The South Downs Way - Benji aged 7 (and mum :) are going to walk the South Downs Way this Summer to raise money for 4 amazing charities!

It’s a really big challenge because the South Downs Way is 160km all the way from Winchester to Eastbourne and covers most of the highest points in the South Downs! It’s a long way for a 7-year-old, (and I suspect even longer for a mum recovering from long covid) so we’re really hoping that we’ll be able to do it! We’re going to complete it over the next four weeks or so, taking rest days in between.

Malagiri School

Benji’s Grandad helped to start this incredible school, high in the mountains of Nepal. Grandad passed away 5 years ago now, and the school has been going for 10 years and is supported completely by charity through a joint project with the University of Brighton. It’s an amazing place, high in a remote area of the Himalayas, and provides education for children who have no other access to education. The young Nepali teachers are so passionate and make an incredible difference to the children’s lives, and to the future of the village and the surrounding area.

As Malagiri School aren't on JustGiving, I've created this page to collect donations to pass to them. Any contributions you’re able to make will be so appreciated. We’ll keep you updated on the milestones of our walk, and thanks so much for visiting and supporting these amazing charities!

Benji and Nish xx

Can you help the children of Malagiri to continue their education?

The Malagiri School

Helping the children of Malagiri access an education

In a very remote and poor area of Nepal sits The Malagiri School. The school is attended by more than 60 children aged under eight who learn in brightly coloured classrooms.Before the school existed, the children of Malagiri were mostly not educated as the nearest school was a strenuous two-hour walk away. The older children also missed out on their education as they needed to look after their younger siblings while their parents worked in the fields.The Malagiri School was built thanks to the efforts of staff, students and alumni at the University of Brighton’s School of Education who tirelessly fundraised to see their dream of the children receiving an education become a reality. The school opened its doors for the first time in 2011 and since 2008, just over £134,000 has been raised for this important project.

The School today

The Malagiri School has faced many challenges including the devastating earthquake in 2015 which destroyed some of the school buildings - tents were used for many months while additional funds were raised for a repair and rebuild programme.The school has become an important part of the community and is attended by more and more children each year. The school relies 100% on charitable donations to pay for teaching and support staff, materials and to ensure that each child has a hot meal each and every day they are in school.Education makes a huge difference to people’s lives – it can provide a way out of poverty and lead to a brighter future.

We need your support

To keep this vital school open, at least £12,000 needs to be raised every year. This is why we need the help of anyone who cares about education and wants to give these children a chance – please join us in supporting this project. Your donation, regardless of size, will make a real and immediate impact.

For example:

• £5 could pay for a weekly supply of gas and electricity for the school

• £10 could pay for a hot school meal for three children for a week

• £30 could pay for an assistant teacher for a week

Find out more about the school atwww.brighton.ac.uk/malagiri