Small Things with Great Love: A Journey to Kalilima 2 Village, Mulanje, Malawi

"We can do no great things, only small things with great love."

– Mother Teresa

In May 2017, Charity Service Faith Mission (CSF Mission) founders Dawn Edwards and Jasmin Edwards were given a life-changing opportunity: to join a volunteer team with Habitat for Humanity on a build project in Mulanje, Malawi. They lived and worked in Kalilima 2 village, a small rural village, for ten days, where they helped construct two homes for two hardworking and deserving families. It was a humbling experience — the kind that shifts your perspective forever.

However, it wasn’t just the house-building that impacted them. During their stay, they visited Mtendere Primary School, the only school serving children from Kalilima 2 and 11 nearby villages. At the time, over 750 students were enrolled, ranging from grades 1 through 8. Today, that number has grown to more than 900 students.

While the school building itself is well built, what they saw inside broke their hearts — bare classrooms with no desks, benches, or basic school supplies. The environment was challenging, yet the students showed up every day, present and eager to learn. Their determination and resilience moved Dawn and Jasmin deeply, and at that moment, they knew something had to be done to help change the classroom environment.

As soon as they returned home to Canada and the U.S., they reached out to UNICEF, which had an ongoing initiative in Malawi called K.I.N.D. – Kids In Need of Desks. They also contacted the Malawi Ministry of Education, seeking their help in supporting Mtendere Primary School. The response was incredibly positive. By January 2018, less than a year later, the school received:

• 270 desks and benches for all eight classrooms

• 16 desks and chairs for the dedicated teachers

The impact of this contribution was immediate and impactful. Students no longer had to sit on the floor. Teachers had proper desks for planning and teaching. A renewed sense of dignity and hope filled the classrooms. At the heart of it all was a simple belief: every child has the right to education. And education is not just about books and classrooms — it's about opportunity, empowerment, and breaking the cycle of poverty.

Dawn and Jasmin's journey with Mtendere Primary School didn’t end in 2018. They remain committed to supporting these students and their teachers. Their goal is to continue creating opportunities that encourage, equip, and empower — helping each child reach their full potential and, in turn, contribute to their communities.

This is more than a story about desks. It’s a story about how small acts, done with great love, can create lasting change.

The journey continues…

Join us in making a difference.

The story of Mtendere Primary School is just one example of how love in action can transform lives. While a simple desk may seem small, to a child in Malawi, it's a symbol of dignity, opportunity, and hope.

You can be part of this journey.

Whether through a donation, partnership, or simple sharing of the founders' story, your support can help them continue to provide essential resources and educational opportunities for students in need. Foreign Mission