MDS is proud to be the Headline Sponsor of Pepala — a remarkable UK-based charity that transforms everyday stationery into life-changing resources for children who most need it.
We are committed to social responsibility and global education equity, which is why we are supporting Pepala’s mission.
In this article, we will talk about the work of Pepala and why partnering with this charity matters so much to us.
What Is Pepala?
Pepala (which means “paper” in Chichewa, the language of Malawi) was created from a simple but powerful insight.
On a charity deployment to Malawi, a group of strangers from the UK, including Pepala founder Amara Sharif and MDS’s Mehmooda Duke MBE, saw how schoolchildren were being held back in their education not for lack of talent, but because of a lack of basic stationery, including pens, notebooks, and backpacks.
The contrast between the abundant school supplies in the UK and the bare desks in Malawi was shocking. On her return to the UK, Amara, determined to do something about what she had seen and experienced first-hand, launched Pepala. The charity’s mission is to repurpose surplus and obsolete stationery from UK businesses and communities, so that these invaluable resources can be sent to schools in Malawi.
Mission & Values
Pepala’s mission is split into three parts:
- Educational Equity — Ensuring that children in Malawi have the basic tools to learn and dream, as all children should be able to.
- Sustainability — Reducing waste by giving surplus stationery a second life.
- Local Empowerment — Working directly with partner schools in Malawi to match what they receive to their real needs.
Pepala is a UK-registered CIC, ensuring donations go where they are meant to, and it is run entirely by volunteers in the UK.
How Pepala Works
- Donations & Collection
UK organisations and individuals donate unused stationery — including pens, pencils, notebooks and backpacks to Pepala.
- Sorting & Packing
Volunteers from Pepala sort and package the donations in the UK, preparing them for shipment to Malawi.
- Shipping to Malawi
Pepala manages the logistics to transport the supplies directly to partner schools in Malawi.
- Distribution & Impact
Once delivered, the supplies are used by students in Malawi to support their learning. Over time, this strengthens their education, improves classroom engagement, and builds hope.
Impact & Reach
Pepala’s impact has already been huge: it has delivered over 30,000 pens and pencils, more than 5,300 backpacks, and 10,000 notebooks into classrooms in Malawi.
These are not just numbers — each item represents a child who can now write, learn, and carry their school materials with dignity. By helping to improve access to education, Pepala is helping to unlock long-term opportunities.
Leadership & Governance
- Founder & Executive Director: Amara Sharif. Amara drew on her volunteering experience in Malawi and her professional background to build Pepala into a thriving social enterprise.
- Volunteer Leadership: The organisation’s board and volunteers include experienced professionals such as Na’eem Raza, a marketing consultant, Zaynah Din, a content creator and author, and MDS’ Founder Mehmooda Duke MBE.
- Partnerships: Pepala collaborates with UK businesses (for surplus stationery), Malawian schools, and organisations that support shipping, logistics, and on-the-ground coordination.
Why MDS Supports Pepala
MDS recognizes that access to education is a fundamental enabler of social justice. All of our team have had access to an excellent education, which had led them to where they are today.
Pepala’s mission to repurpose otherwise unused resources so that they can directly benefit students in Malawi and support their education resonates with our values of sustainability, equity, and practical impact.
We believe in supporting organisations that are not only compassionate but also smart in how they operate: Pepala reduces waste, builds meaningful partnerships, and demonstrates measurable change. Pepala’s approach aligns with our commitment to responsible corporate citizenship and global development.
How You Can Make a Difference
Pepala offers several ways for individuals, companies, and community groups to get involved:
- Donate Surplus Stationery: Businesses can set up collection points for excess pens, notebooks, backpacks, and more.
- Fundraise: Host events or campaigns — bake sales, virtual challenges, or donation drives — to support Pepala’s mission.
- Monetary Support: Financial donations help cover shipping, purchasing supplies, and operational costs.
- Become a Sponsor: Organisations can contribute to Pepala by committing to long-term support.
Looking Ahead
With the support of its sponsors like and the ongoing generosity of UK businesses and volunteers, Pepala is scaling its impact. Its vision remains clear: a world where no child is held back by lack of a pen, a notebook, or a backpack — where education is not a geographical or wealth lottery.
Through our sponsorship, we are honoured to partner with Pepala on its journey. By turning surplus stationery into powerful tools for learning, we are helping to write new chapters — not just for individual children in Malawi, but for a more sustainable, equitable future.
Conclusion
Pepala is more than a charity — it is a bridge between abundance and need, between spare stock and meaningful opportunity, between well-resourced communities and those who are striving for access. Their work is deeply aligned with our values, and we are proud to support them.
We encourage everyone — whether you are a business, an individual, or a community group — to engage with Pepala. Together, we can help more children in Malawi open their notebooks and pick up their pens, so that they can begin writing their own stories and dreaming their dreams.
MDS Global Charities
At MDS, we are privileged to support charities both in the UK and internationally. We cannot wait to Pepala grow and thrive as more people learn about their mission. We have already heard some of the wonderful ideas that they have for the future, which we know will make a huge difference to the lives of the children in Malawi.
MDS also supports another international charity, Alsama, which helps refugees and displaced teenagers across the Middle East to change their lives by accessing education. You can read more about Alsama’s mission on their website.
