Jun 29

Facts about Africa

About Malawi

I. Africa, as the second largest continent on earth, has 11,699,000 sq miles, 22% of the world’s total land mass.

        A. 15% is considered desert.

        B. 10% is tropical rain forest.

        C. 35% is savanna/grasslands.

        D. The rest has ocean or mountain climates.

II. There are over 800 ethnic groups in Africa. 1000 languages are spoken.

III. Lake Victoria is the largest lake in Africa, and the second largest in the world.

IV. Lake Tanganyika is the deepest lake in Africa and the second deepest freshwater lake in the world.

V. Lake Malawi contains the largest number of fish species of any lake in the world, probably over 500 from ten families.

VI. The Nile River drains north-eastern Africa. At 4,132 miles it is the longest river in the world. The Blue Nile begins in Ethiopia, and the White Nile originates at Lake Victoria.

VII. The Rift Valley extends 3,000 miles from Syria in south-western Asia to Mozambique in southeastern Africa. The Rift is still moving, with the western side moving away from the eastern ridge at 6 mm per year, while the south it is moving together at 2 mm a year.

VIII. The Sahara Desert is expanding southwards at a rate of ½ mile a month.

Jun 20

Land Beyond Imagination

About the Malawi Project

    Dedza, Malawi … In early April Scott Gordon, then Treasurer for the Malawi Project and Mike Ferris, Treasurer for the Green Valley Church of Christ in Noblesville, Indiana made a trip to Malawi with two major objectives in mind. One was to survey a number of the programs currently underway and receiving support from the Malawi Project, and the second was to attempt to complete negotiations for the purchase of approximately 25 acres of land just south of the capital city of Lilongwe. The purpose of the land purchase is to open the way to establishing an international school in Malawi in cooperation with churches in Malawi, the Green Valley church in America, and the Sunset International School in Lubbock, Texas.

    A turn of events suddenly changed the whole picture and its outcome. A new plan was offered, and with the help of the Dzidalire Development Agency a plot of land was made available near highway M-1 approximately 40 miles south of the capital. This land was actually under the jurisdiction of Tribal Authority, and an upon learning the plans and purpose of the international school a plot of land approximately 175 acres in size was quickly donated in order to house the school.

    Although the American team was led to the land from the south and west side, and it was first viewed in an easterly direction, there is actually a road that reaches highway M-1 from the land. M-1 is the main highway through the nation of Malawi, and Dedza is the first district and major training center south of the capital. The following pictures present the trip to see the land and the signing of agreements that made the land transfer a legal document.

 

1st line: Approaching the Property and a Warm African Greeting

Dirt road   Malawian greeting

Read the rest of this entry »

Jun 14

When A Kitchen is Not A Kitchen

Malawi Healthcare, About the Malawi Project, Medical, Be The Change

    Thondwe, Malawi … In the village areas of Malawi the women bend at the waist in order to stir black pots filled with white maize mixed to a porridge consistency. Fire blackens the old pots as the flames lap up from the wood or Mother with newborn at Namikango Maternity Hospital.charcoal cooking fire, and smoke fills the eyes of those trying to prepare the meal.

    While most people cook this way in the village it is usually expected that when one goes to the hospital there will be better facilities available for the caregivers to prepare meals. In almost every case relatives or neighbors must travel to the hospital with the patient in order to cook for them. They remain outside the facility during the entire stay of the patient. If they do not remain there to assist and feed them the patient will go without food. There are just not enough funds to extend food service to the patients. 

Births Jump Thirty Percent

    At the Namikango Hospital in Thondwe a large number of improvements have taken place in the past two years, not the least of all is the fact that Namikango has become a major medical distribution site for the Malawi Project in the southern part of Malawi. Millions of dollars in aid is passing through the facility as supplies move rapidly to other parts of the nation from a remodeled church building turned supply warehouse. In addition to the improvements the government has credentialed the hospital to assist government hospitals in the area in the delivery of babies. When this took place several months ago the number of babies being born at Namikango increased by approximately 30%.

It was enough to turn my Stomach

    However, one area that has not seen improvement is the dilapidated building used by the caregivers to assist in cooking meals for the patients. The current building long ago fell into disarray and the needed funding has not been available to fix the structure. During a recent visit to the facility Mike Ferris, a member of the Malawi Project Board of Directors observed, "When you see a mama holding her new born baby then think, these mothers, with weakened immune systems, after just enduring the physical trauma of childbirth, receive their food from this kitchen, which is exposed to all the outdoor elements, flies, mosquitoes, bird droppings from the birds that sit on the crossbeams in the shelter it was enough to turn my stomach.  We have to make it a priority to get a new facility built for these people!"

    This facility is one of the new target programs of the Malawi Project for 2009. Plans call for seeking needed funding to construct a modern facility where family members can prepare meals for patients in a neat, clean environment. 

 

 

 

 

Jun 07

New Board President and Treasurer Selected

About the Malawi Project

     Indianapolis, Indiana … After nearly two years of preparation and grooming Scott Gordon has been selected as the new President of the Malawi Project. This move came at the request of Richard Stephens who has served as the CEO and Chairman of the Board of Directors since the inception of the Project. Stephens made this observation at a recent meeting of the board.

    "At nearly 72 I am aware of the advance of age. While I continue in good health I realize this will not go on forever, and I want to make this change while I am still fully active in the Project, and can assist the new CEO in a smooth, successful, and well planned transition. For this reason I am requesting that Scott Gordon be appointed the new President of the Project. With his first hand experience in Malawi he has already proven himself a very capable leader. If you will approve this move it will allow me to pursue in greater depth a number of the areas that I feel we have yet to explore and programs that need our attention."

    It took only moments for the board to review Gordon’s qualifications and unanimously accept his nomination. Stephens remains on the board as Vice President of Marketing and will serve in agricultural development. He is one of the founding members of the Malawi Project and has served as its President since 1999.

Gordon Commits to Proven Course

    With his acceptance Gordon made the following observation:

    "For as long as I have been on the Board for the Malawi Project I have approved of the course we have charted. To put programs in place that help the people get on their feet and carry out their own work is one of the most critical things we can bring to the table. All too often aid becomes a problem instead of help as it creates dependence instead of independence. The Programs of the Malawi Project have always been designed to encourage self-reliance and independence. It is my intention to steer our work on the same course in the future. We will expand into a number of new programs and work to increase the importance and value of the programs we are currently carrying out. All in all, I see nothing but good things happening as we move forward. Our board members have all been to Malawi, and most of us have been there over and over. We have in-depth experience and a number of great Malawi groups working hand in hand with us to accomplish our goals. It’s a great experience to now hold the position I have been honored with. With the help of God we will not fail."

Ferris Expresses Appreciation

    With his move to the Presidency, Gordon vacates the position of Treasurer for the Project. That responsibility will fall to Mike Ferris, who was nominated for Board membership during the same meeting. Mike and Scott recently returned from a trip to Malawi where they visited sites where the Project has programs underway. Mike responded to his acceptance on the board.

    "I want to thank you all for the confidence and trust you have placed in me by adding me to the Malawi Project Board.  Just 3 months ago, I never would have thought I would have had the opportunity to travel to Africa, let alone a little country known as the warm heart of Africa that I would really fall in love with.  However, as you all have observed, it seems God had a plan I did not see at the time.  The plan was evident (now) even back at Harding when I took course work in African missions.  I thank you all for your heart and passion in the Lord’s work in Malawi.  It is also very evident that when a ministry is based on the example of Jesus’ ministry, the fruit of all those years of labor is almost inconceivable.  No matter where we went in Malawi, the Malawi Project and Dick and Suzi are known and thought highly of.  Thank you both for this."

    More information about both Scott Gordon and Mike Ferris can be found in the Board of Directors section.

 

May 31

Over Three Billion at Risk from Malaria

Malawi Healthcare, Nation of Malawi, Medical

    In 107 nations of the world, 3.2 billion people are at risk from malaria. An estimated 40 percent of the population of the world live in malaria-endemic regions, with malaria listed as the most important parasitic disease. It is killing more people than any other communicable disease, with the exception of tuberculosis. Malaria is endemic in Southeast Asia, the Western Pacific region and in Africa.

More than 90 percent of the annual cases of Malaria occur in sub-Saharan Africa. Malaria is the highest cause of death in the under-five age group and is responsible for approximately 800,000 deaths each year.

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