Jacaranda UK Foundation

high quality
We believe in completing fewer projects to a high standard, rather than spread ourselves thinly and lower the quality of delivery. .

who do we support?

We try to support the teaching of children that they don’t need pity, that they don’t need overseas help to grow.

​They have skills and talents that the world wants to see, and that can contribute to the brighter future of their country. We also try to encourage overseas supporters to become directly involved for positive reasons, not because they feel sorry for the children.

We have, in particular, a very close relationship with The Jacaranda School for Orphans, in Limbe, Malawi, and have already funded a number of projects for them, including the solar powered well.

Founded in 2002 by Malawian Marie Da Sliva, the school looks after over 400 children, 95% of whom have been orphaned by AIDS, providing them with free primary and secondary education, healthcare, clothing and food.

The school's mission is to provide for these children from nursery school through higher education, and is currently building a nursery school and technical college to help achieve that.a Silva founds the Jacaranda School for AIDS orphans in her family home in Malawi.

DUNCAN DARROCH-THOMPSON

Marie Da Silva founded The Jacaranda School in her childhood home in 2002 whilst working as a nanny in the USA after the school that had previously cared for the children closed down.

She sent one third of her salary every month to fund the school, and convinced a large group of her nanny friends to donate monthly too, just so the children had somewhere safe to learn. 

Marie now runs the school full time with her husband and the school’s Executive Director Luc Deschamps, dividing her time between Malawi and the USA, where she goes regularly to raise money for the school.

Marie was deservedly recognised in 2008 by being named a CNN Hero. Click here for a video of the awards ceremony.

SMALL

We believe that real change can only be made on small, local levels where effects can be sustained. We think that a bottom-up approach can help communities grow and evolve.

Duncan Darroch-Thompson

Locally led

We believe that change works best when it is led by local people.  We engage the local community to help us decide what will work best. 

marie da silva

Our approach