How We Began
How We Began
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Every Book Deserves a Safe Journey Home — $10 Provides a Waterproof Backpack
It takes a village to help a village!
It takes a village to help a village!
Sandy's Africa Tour Group saw first-hand!
Sandy's Africa Tour Group saw first-hand!
LIFT began with chance encounters.
In February 2024, during a 41-day overland journey through Africa, Sandy met a group of bright, curious children in northern Malawi — including Chisomo, “the boy with the umbrella,” and Triumph, “the girl who loves science and technology.” She also met a nursery school teacher caring for orphaned preschoolers.
Those moments of connection and shared hope sparked what is now LIFT: Learning, Inspiration & Future Transformation–Malawi, Inc.
In its first year, with support from friends and family, LIFT helped renovate a children’s hostel and nursery school, supported solar-light entrepreneurship, distributed 80 solar lamps, and sent hundreds of books to establish the village’s first community lending library.
LIFT also supported education — including helping one young woman become the first from her village to attend university.
As the work grew, so did the understanding of what was needed for long-term success.
In early 2025, it became clear that sustaining programs in Chitimba would require stronger local structures and leadership. After careful reflection, LIFT made the decision to relocate the library project.
A new path emerged in Livingstonia, where local leaders and community members shared a strong commitment to education and long-term impact.
Today, LIFT’s work is centered in Manchewe, Livingstonia a mountain community in northern Malawi, where the Manchewe Community Lending Library is being established as a foundation for community-wide learning and opportunity.
Sandy will remain in Malawi until the library is fully operational with strong and sustainable systems and accountability in place.
Library Committee Members reviewing Librarian applications.
Our journey has never been about delivering charity; it’s about opening doors, building skills, and strengthening the power that already exists within the community.
Today, our focus is on what creates lasting opportunity:
• A community lending library and technology center open to all
• An education sponsorship program supporting future leaders
The Library Committee particiaped in a full weekend of Governance training.
The need is real, and the momentum is growing.
With your support, we are building an accessible, sustainable, and locally led model of community learning — one that empowers individuals, strengthens families, and opens doors across the community.
LIFT will have achieved its mission when Manchewe no longer needs a lift because community members will have the knowledge, confidence, and opportunities to lift themselves.
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