Hope4Malawi Podcast

In this powerful and emotional episode, hosts Sherry and Charis are joined by Amanda, youth pastor at St Paul’s Church, as she reflects on leading a group of young people on a life-changing trip to Malawi with Hope4Malawi. Amanda shares the journey from planning and fundraising to arriving in Malawi and witnessing firsthand the realities of life in a developing country. She speaks about the impact...

In this powerful and eye-opening episode, hosts Sherry and Charis are joined by Phoebe, who shares her deeply personal experience of spending five weeks in Malawi and the lasting impact it had on her life. Phoebe reflects on the emotional reality of arriving in a completely different culture, the initial shock of what she encountered, and how the experience became a journey of healing, growth, and...

In this insightful episode, Sherry is joined by Charis to explore the academic and literacy programmes being delivered in primary schools across Malawi. Charis shares how initiatives like phonics sessions, guided reading, and interactive iPad learning are helping to strengthen essential English and comprehension skills among students. She also highlights the unique role of the literacy team—many o...

In this episode, hosts Sherry and Charis are joined by Hope4Malawi trustees Sara and Mark to explore the charity’s vision and plans for the year ahead. Together they discuss the organisation’s mission to support communities through education, skills training, and sustainable development. Sara and Mark share how Hope4Malawi is investing in staff development, expanding literacy programmes in local s...

In this thoughtful and inspiring episode, hosts Sherry and Charis are joined by Guy, a trustee of Hope4Malawi, as he reflects on his journey from supporter to trustee and his first visit to Malawi in 2024. Guy shares how he and his wife Rebecca became involved with the charity and what drew him to support Hope 4Malawi’s long-term vision. The conversation centres on I Learn About , an innovative au...

In this reflective and eye-opening episode, hosts Sherry and Charis explore how Christmas is celebrated in the communities Hope4Malawi works with — and how different it can look from the traditions many of us are used to in the UK. Drawing on insights from Andrew, a key member of the Malawi team, Charis shares how Christmas is often marked as a serious, faith-centred occasion, focused on church, p...

In this inspiring episode, Sherry and Charis sit down with Rebecca and Sally — two trustees of Hope4Malawi to reflect on their transformative first trip to rural Malawi. With backgrounds in teaching, literacy, and special needs education, they share how they prepared for months to create phonics booklets, English resources, and interactive lessons for classes. From the joy of seeing children engag...

In this heartfelt episode, Sherry and Charis sit down with a special guest — Charis’s dad, Steve — to reflect on his two trips to Malawi and the impact they’ve had on him and the communities he served. Steve shares memorable moments from helping launch the Skills Centre to teaching bike maintenance with YDP students, as well as his experience delivering the Ufulu programme to teenage boys. From th...

In this thoughtful and inspiring episode, hosts Sherry and Charis are joined by Samuel Goodman, son of Hope4Malawi founders Mark and Sara. Samuel shares reflections from his recent trip to Malawi — his first in six years — offering a unique glimpse into how the country, its communities, and Hope4Malawi’s projects have grown and changed. From the development of Hope Secondary School and the new Ski...

In this inspiring and nostalgic episode, hosts Sherry and Charis are joined by Pauline and Gerry — two of Hope for Malawi’s very first trustees and long-time friends of founders Mark and Sarah. Together, they look back on the charity’s incredible journey from its humble beginnings to the thriving projects it supports today. Pauline and Gerry share heartfelt memories of early fundraising efforts —...

In this insightful episode, Sherry and Charis take a break from guest interviews for an open and inspiring conversation about Charis’s own journey with Hope for Malawi. From her first three-week volunteer trip in 2022 to spending three transformative months in Malawi in 2024, Charis shares how her passion for the country and its people grew into her current role as Project Coordinator and UK Suppo...

In this inspiring episode, Sherry and Charis welcome fellow trustee Sara to share the story of Hope for Malawi’s new Youth Development Programme—a year-long initiative helping recent school leavers in rural Malawi bridge the gap between secondary school and their next big step. Sara describes how the programme nurtures faith, character, and practical skills, from tailoring and computing to sustain...

In this inspiring follow-up episode, Sherry and Charis welcome Ben back to share the second half of his life-changing trip to Malawi. From teaching at Hope Secondary School and meeting students like Culture and Eric, to visiting homes and seeing how faith and education open doors for the next generation, Ben offers vivid stories of resilience and joy. He also reflects on unexpected engineering adv...

In this inspiring episode, Sherry and Charis sit down with Ben to hear about his very first trip to Malawi. From arriving at a bungalow compound and witnessing unforgettable sunsets, to joining in the vibrant joy of a Malawian church service, Ben shares the moments that moved him most. He reflects on teaching in rural schools, where classes are sometimes held under trees and resources are scarce,...

In this uplifting episode, Sherry and Charis are joined by Fiona, mum of Charis — one of Hope4Malawi’s team — to share her unique perspective as both a parent and a supporter of the charity. Fiona reflects on her first journey to Malawi, where she stepped into classrooms to teach phonics, spent time cooking with schools, and experienced first-hand the warmth and resilience of the communities she v...

In this inspiring episode, Sherry and Charis sit down with Sara, one of the trustees of Hope4Malawi, to explore the transformative impact of the charity’s student sponsorship programme. They reflect on how the initiative began in 2017 with just a handful of students and has since grown into a vital lifeline for children whose families can’t afford secondary or university education. Sara shares how...

In this heartfelt episode, Sherry and Charis speak with Naomi, a long-time volunteer with Hope for Malawi, about her three trips to Malawi over the past decade. From helping launch the “My Girl” project—focused on menstrual health education and keeping girls in school—to leading team trips and supporting long-term change, Naomi reflects on the cultural challenges, breakthroughs, and the power of e...

In this inspiring episode, Charis and Sarah are joined by the Lott family — Paul, Louisa, Sam, and Barney — as they reflect on their life-changing trip to Malawi. Paul, a teacher at Kings Ely School, shares how the school’s partnership with Hope for Malawi has grown from modest beginnings into a powerful movement that now sponsors students, raises significant funds, and fosters lasting relationshi...

In this heartfelt episode, hosts Charis and Sherry sit down with Maria and Charlotte, two young volunteers preparing for their first youth trip to Malawi. Though they haven’t travelled yet, their excitement, reflections, and hopes paint a powerful picture of why this journey matters. They open up about why they applied, what they’re looking forward to, and how they feel about stepping out of their...

In one of our most entertaining and unique episodes yet, hosts Sherry and Charis are joined by comedian and entertainer Tim Vine for a wide-ranging conversation that blends humour, creativity, and heart. Tim shares his journey into stand-up, his love for songwriting, and how he crafts comedy. While known for his quick wit, Tim also brings thoughtful reflections on purpose, creativity, and giving b...

In this inspiring episode, hosts Sherry and Charis sit down with Mark, co-founder of Hope4Malawi, to explore the remarkable journey of how a single family trip grew into a life-changing mission. Mark shares how the charity began, the power of relationships in Malawian communities, and the growth of their work—from feeding programs and classroom construction to the development of Hope Secondary Sch...

In this powerful episode, hosts Charis and Sherry are joined by Alunda, one of the trustees of Hope4Malawi—and a proud Malawian. Born and raised in Malawi, Alunda shares her heartfelt story of moving to the UK at 17, the emotional journey of adjusting to a new culture, and how her roots continue to shape her life and purpose. Together, they explore the contrasts between life in Malawi and the UK,...

Welcome to the very first episode of the Hope4Malawi podcast! Join hosts Sherry and Charis as they sit down with Sara, one of the charity’s founding members, to explore how a family trip in 2008 sparked a journey that would lead to real, lasting change in Malawi. In this heartwarming episode, Sara shares the origins of the charity, stories of inspiring individuals she's met along the way, and...