Inspire your pupils to learn about Malawi and global issues

Open Arms Malawi offers free resource packs designed to help secondary school pupils explore the lives of children and families in Malawi and the impact of our work. These resources are fully planned and adaptable, making it easy for teachers to run sessions that last from a single hour to a half day or even a full school day.

Our aim is to encourage pupils to think critically about global challenges while developing teamwork and decision-making skills that prepare them for the future.

Lesson overview

This resource pack introduces pupils to the work of Open Arms through interactive and reflective activities. It begins with a quiz to learn about Malawi, highlight the challenges faced by children and families, and the role of charitable support.

The main task is a budgeting challenge: in groups, pupils decide how to allocate a £50,000 donation using fact sheets and spending cards, before presenting and justifying their choices. The lesson ends with a discussion on how donations are used in reality, encouraging reflection on priorities and impact.

Building Future-Ready Skills

This activity is a group-based challenge promoting:

• Teamwork
• Communication
• Problem solving
• Flexibility

These are key soft skills highlighted by the National Careers Service as being essential for almost all careers, giving pupils the chance to practise them in a meaningful, engaging way.

Why Use This Resource?

This isn’t just about learning geography or charity work—it’s about encouraging pupils to:

• Engage with global issues
• Develop critical thinking
• Understand the value of charitable action

By the end of the session, pupils will have gained both knowledge of Malawi and experience in collaboration, creativity, and decision-making.

Request Your Free Resource Pack

Teachers can request a free, pre-planned pack that includes interactive activities, fact sheets, presentation slides, and a structured lesson plan. The pack can be tailored to fit your timetable and is suitable for pupils across secondary year groups.

👉 Bring Malawi into your classroom. Request your free resource pack today.