Jacaranda Foundation
Encyclopedia
The Jacaranda Foundation is an American
/Malawi
an grassroots organisation founded in 2002 by Malawian Marie Da Silva. With the foundation itself based in New York City
, it maintains the Jacaranda School. Since Primary education is currently free for all students,it is Malawi's only entirely free school for both primary and secondary students. The vast majority of students of the Jacaranda School are orphaned by the HIV/AIDS pandemic.
, primary education
is free, but the student must supply his or her own uniform, paper, pencils, pens, other supplies, and examination fees. There are many orphans in Malawi who are unable to afford such fees or basic items such as food and clothing unless they give up school and begin working. Founder Marie Da Silva established the Jacaranda School to provide education for students funded by the Jacaranda Foundation, which pays for all the students' additional costs and supplies students with a daily nutritious meal. Secondary schooling
, for which students must normally pay at Malawian schools, is also provided free at the Jacaranda School.
, outside which Da Silva placed a sign reading "Free education for AIDS orphans." Richard Makwangawala was brought in as the school's first headmaster. From 2002 to 2005, Da Silva funded the school with the money she earned working as a nanny in the United States.
Marie's love for children and her personal history gave her the inspiration and sense of urgency to rescue orphans and raise awareness about their plight. Like so many Malawian families, Marie's family was struck by the AIDS pandemic. Fourteen members of her immediate family have died of AIDS: her father, brothers, nieces and nephews, leaving many children in the family orphaned.
Gifts of supplies were received on 18 March 2008 from the Actie Schoenmaatjes (Active Shoemates) foundation in the Netherlands
, delivered by local Malawian Pastor Milanzi. The Dutch organization donated to each student a shoebox containing school supplies and small toys such as tennis balls, stuffed animals, and balloons.
In 2008 Da Silva was nominated as a CNN Hero, with $25,000 donated to the Foundation. In October 2008 the Foundation was able to open a new secondary school building next to the original house, providing more space for the school's 320 pupils.
In June 2009 the Jacaranda School welcomed its first visiting group from abroad, a group of 19 students and four teachers from the Shanghai American School
, in Shanghai, China
. The Jacaranda staff and students put on a musical event for the visitors, including performances by visiting Malawian singers. The same month the school hosted a visit from Malawi’s Hindu
Community, who delivered bread, corn flour, orange juice, sugar, chalk, and exercise books.
In August 2009 the official Facebook
page was opened. In September 2009 the official Twitter
page was established.
Da Silva currently resides in New York City
and speaks to schools across the world to share her story.
On December 30, 2009, Da Silva received the Television Malawi
Lifetime Achievement Award from the President of Malawi, Dr. Bingu wa Mutharika
. A 16-year old Jacaranda School student, Dorothy Damba, was also awarded for her determination to stay in school, against all odds.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
/Malawi
Malawi
The Republic of Malawi is a landlocked country in southeast Africa that was formerly known as Nyasaland. It is bordered by Zambia to the northwest, Tanzania to the northeast, and Mozambique on the east, south and west. The country is separated from Tanzania and Mozambique by Lake Malawi. Its size...
an grassroots organisation founded in 2002 by Malawian Marie Da Silva. With the foundation itself based in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, it maintains the Jacaranda School. Since Primary education is currently free for all students,it is Malawi's only entirely free school for both primary and secondary students. The vast majority of students of the Jacaranda School are orphaned by the HIV/AIDS pandemic.
Background
In the Malawian Education systemEducation in Malawi
Malawi has an 8-4-4 education system consisting of primary school , secondary school and university education. The official entry age into primary level education is 6 years...
, primary education
Primary education
A primary school is an institution in which children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as primary or elementary education. Primary school is the preferred term in the United Kingdom and many Commonwealth Nations, and in most publications of the United Nations Educational,...
is free, but the student must supply his or her own uniform, paper, pencils, pens, other supplies, and examination fees. There are many orphans in Malawi who are unable to afford such fees or basic items such as food and clothing unless they give up school and begin working. Founder Marie Da Silva established the Jacaranda School to provide education for students funded by the Jacaranda Foundation, which pays for all the students' additional costs and supplies students with a daily nutritious meal. Secondary schooling
Secondary education
Secondary education is the stage of education following primary education. Secondary education includes the final stage of compulsory education and in many countries it is entirely compulsory. The next stage of education is usually college or university...
, for which students must normally pay at Malawian schools, is also provided free at the Jacaranda School.
History
Born in Malawi, Marie Da Silva has been working as a nanny in the United States for the past sixteen years. In 2002, Marie visited her mother and met the headmaster and teachers of a school housed in a nearby church. A year later the school had to move out of its premises and had nowhere to go. Marie's late mother, Aisha Da Silva, donated for use as a school and sanctuary for orphans. The school was at first housed in Da Silva's childhood home, just outside BlantyreBlantyre, Malawi
Blantyre or Mandala is Malawi's centre of finance and commerce, the largest city with an estimated 732,518 inhabitants . It is sometimes referred to as the commercial capital of Malawi as opposed to the political capital, Lilongwe...
, outside which Da Silva placed a sign reading "Free education for AIDS orphans." Richard Makwangawala was brought in as the school's first headmaster. From 2002 to 2005, Da Silva funded the school with the money she earned working as a nanny in the United States.
Marie's love for children and her personal history gave her the inspiration and sense of urgency to rescue orphans and raise awareness about their plight. Like so many Malawian families, Marie's family was struck by the AIDS pandemic. Fourteen members of her immediate family have died of AIDS: her father, brothers, nieces and nephews, leaving many children in the family orphaned.
Gifts of supplies were received on 18 March 2008 from the Actie Schoenmaatjes (Active Shoemates) foundation in the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, delivered by local Malawian Pastor Milanzi. The Dutch organization donated to each student a shoebox containing school supplies and small toys such as tennis balls, stuffed animals, and balloons.
In 2008 Da Silva was nominated as a CNN Hero, with $25,000 donated to the Foundation. In October 2008 the Foundation was able to open a new secondary school building next to the original house, providing more space for the school's 320 pupils.
In June 2009 the Jacaranda School welcomed its first visiting group from abroad, a group of 19 students and four teachers from the Shanghai American School
Shanghai American School
Shanghai American School is an international K-12 school located in Shanghai, China. Originally established in 1912, it accepts expatriate students from all countries around the world, and fosters them with an American educational environment.-Present:...
, in Shanghai, China
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
. The Jacaranda staff and students put on a musical event for the visitors, including performances by visiting Malawian singers. The same month the school hosted a visit from Malawi’s Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
Community, who delivered bread, corn flour, orange juice, sugar, chalk, and exercise books.
In August 2009 the official Facebook
Facebook
Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
page was opened. In September 2009 the official Twitter
Twitter
Twitter is an online social networking and microblogging service that enables its users to send and read text-based posts of up to 140 characters, informally known as "tweets".Twitter was created in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey and launched that July...
page was established.
Da Silva currently resides in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and speaks to schools across the world to share her story.
On December 30, 2009, Da Silva received the Television Malawi
Television Malawi
Television Malawi is a public broadcaster in Malawi 100% owned and run by the government. The station transmits its signal throughout the country via satellite....
Lifetime Achievement Award from the President of Malawi, Dr. Bingu wa Mutharika
Bingu wa Mutharika
Bingu wa Mutharika is a Malawi economist who is President of Malawi. He took office on 24 May 2004 after winning a disputed presidential election...
. A 16-year old Jacaranda School student, Dorothy Damba, was also awarded for her determination to stay in school, against all odds.
External links
- Official Facebook page
- Official Twitter page
- CNN HeroesCNN HeroesCNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute is an annual television special created by CNN to honor individuals who make extraordinary contributions to help others. It is hosted by Anderson Cooper...
- "Habitat for Humanity helps the Jacaranda school in Malawi :." 10 Aug. 2009.