THE DREAM

With years of experience in Africa, Chris and Marj Laughton developed a passion for humanity and a desire to make a difference, particularly amongst the children of Malawi and their communities. As retirees their mission became the relief of poverty through education; their dream, to help the youngest of those most in need, the orphans and other disadvantaged children; their plan, to build a little nursery school. However, destiny dictated otherwise and in January 2005, the Transhaven Chilunga Secondary School (TCSS) opened for business in one two-Form classroom block, with 20 students, closely followed by the Transhaven 3-Mile Nursery School (T3MNS) with 17, both in the Zomba District of the Southern Region of Malawi. [See PROJECTS for development details.] The T3MNS is now independent under its own Director, Mrs Margaret Matiya.

To listen to Chris and Marj's story click on this Unity Church of Hawaii link, scroll down to Recent Podcasts - What A Dream Will Do of June 7, 2007. Click on the PODCAST icon and either open or save the file to hear the story. A DVD of the whole service (and/or any other Unity Church of Hawaii service) can be ordered by going to the Contents page of their website, clicking on Bookstore: Namaste Books & Gifts or by emailing This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it . A follow-up visit to the TSP in April/May 2008 with 3 members of the Unity Church of Hawaii can also be heard and with video clips by following the same links to the Podcast of the service "Messages from Malawi" held on 18 May 2008.

The subsequent development of the TCSS would not have been possible without the wonderful support of many Australian donors and sponsors, including AusAID (Australian Agency for International Development) through its Mozambique and Zimbabwe branches; the Australian AIDS Fund Inc; the Bentleigh-Moorabbin Central and Shepparton South Rotary Clubs, the Rotary Club of Albert Park and the Quota Clubs of Heidelberg and Moorabbin; Businesses; Churches; Schools; and many families and individuals. Fund raising activities for the TSP have also been generously supported.

Rotary is further supporting the TSP with Rotary Australian World Community Services (RAWCS) providing tax deductibility to Australian tax payers through the "RAWCS Overseas Aid Fund". [See DONATIONS for details.]

A second nursery school, the Transhaven Trust Nursery School (TTNS) opened in January 2007 in the same Thom Allan Village area as the TCSS, continuing to fulfil Chris' and Marj's dream. [See PROJECTS for details.] And in early 2008, the first 'graduates' [see PHOTOS ]of the TTNS began their Primary School education in the new Transhaven Chilunga Primary School (TCPS).

IN MALAWI

A Board of Trustees of the Transhaven Schools Foundation with an Executive Board as been set up in Malawi to assist the Director of the TSP, Rev L Mandawala. At the TCSS he is supported by the Principal, Mr E E Lusangasi, the Deputy Principal, Mr P Wiskes and 13 other teachers. The TCSS has students in the 13 to 28 years age range. The Principal of the TTNS/TCPS is Mr A L Kamwendo who has 3 staff members, teaching TTNS and TCPS students. The children are in the 3 to 9 years age range.

Chris and Marj also believe the communities in which Transhaven Schools Projects are located should be involved in the schools' activities and benefit from them. This is the case with the Agricultural Projects that form a major focus of the TCSS students education [see PROJECTS page], and has been the case with Adult Education Classes for the villagers run by the teachers at the TCSS after school hours. Tailoring classes have also started for the villagers and interested students at the Community Centre.