group photo of the Gule Wamkulu

Chiosya Village Celebrates Groundbreaking of Its First School

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people working on the foundation of the new school
(PHOTO: Team Dayā member Noah Sears works on the new school in Chiosya, a small village of 200 people in the Ntchisi district in the central region Malawi. July 2, 2026.)

Please consider supporting  Team Dayā. We cannot build these schools without your support. Example investment opportunities:

  • $50,000 Fund an entire school
  • $1,250 Paint for a school
  • $625 In-country mason during the entire construction of the school
  • $312.50 All the nails, nuts, and bolts to build a roof for the school

Team Dayā held a successful groundbreaking for its newest school on Monday, June 29, 2026 in Chiosya Village, Malawi. This is our 13th school overall and the third school being funded in Malawi.

This project would not be possible without the funding efforts of board member Nicolle Pangis and team member Serge Matta. A fundraiser created by Matta at the POSSIBLE conference in late April raised over $40,000, putting our funding efforts for school #13 over goal. Any and all additional funds go directly into our building fund for future schools.

Chiosya Village

group photo of the Gule Wamkulu
(PHOTO: Team Dayā with the Gule Wamkulu, “the great dance” – a sacred ritual masquerade practiced by the Chewa people. The dance celebrated the groundbreaking of the new school. Monday, June 29, 2026.)

Chiosya, a small village of 200 people in the Ntchisi district in the central region Malawi (see location) north of the capital Lilongwe, will now have its very first school. The current nearest school is 5 kilometers away, and the nearest main road is 20 kilometers away from the village. Most people are farmers growing maize (corn), peanuts, tobacco and soya.

The classrooms in the new school will cater to Grade 1 and Grade 2, eliminating the long walk to school for these students. During rainy season in particular, the walk to school can be unsafe due to river crossings and higher water.

The eight local chiefs project as many as 350 – 400 children from the greater catchment area will register for Grades 1 and 2 once the school is complete (this is far greater than the capacity but will create an additional push for more support and resources).

The government has agreed to provide at least two teachers once the school is completed, and the community has agreed to host or find housing for the teachers.

Mkuyu Primary School Visit

Team Dayā visited the Mkuyu Primary School building in Lambwe, Malawi it funded in the summer of 2025. Read: Completion of Mkuyu Primary School in Lambwe, Malawi.

The new Team Dayā school building houses first and second graders who were previously learning outside. Charles Jefta, headmaster of the Mkuyu Primary School, said 110 first graders use one classroom and 78 second graders use the second classroom. Overall, the attendance of the entire school is up to 609 from 588. The school has also re-enrolled 30 out of school students since January, and ten of the thirty have already been mainstreamed.

“I’m very happy to know that the money we raised helped the community,” said Team Dayā member Serge Matta in prepared comments that were read to the community on Friday, July 3, 2026. “Having grown up in East Africa, namely Kenya, I know first-hand how important it is to have a safe place for kids to go and get an education. I wish you all the best of luck and we will be cheering and supporting you in the years to come.”

group photo
(PHOTO: Team Dayā members with the headmaster and teachers in the second grade classroom of the Mkuyu Primary School in Lambwe, Malawi on July 3, 2026.)
students in a classroom
(PHOTO: The first grade classroom of the Mkuyu Primary School in Lambwe, Malawi on July 3, 2026.)
(PHOTO: Students at the new Mkuyu Primary School building in Lambwe, Malawi funded by Team Dayā. Contributed.)
(PHOTO: Students at the new Mkuyu Primary School building in Lambwe, Malawi funded by Team Dayā. Contributed.)

Your Support & The Team

Please consider supporting  Team Dayā. We cannot build these schools without your support. Example investment opportunities:

  • $50,000 Fund an entire school
  • $1,250 Paint for a school
  • $625 In-country mason during the entire construction of the school
  • $312.50 All the nails, nuts, and bolts to build a roof for the school

Three Ways You Can Help

  1. Make a Donation Online
    • Example investment opportunities:
      • $50,000 Fund an entire school
      • $1,250 Paint for a school
      • $625 In-country mason during the entire construction of the school
      • $312.50 All the nails, nuts, and bolts to build a roof for the school
  2. Spread the Word
    • Share our mission with your friends, your company and your industry
    • Invite us to speak about our mission to your network
    • Follow us LinkedIn, X / Twitter, Facebook and Instagram
  3. Join the Team & Travel on a School Build

Team Dayā 2026 School Project Dates:

We are now actively recruiting members for our 2026 groundbreakings. If you are curious to learn more about joining a build, please reach out to our Head of Recruiting Jaryd Knutsen. Not sure? Watch the documentary Building Change, the Team Dayā Story (8 minute run time), by Kathmandu based filmmaker Shyam Karki of Samson Film Productions.

Guatemala 2026 (no longer available)

  • Sunday, March 22, 2026 – Saturday, March 28, 2026 
  • Arrival by 2pm on first day, departure after 10am on last day
  • Arrive & depart: Guatemala City, Guatemala (GUA-La Aurora Intl.)

Malawi 2026 (no longer available)

  • Sunday, June 28, 2026 – Saturday, July 4, 2026
  • Arrival by 2pm on first day, departure after 10am on last day
  • Arrive & depart: Lilongwe, Malawi (LLW-Kamuzu Intl.)

Senegal 2026 (available)

  • Sunday, November 29, 2026 – Saturday, December 5, 2026
  • Arrival by 2pm on first day, departure after 10am on last day
  • Arrive & depart: Dakar, Senegal (DSS-Blaise Diagne Intl.)

Thanks again for your continued support,

All of us at Team Dayā

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