Gertrude Mutharika Backs School Donation to Support Girls’ Education

Malawi’s First Lady Gertrude Mutharika has backed a donation of school and hygiene supplies to learners at Lilongwe Girls Secondary School, in an initiative aimed at helping girls stay focused on their education. The handover took place on Friday, November 13, 2026, through the Beautify Malawi Trust, known as BEAM, in partnership with the Merck Foundation. Students received exercise books, pens, sanitary pads, soap and sugar. According to the report, the supplies are intended to ease practical challenges that can affect attendance and concentration in class. BEAM Trust Board Chairperson Dingiswayo Jere described the ceremony as emotional, citing the difficulties many young girls encounter as they pursue their ambitions. He said Mutharika remains committed to working with organizations such as the Merck Foundation to help address those obstacles and encourage students. “Never give up. Always aspire to achieve big dreams. The First Lady is with you,” Jere told the learners, according to the report. The school’s head teacher welcomed the contribution, saying the items answered an important need and had given students renewed confidence. She also urged them to show their appreciation by working hard and aiming for academic success. The report presents the donation as part of a wider effort to support girls’ dignity and education. It says the initiative was meant to remind students that present difficulties need not determine their futures, and that support can help them pursue their goals. Mutharika’s role in the handover was highlighted through BEAM’s partnership with the foundation. The ceremony brought together representatives of the trust, the partner organization and the school to deliver items intended for learners.