Meet 24-year-old Noel Kondwani, one of our newest graduates through The Sonder Project’s Education is Power program in Malawi. His journey is an inspiring example of the kind of determination, talent, and potential we see in the 31 graduates (and counting!) of our program who dream of continuing their education into college.
Noel joined the Education is Power program in 2022, when our team interviewed and selected him to be part of our first cohort of sponsored high school students.
Noel with his mentor and Sonder Education Coordinator, Mercy
Outside the classroom, Noel enjoys playing checkers, watching football (he supports both the Mighty Wanderers and Manchester City), and listening to Chris Brown, Aaron Walker, and Justin Bieber. Academically, he gravitated toward geography and agriculture—subjects that shaped his long-term dreams.
“When I finish school I want to be a meteorologist or a soldier… I hope to help my country adapt to a changing climate.” — Noel K
A Promising Start, Interrupted
Noel is the first-born son in a family of four children. Only he and his youngest sibling were able to attend school this year—his two middle siblings dropped out because the family could no longer afford school fees.
His father passed away when he was two years old. In 2012, his mother remarried and moved to Lilongwe. Like many children in Malawi, Noel was raised by extended family. Since 2019 he has lived with his cousin David and David’s wife, Violet, in Galileya village. He has not been able to visit his mother in two years.
Noel at home with his elder cousin David and David’s wife Violet
Noel attended primary school in Kasungu, where he excelled and earned a place at a local secondary school. His mother paid for his first term of Form 1 (9th grade), but after that, money ran out.
He completed his first-term exams, but missed the second-term exams due to unpaid fees. He returned for final exams—just before COVID-19 closed schools nationwide for nearly a year.
Searching for a Way Back
When schools reopened, Noel still lacked the funds to continue into Form 2. Determined not to give up, he found seasonal work on a farm. For six months of labor, he earned just 65,000 Kwacha (about $37).
“My plan was to buy livestock with my farming wages and sell it later to pay for school,” Noel explained, but it would have taken years, if it worked at all.
Noel and his younger cousin on the farm at home
An Education Lifeline
Everything changed when Noel’s uncle heard about The Sonder Project from a local primary school and submitted his name for consideration. After reviewing his grades and interviewing him, our team offered Noel a full sponsorship.
His cousin David remembers that moment clearly, “I was very happy since I knew Noel had an ambition to finish school. Since I was already supporting my own children and couldn’t afford to put him through too, I wanted him to have the same opportunity.”
Because he had missed so much time, Noel repeated 9th grade and was sponsored for all four years of secondary school.
In August 2025, Noel officially passed his exams and graduated from Chilanga Secondary School.
A Family’s Hope for the Future
David spoke to us about how he wishes very much he could have finished school himself. He reached the 8th grade in his own formal education, while his wife Violet went to school up to 6th grade.
“I want all the kids to reach university”, he told us. “My hope for Noel is that he finishes school and establishes himself. Maybe one day he can help us put the younger kids through school too.”
Noel shares that hope. He told us, “It was impossible for me to finish school before, but it’s just because of The Sonder Project that I am able to graduate now.”
“School has made me aware of the things that happen in the world, and what steps I need to take to reach my goals,” Noel continued.
[L-R] Mercy, Chilanga head teacher, Noel and Sonder Project CEO Chad pose for a photo at Chilanga Secondary School
A Future Full of Possibility
Noel’s interest in geography, especially climate change, is rooted in what he has observed firsthand: droughts, flooding, and land degradation in his community. “I would like to engage people on reforestation and train people in alternative farming and mining methods. I would like to be able to plant more trees across Malawi.”
Noel is one of 31 graduates from our Education is Power program who are eager to continue into college—a critical step toward expanding their career horizons, supporting their families, and contributing to their communities.
The Sonder Team joins Noel and his younger cousins in a game of kira-kira
Research shows that “An additional year of schooling increases earnings by 10 percent a year ( World Bank Blogs). That means every year beyond high school isn’t just a personal achievement, it’s a stronger future for the student, their household, and the broader community.
For students like Noel, the next educational step remains just out of reach without the right support. That’s why The Sonder Project is actively working to build those bridges—to turn their aspiration into action, and their dreams into long-term change.
You Can Help Create More Bright Futures
Talent is everywhere. Opportunity is not.
Your support empowers students like Noel to stay in school, graduate, and take the next step toward the futures they imagine.
How to Make an Impact Today:
- $30/month or $360/year sponsors a high school student
- $5/month or $60/year supports one high school student to attend The Sonder Project’s annual Education is Power Academic Camp.
- $83.33/month or $1000/year helps one Power graduate to attend college for one academic year.
Click here to give the gift of education via our programs today!
Education is one of the most powerful tools for sustainable development — and you can put it in a student’s hands today.
Thank you for believing in students like Noel.