Roehampton Schoolboy Seeks Funds for Malawi Trip
Jacob Zambrano-Vega travelling to help build centre for disabled children
Jacob Zambrano-Vega
May 16, 2025
A schoolboy from Roehampton is currently trying to raise funds for a trip he hopes to make in July to Malawi.
He intending to travel with other pupils at Fulham Cross School to help with the construction of a multipurpose centre, where children with disabilities can come along to receive a nutritious meal, basic education and therapy.
The trip is being organised by Mission Direct, a Christian charity that offers short-term overseas volunteering trips. It takes volunteers from the UK to work on community development projects around the world.
Jacob says, “I've joined this fundraising to do something interesting and beneficial for those in more need than me. I am really excited to help and learn about the culture of Malawi and all the skills that we are going to learn when we physically build the community centre/clinic in Malawi.”
Children with disabilities in the poor areas of rural Malawi have little access to healthcare, diagnosis or therapy to support their needs. Having a child with a disability means families can be stigmatised and may find it difficult to find work or support within their community. In addition to this, caring for a child with disabilities often means that one parent is unable to work or farm their land, resulting in increased financial difficulties for the family.
The Heart of Mercy team visit families in their homes, helping them with some basic therapy programmes for their children and it is also helping to develop income generating projects to help financially support the families.
Jacob appeared in a previous report on this site when a free library he built with his grandfather and was placed outside his house, with the intention of providing people with books to read while the shops were closed during lockdown, was stolen.
Click here to donate to Jacob's appeal
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