again you respond with open hands and open hearts. That faithfulness is such a gift.

Because of you, we’ve already reached our goal for farmers’ sponsorships and are so close to completing our goal for student sponsorships! 

You’ve shown what it means to carry one another’s burdens and invest in lives across the globe.

Now, together, we have the opportunity to extend that same love into the classroom by providing teacher manuals and textbooks—resources that will impact students for years to come.

“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” – 1 Peter 4:10

---

🙏 A Prayer for the Students and Supporters

Heavenly Father,

We lift up the students of Saint Patricia’s to You. Bless their teachers with wisdom, their classrooms with the tools they need, and their hearts with a love for learning. May each student approach their studies with confidence and joy.

We also lift up the supporters who pray so faithfully and give so generously. Bless them with joy, peace, and fulfillment as they help provide these students with opportunities to learn, grow, and succeed. 

In Jesus' name, Amen.

---

📖 Every Book Counts

Every book counts. Every student benefits. Every donation helps ensure that Saint Patricia’s students begin this school year prepared, confident, and ready to succeed.

 “Give, and it will be given to you.” – Luke 6:38

• I would love to hear your thoughts and experiences, feel free to leave a comment below. 

• Enjoyed this post? Subscribe now for more insightful content.