Jun 29

Raggedy Andy Travels to Malawi

Kids Helping Kids, Be The Change

             A recent email from schoolteacher Val Jensen in Pleasant Grove, Utah is reflective of the kind of sacrifice and commitment people are making to assist the people of Malawi. Val teaches at the Pleasant Grove School teaching.

        This past year Val and the children of the Pleasant Grove gathered large amounts of supplies for the children of Malawi. Toothbrushes, toothpaste, notebook paper, pencils and pens filled a number of boxes of supplies headed for Malawi.

            One item in particular holds a very special place in Val’s heart. An email ahead of the arrival of some of the boxes reported, “There is a Raggedy Andy doll included that has special significance to me. A dear friend hand stitched it for her aging mother who was in the final stages of Alzheimer’s. When her mother passed away a short time later, this friend gave me the doll for my firstborn child. My daughter is now 26 years old, but Raggedy Ann still looks new. Somehow it just seemed right that a special child in Malawi would benefit from an object that was created in and surrounded by so much love through so many years. I know it will find the perfect new home and bring joy to a child again.

Jun 25

2nd Village Tractor Prepared For Trip

Agricultural Assistance

Thorntown, Indiana … The second V-Tractor is being prepared for its trip to the southern region of Malawi from central Indiana. The first tractor, a one-of-a-kind farm tractor was developed for use on small farm plots and was sent to the central region of Malawi in mid-2006. Tests were conducted and the new tractor is a slighter larger, heavier more versatile unit. This new tractor will be tested on farms owned by Mama Cecilia Tamanda Kadzamira. Kadzamira served in the capacity of the First Hostess to former President Hastings Kamuzu Banda. In-as-much as President Banda never married Kadzamira carried out many of the functions for the Office of the President that were associated with a First Lady. She hosted state visits, traveled with the Presidential entourages around the world, and assisted in the health and well being of the President.

The V-Tractor handles plowing and cultivating farm fields. It can also handle equipment for distributing fertilizer, as well as pumping and transporting water, and has the ability to run a generator for electricity or to run power equipment.

Tom Rich, the owner of L. T. Rich Manufacturing Co of Lebanon, Indiana worked with the Malawi Project in a three-year program of research and development in order to design and manufacture the V-Tractor.

In the pictures at the bottom, from top to bottom; Tom Rich, inventor puts the V-Tractor through its paces; Dick Stephens and Shola Ajiboye of the African Center, and Tom Rich look over the tractor; Shola Ajiboye and Tom Rich discuss possible use of V-Tractor in African villages; Giant water transport tanks are clearly visibie.

Richard Stephens, Tom Rich, and Shola Ajiboye discuss V-TractorMr Ajiboye of the African Center learns what the V-Tractor can do.

V-Tractor demo before shipment to MalawiV-Tractor Demo for Malawi

Jun 25

Malawi Scene Recreated in the Doll House

Kids Helping Kids, Be The Change

Girls that Created Molly Scene The Auburn Church of Christ in Auburn, Alabama has been increasing their involvement in Malawi during the past two years and the children in the congregation are not to be outdone by the adults. Terri Monks and her husband Dale have three daughters, Maggie (14), Molly (7), and Lilly (2). Maggie and Molly are participating in a pen pal project with some of the children at Mtendere Village in Lumbadzi, and recently attended a cookout at the church building that focused on a presentation of videos and stories about Malawi with a special emphasis on the children of Mtendere.

 

A few days later Terri reports that Molly came into the den at their home to retrieve a small dollhouse. “She said they were playing Malawi,” Terri advises. “I went to her room a short time later to see what she meant. On the floor in front of me was the dollhouse with pallets on the floor. Molly explained this was done for the missionaries to sleep on the floor. They had their small dolls (Polly Pockets) lined up to represent the members of the Auburn Team that were going to Malawi. One dark-skinned doll represented the Malawian. They were playing out their version of the mission team going to Malawi to help the people there.”

 

Terri concludes from her observation of the girls, “Never underestimate the impact of what little ears hear and little hearts feel”

Jun 25

Project Expands Distribution Programs

Medical Shipments & Distribution

With the success of a number of humanitarian programs well underway at the Blessings Complex the decision was made in late 2006 to expand the distribution network of medical supplies and other humanitarian assistance into other parts of Malawi and even into neighboring nations in 2007. The Malawi Project Board of Directors felt that it was time to expand to other distribution networks as well as continuing to work through the Blessings Complex in the central region of Malawi.

Discussions were held in mid-2006 with the now deceased First Lady of Malawi and a decision was reached for the Malawi Project and World Emergency Relief to send at least two large 40-foot trailers filled with medical supplies and equipment to the Ethel Zvauya Mutharika Foundation in order to help to refurbish Bottom Hospital, the second largest medical facility in the capital city of Lilongwe. Early in 2007 the first shipment left the U.S. destined for the Hospital. In late June a second trailer followed the course of the first one in order to assist with much needed equipment and supplies for the hospital. In spite of the death of the First Lady the commitment will continue and the supplies will reach the hospital in her honor.

By mid-2007 first 40-foot trailer filled with medical supplies and school text books will be leaving Indiana destined for Blantyre, the second largest city in Malawi and will be distributed to hospitals in the southern region of Malawi.

Two other drop points are now being planned in Malawi as well as continued efforts being put forth to assist the Chewa people with distribution being planned in eastern Zambia in coming months.

Shipment being prepared for Bottom Hospital

Jun 23

Three Dollars

Kids Helping Kids, Be The Change

As architect Smith Howell made preparations for his trip to Malawi his great-grandson Barrett Norris could not go with him. Instead the eight year-old gave his 87 year-old great-grandfather $3.00 and asked him to give it to someone in Malawi. Arriving in Malawi Howell started looking for just the right person for the gift.

Howell soon found just the right person. It was Thomas, an employee in the nearby timber business who had been walking along the main highway and was struck by a giant truck.

While in the hospital recovering from the accident Thomas was befriended by a number of people. One that stood out however was Smith Howell and the $3.00 gift from the boy in America. While in America the $3.00 could only buy a Burger King Value Meal, in Malawi the same $3.00 could supply a grateful recipient a vastly larger value. Since the average person in Malawi earns less than $200 a year, Barrett‘s gift had grown as it made its way around the world. Now it gave the needed funds for Thomas’ family to buy food for him while he was in the hospital.

Seldom can one measure the value of even the smallest gift.

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