School Fees Relief - Malawi

School Fees Relief is a non-profit dedicated to solving the school fees problem in Malawian secondary schools. It provides academically promising but financially disadvantaged Malawian boys and girls with comprehensive scholarships . It provides a scalable and sustainable solution to the school fees problem.

History and Core Values

This vision for School Fees Relief was born from our founder Zengani Kayira’s own childhood experiences.

Growing up, he saw a close relative denied the chance to continue secondary school education due to lack of school fees. Around the same time, a close friend with straight Bs in the Junior Secondary School national exams, was also forced to drop out – potential cut short by poverty.

Years later, as a secondary school teacher and Bursary Officer, Zengani witnessed the same heartbreak. Needy students and parents would often plead with school officials for help to keep their children in class. Moved by their desperation, he began using his own limited resources to pay fees for some of these students.

That personal commitment eventually grew into School Fees Relief, officially founded in 2024.

"Seeing students beaming with great potential struggling to pay school fees, always reminded me of a close relation and a brilliant close friend both of whom failed to proceed to senior secondary school due to lack of school fees back in those days. It’s one of those things I hated with passion and therefore, simply had to find a way of doing something about it. – Zengani Kayira"

Our Core Values

Education as a right
We believe access to education isn't a privilege. It's a basic right that shouldn't be cut off by poverty, gender, or circumstance.
Purpose and impact
We aim to make a difference and approach everything with passion and purpose. We strongly believe we should endeavour to make this world a better place than we found it.
Integrity and transparency
Every penny is accounted for and we are honest with donors and other stakeholders. Trust is our currency.
*Act sustainably*
We seek new ways to develop lasting solutions. We innovate by taking bold and smart risks.
Equity for girls
Girl's face unique barriers: early pregnancies, early marriages, and cultural bias. We intentionally prioritize solutions that keep girls in school and protect their futures.