Another year, another Sparkle netball tournament: The Sparkle 2023 Netball Tournament by Clifford Chance

The tournament's second edition, in partnership with our wonderful corporate partners, Clifford Chance

Last weekend, Mulunguzi Secondary School – just minutes away from the Sparkle Site – was full of Zomba’s netball enthusiasts and sports fans for our second ever Sparkle Netball Tournament, in partnership with our corporate partner law firm Clifford Chance. It was an unforgettable day featuring not only one but two exhilarating tournaments, with every match showcasing excellent sportsmanship whilst celebrating women and girls in sport. 


Throughout the morning, women’s teams from various backgrounds including local clubs, Police and Prison staff, as well as Sparkle women’s group and staff team, battled it out for the Sparkle Cup. In the end, it was the Prison Staff team that were victorious, displaying remarkable determination and teamwork. 

 “For us this is an amazing achievement, because this is the first time our team has been invited to a tournament like this one. They [The Sparkle Foundation] have shown us love by inviting our team to be a part of this."

- Police Staff Women’s Team Captain

The afternoon saw the youth teams take center stage, and the enthusiasm amongst the girls was palpable. The thrilling final saw our very own Sparkle Youth Team securing second place when they faced Chikanda Queens, who emerged champions of the 2023 Sparkle Netball Tournament. 

It was heartwarming to witness all teams and players cheering each other’s success; the atmosphere was electric with vibrant energy and an abundance in celebration and smiles all round. 


It was heartwarming to witness all teams and players cheering each other’s success; the atmosphere was electric with vibrant energy and an abundance in celebration and smiles all round. 


Capturing the excitement and interviewing players was the local Chanco TV Station, which helped spread awareness across the country about the tournament and The Sparkle Foundation’s work of supporting and empowering children, women, and the overall community in the villages surrounding our two sites in Zomba.


Clifford Chance's continued support to Sparkle was visible not only in their generous donations of shiny medals, trophies, and netball kits to all three of our Sparkle teams, but also through their active participation in the event. We were honored to welcome three Clifford Chance employees to Malawi over the weekend, along with many of their netball-enthusiast family members, all of whom helped to commentate, score, umpire, time keep, and generally contribute to ensuring that the event was the success that it was. We are deeply grateful to Clifford Chance for bringing our communities a day of sportsmanship and smiles. 

"I’ve been helping to arrange the tournament in the background from Dubai for a number of months now. It’s great to be here, seeing all of the energy on the court."

- Elise, Clifford Chance volunteer

  • Competition, smiles, fun - and lots of people coming together to make this day happen!

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Watch out on our social media pages to see more photos, videos, and a whole lot of smiles and laughter from the incredible day. 

Strengthening the Parent-Teacher Partnership: Strategies for Empowering Parents in Their Child’s Education

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Menstrual Health Management (MHM) for Teenage Girls in Malawi: Breaking the Cycle of Period Poverty

By Priyani Gangopadhyay • June 13, 2025
By: Priyani Gangopadhyay In light of the recent World Menstrual Hygiene Day celebrated on 28th May 2025 under the theme "Together for a Period-Friendly World," I have written this article to share what I’ve learnt about the hardships teenage girls in Malawi face when it comes to managing their menstrual hygiene, how it impacts their dignity, daily lives, education, and the inspiring work being done to support them. Growing up in a high-income country, I, like most teenage girls, have always had easy access to things like sanitary pads, girls' toilets, and cleaning facilities—necessities we often take for granted during our periods. Sadly, for countless teenage girls in low-income countries like Malawi, these basic needs for managing their periods are simply out of reach. My understanding of this situation significantly deepened after speaking with senior members of The Sparkle Foundation Team. Joshua Ojiezele (Volunteer Coordinator) and Vanessa Hamilton (Project Co-ordinator) kindly shared invaluable insights. I also had the opportunity to speak with Frances Chisi (Community Officer) and Dr Sibongile Ndala (Clinician) who work directly with children in rural Malawi. What I heard from them deeply moved me, and I spent considerable time conducting my own research to truly grasp the heartbreaking realities. Understanding Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) Menstruation is a natural biological process experienced by the girls and adult women of reproductive age. Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) refers to how they access, use, and dispose of menstrual products safely and hygienically during their periods. Proper MHM is not merely about comfort and cleanliness; inadequate MHM can lead to severe health consequences such as urinary tract infections, genital tract infections, and skin diseases in private areas.2 Furthermore, MHM is intrinsically linked to general health, mental well-being, educational attainment, dignity, and self-esteem, making it not only essential but also a basic human right. Effective MHM means having access to: Menstrual hygiene materials such as sanitary pads, tampons, menstrual caps or clean cloths. Supportive supplies such as soap, clean underwear and pain relief medicines. WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) infrastructure providing clean toilets, clean water, washing areas. Education and awareness around menstrual health and hygiene which are vital for breaking taboos and promoting safe practices.
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