Dave Armstrong met Tusaiwe Munkhondya in Lilongwe in October 2023.
Dave’s project Great Minds Bright Futures working supporting orphans and vulnerable children in Dowa, Tusa’s project YANA the same up in Mzuzu, Malawi!
After discussing how their vision to support the children of Malawi aligned, Dave and Tusa decided to collaborate on their first fundraising project together for YANA a collaboration that has created long lasting connections.
Fast forward a few months, along with some amazing helpers and supporters, the 30th March was YANA’s first fundraiser in the UK. Held in Manchester, the event brought together some amazing talent, including Malawians RasAndy, Rootz and Hazel Mak.
Another incredible Malawian doing great work in the UK, Agatha Phiri brought the ever so talented and diverse SAWN choir, their members are asylum seekers from all around the globe. They truly raised the roof and had the crowd on their feet!
The artists received superb praise for their amazing performances, they had all given their time and energy for free for the causes of Great Minds Bright Futures and YANA.
The packed crowd heard from Dave talking about his project improving the lives of orphans over the last twenty years, plus an invite to join a charity challenge to Malawi in 2025, called Mission Malawi.
Tusa spoke about her inspiring journey to care for babies of teenage mums and her next project, opening a school for children with special needs, inspired by her desire to care for her own son with special needs.
The stories of Dave and Tusa created a lot of interest and support from the crowd, with some relationships forged. Dave said “it’s amazing that so many people have come together to support our charities, we both need everyone to pull together and stand behind us to continue our journey and we can certainly feel the love and support today, especially from Malawians”.
To find out more about the projects supported by the fundraiser and to see how you might be able to help, check out the website https://greatmindsbrightfutures.co.uk and the following TikTok’s;
@greatmindsbrightfutures
@yanakidsmalawi
And instagram’s;
@greatmindsbrightfutures
@tusaiweyana
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