The Chesney Trust for Education in Malawi aims to promote education in Malawi, one of the poorest countries in the world. Life expectancy is 36 years and up to 20% of the population have HIV/AIDS. Just over half of adults can read and write and access to education is most difficult for girls and in rural areas.

The Chesney Trust exists to help address that problem by building a secondary school for girls in the rural north of the country. The Edinburgh Girls' High School will ultimately provide education for 320 girls and will offer additional facilities for children with hearing impairment who currently have very little provision in Malawi within mainstream education.

Through its construction, the school will also benefit the local community through improvements in health, roads, water, electricity and employment opportunities.