ALEX Hill’s work to help improve the lives of villagers in Malawi has received official recognition by winning charitable status.

Alex, 26, from Wilmslow, is the co-founder and trustee of The Chazuka Project, which supports young people and their families in a small fishing village by creating opportunities to access quality education.

Alex decided to build a nursery school in Chazuka because of the kindness he was shown by villagers when he washed up on their shores following a 2016 kayaking expedition which nearly claimed his life.

Alex set off on his expedition of the 3 Great Lakes of Africa, but disaster struck when treacherous weather caused him to lose control of his kayak.

He was washed up on the shores of Chazuka, where he was warmly received by the local people.

For the next six months Alex stayed in the village, which would become his second home, and immersed himself in the community, learning the local language, Chichewa.

Alex said: “I was overwhelmed by the generosity and hospitality of the villagers.

“I decided to teach the children some English, since it was obviously desired, so I made a trip to the nearest town 20 kilometres away, and bought a stack of exercise books and a box of ballpoint pens.

“The villagers assembled beneath an enormous mango tree and the books were handed out to each child. I soon realised how appreciative these children were of the books they had been given.

Knutsford Guardian:

Alex Hill with children from the village

“It quickly transpired these children had never attended school. Before teaching the alphabet I had to teach them how to hold a pen.

“One day, as we were practising our spellings, a young man approached me and asked, ‘Alex, can I be a teacher at your school?’

“Astonished, I looked down at the eager-eyed children beneath the mango tree, and for the first time it became apparent that I had somehow unintentionally started a school.

“Fast-forward three years and we are no longer gathering underneath a mango tree. A proper school has been built complete with a kitchen and a toilet.”

The Chazuka School opened in February to 25 pupils and two teachers, and Alex and the team have now achieved recognition as an official, registered UK charity, known as The Chazuka Project.

The charity will provide operational, strategic and financial support to the school while also aiming to empower the children of Chazuka and their families to gain the knowledge, skills and confidence to create life-changing opportunities.