

Sparkle Foundation
The Sparkle Foundation runs education, health, nutrition and community programmes for women and children in Malawi. The NGO runs a school, orphanage, and a farm, and supports local health networks. UK-registered but led out of the UAE by recognised humanitarian, Sarah Brook, the NGO is seeking to create sustainable support models responding directly to on-the-ground need rather than donor preference. Programmes are led by in-country teams and offer life skills and livelihood opportunities that help communities help themselves. Sparkle has developed a number of corporate partnerships in the UAE and is pioneering new models for fundraising and volunteer engagement.
- Organisation type NGO
- Year founded 2015
- Headquartered Dubai
- Registration Malawi · United Kingdom · United Arab Emirates
- Website https://www.thesparklefoundation.org
Related sustainable development goals
Impact
In 2025 Sparkle Foundation has:
Provided 30 villages with services
Delivered 46,578 hours of learning
Carried out 3,339 clinic visits
Served 21,021 meals
Focus areas
Focus sectors
Development
- Economic development
- Community improvement
- Rural development
- Sustainable development
Education
- Early childhood education
- Elementary and secondary education
- Child educational development
- Education services
Health
- Public health
- Healthcare access
- Medical support services
- Humanitarian
Focus populations
- Caregivers
- Children
- Infants and toddlers
- Low-income people
- Orphans
- Women and girls
- Working poor
Focus geographies
Africa
- Malawi
Programmes
Sparkle Education
Sparkle provides education to vulnerable children, youth and the wider community. It currently have two sites in Malawi: our main Sparkle site, and the Mulunguzi E.C.D Centre in partnership with Passion Centre. From age two to six, children join our Early Childhood Development programme - an educational, fun, and creative environment. After graduating, the children progress to local schools and return to Sparkle for our afternoon programme.Sparkle Health
Sparkle provides free medication to the vulnerable community members with onsite medical clinic treating up to 80 patients a day, and outreach clinic providing 17 villages with access to healthcare and free medication. Sparkle also helps with vaccinationg programmes in Polio, Cholera and has facilitated campaigns for the treatment and prevention of ringworm and scabies.Sparkle Nutrition
Sparkle children receive two meals a day. For breakfast, this is a porridge made from maize and soya flour which is fortified with protein from soya. For lunch, Nsima with vegetables and a protein such as goat meat, dried fish, eggs or beans. These meals provide the children with the energy for a day of learning and fun.Sparkle Outreach
Sparkle runs tailored outreach programmes in partnership with communities, village heads and government bodies. Bespoke initiatives are developed based on the needs of each village, ensuring programmes are community led and in line with the overall national strategy. Youth and women’s programmes provide individuals with skills and education to ensure they are well prepared for the future ahead, as well as regular social and sports activities. Sparkle also delivers training to our women's group, after which members can apply for a loan to set up their own business and become self-sufficient.Sponsor a child
Sparkle invites donors to sponsor a child for a monthly fee of Dhs 150. The money gives the child access to e Sparkle education programme, healthcare services and provide them with two meals a day, for a month. You can register here.
Financials
Funding model
- Foundation-administered programme awards
- Programme related investment
- Volunteering
Funding source
- Corporate
- Fundraising
Operations
Key staff
- Ilona de Sante Marie, Project co-ordinator
- Sarah Brook, Founder and CEO
- Tasneem Kara, General manager
Board members
- Fazeela Gopalani
- Gareth Dray
- Joyce Mataya
- Menassie Teddesse, Chairman, UAE Board
- Neville Prior, Trustee chair, UK
- Ozzie Nabanda
- Patrick Doyle, Vice chair, UAE board
- Robert Kew
- Shaun Gause
- Suhail Mirza, Legal advisor, UAE
Contact details
- https://www.thesparklefoundation.org
- The Garden Concept store, 1st floor, The Sparkle Foundation office 733 Sheikh Zayed Road, Al Quoz Industrial 3, Dubai, United Arab Emirates The Sparkle Foundation, P.O Box 1122 Sogoja, Zomba, Southern Region, Malawi, 1234 The Sparkle Foundation, Office 44733, PO Box 6945 Mount Pleasant, City Of London London W1A 6US United Kingdom