Kasenjere, Malawi
Ground Break, June 2026
We’re excited to announce that the 34th school in Kasenjere, Malawi is being built!
This will be the first ever school in Kasenjere.
School 34 was funded through The Magnificent 7+ event, hosted at Whatley Manor in April 2026. This extraordinary lunch brought together seven Michelin-starred chefs, two exceptional hospitality professionals, and guests, suppliers, partners and supporters from across the hospitality profession. Together, they helped us raise the funds needed to make this school possible.
A few weeks ago, the Magnificent 7+ team travelled to Malawi with the Magic Future Foundation.
We lived and worked alongside the community members of Kasenjere. A community of people full of joy, light, friendship, hospitality, warmth. They opened up their lives to us, and graciously heard our story - watching us lay Oli’s ashes in the foundations of the 34th school in our 100 Schools Project. We are forever grateful to them.
Thanks to this team’s support, all of the children we met, and hundreds more, will be attending Kasenjere’s school.
About KASENJERE, MALAWI
Malawi, known as the "Warm Heart of Africa," is celebrated for its welcoming people and rich cultural heritage. However, many rural communities continue to face significant challenges, including limited access to quality education and widespread poverty. In Kanjoka 2, a farming community in rural Malawi, children have been learning in overcrowded and deteriorating classrooms with cracked walls, damaged floors, termite-weakened roofs, and little protection from harsh weather. These conditions frequently disrupt learning and limit opportunities for students to reach their full potential.
In Kasenjere, there is currently no school within their community. To attend classes, students travel roughly 7 kilometres to a neighbouring village each day. It’s a difficult journey, especially for younger children and contributes heavily to low attendance and dropout rates. Despite these challenges, families in Kasenjere remain committed to creating better opportunities for their children. The new school will bring education closer to home, providing children with a safer and more accessible place to learn.
THE GROUND-BREAK CEREMONY
This was the first time we’d returned to Malawi since Oli passed in 2019. We built the very first Magic Future school back in 2013 in Kasambankhole as a family of 5 and it changed our lives forever. We returned there to an overwhelming welcome from over 400 children, and we’ll be sharing more about that experience shortly.
Returning to Malawi without Oli was difficult. It was the first time we’ve been there in person to read this dedication speech to the community. It was also the first time we’ve personally laid his ashes into the foundations of a new school. To experience that moment surrounded by the community, buildOn, the Magnificent 7+ team and so many people who have supported this journey was something our family will remember forever.
ABOUT THE FILM
Throughout the Trek, a professional film crew led by Founder & Creative Director Rosa Brough of 7Fifty Films, with filmmakers Jack Coathupe and Tom Kirkman and sound recordist Charlie Land, documented the community, the school build and the journey of the Magnificent 7+ team. Meanwhile, award-winning photographer Simon Derviller captured the whole story through his lens.
For now, we've chosen to share only a glimpse of the experience before unveiling the full story through the official launches of the film and photography. The images below represent just a small selection of what's to come. We'll be sharing ways to stay connected with the projects very soon.
The Build Gallery
