Rose’s mother was the second of nine children, and Joyce the sixth child in her family. When parents die leaving behind large families, it places a nearly impossible responsibility on older grandparents who are already struggling to find enough food, clothing and shelter with which to survive themselves. The arrival of 10 or 12 more mouths to feed, and bodies to cloth is insurmountable.

In an effort to cope with this national crisis the Malawi government, through a decentralization process, gave power to local communities to organize, identify, and assist needy people in their areas. According to Wilson Tembo, the Director of the Malawi Project’s southern warehouse distribution site in Thondwe, “These community based organizations are providing a positive alternative where the needy receive aid,” he notes. It was during a recent distribution of clothes and other supplies that Tembo came upon little Rose. After learning of her plight he continues, “Rose is the best symbol of many orphans who are left with only grandparents to care for them. These children lack essential things like clothes, school fees, food and housing. Because such a large gap exists between the need and the ability to get these resources to the children, the Msamba Community Based Organization came into existence at the grass roots, local level. Malawi has thousands of orphans who have no hope for the future. Many are innocent and many are orphans because of a 13.5% HIV/AIDS rate in the country. The Namikango Mission and Maternity Hospital is pleased to have the support of the Malawi Project, the Universal Aide Society, and Compassionate Resources Network in being able to help these community based groups, and especially to be able to make a difference in the lives of children like Rose and Joyce.”

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Please enjoy this song from a women’s choir from Lambadzi, Malawi.  Happy New Year to you all and we look forward to working together in 2012!

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At five years of age, Chisomo attends an orphan nursery school near her village. But, it takes more than Mary can provide. Not only can she not keep up, the problem is getting more serious. The family is running out of money and resources. She looks at the visitor with deep concern. There is no work in the area for the older children. Malawi has an employment problem with 50% of its people out of work.

“You can see I have stopped baking the scones,” she says. “I do not have the capital,” She was embarrassed that she could not provide food for the visitor during his visit to her home. She had no food in the house that day for anyone, not even the children. “What will happen to them? Who will provide what I cannot give?”

“I understood her problem, and was unable to answer her question and the plea it contained,” noted Wilson Tembo as he left to prepare his report for the Malawi Project web site. “I don’t know what is to become of her, and the children, including little Chisomo.”

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During the same week another 40-foot trailer of medical supplies were unloaded at the Malawi Project’s southern warehouse at the Namikango Maternity Hospital and Mission in Thondwe. The value of the truck shipment has been valued at approximately $600,000.00. This makes the total of the two shipments approximately $ 1,600,000.00. Both shipments had the same destination, and have been made possible through a joint effort of Universal Aide in Canada, World Emergency Relief, and the Malawi Project in the United States, and the Namikango facility.

Within days of their arrival Wilson Tembo, warehouse director, had the supplies and medicines ready for distribution. Medical facilities and doctors were contacted in all three regions of the country, and in spite of a serious fuel shortage, medical groups were able to find fuel and make the trip to Thondwe to pick them up. The event was quite newsworthy, and was covered by Malawi Broadcasting Cooperation, Television (MBC-TV), and the Zodiak Radio, Malawi (ZBS).

Included in the group picking up drugs and supplies was the Kamuzu Vocational Rehabilitation and Training Centre Clinic. This center is located deep in a remote part of southern Malawi. Opened in 1984, the center trains physically challenged people in different vocational venues, in order for them to become economically independent. It’s clinic serves the staff, students and village community surrounding its location, and treats over 200 patients a month. Drugs such as Albendazole, Amoxillin, Doxycline tablets, Multivitamins and SP were among the items arriving on the air shipment. These drugs help reduce the suffering of many people in area villages.

Another beneficiary of the drug shipment is the Malawi Prison system, and its headquarters facilities at the Zomba Central Prison. This facility is the biggest prison in the country, and is home to over 2,000 inmates. Like many other facilities in the country, the prison hospital lacks drugs, supplies and equipment. Unlike other Malawians who have the freedom to choose where to get medical attention, the inmates have little or no choice. This emphasizes the need for a continual flow of supplies to the prison. Moses Chigayo is the Malawi Prisons Services Clinical Officer, and is the official responsible for all prison infirmaries.

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At the end of their greeting of the visitors, members of the Malawi Project gave a new dress to 35 of the girls. The dresses came from Little Dresses for Africa, a non profit group in Michigan USA, who are preparing a shipment of 45,000 dresses to go to little girls in Malawi.

The village people in the area have already made thousands of bricks for the buildings, and cut a road over the mountain to bring access to both the Dzidalire programs, and the new international school planned for a site across from Dzidalire.

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“Mr. Barry when & where did you study carpentry,” asks one of the three students. Barry simply answers by saying, “I haven’t study carpentry, I took a ‘Do it Your Self Book’ out of the library, and followed the instructions.”

“Ah! Mr. Barry we would never be able to do that, we would not know where to start.”

Barry replied by saying, “If I can do it you can do it. Come on guys, I will show you how to use the library to find the DIY Book. Then you can make the bench that we need for the library.”

So the four of them got together the next day. They looked up the book and got busy making the bench. What a fantastic bench it is, and it was made by three of the students who never knew they could simply get a book from the library and make something like a bench. They were so very proud of their achievement.

According to Samantha Ludick, one of the principles architects of the library project, “This would not have been possible if it weren’t for the support of the Malawi Project, Universal Aide and a number of others who helped supply the necessary books for the library.”

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After coming to Malawi we were told of a site near Dedza where a large number of caves contain drawings, some of them thought to be about 3,500 years old. The site is called Chongoni Rock Art, and has been designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. It is believed to contain the richest concentration of Rock Art in the central Africa region; 127 rock-painting locations have been identified.

On a recent trip to the country members of the Malawi Project made a trip to the Dedza region to locate these caves, and see the paintings for themselves. You can read more on our Malawi Travel Blog.  Part 2 of the story can be found here.

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While a joint Malawi-American group started planning for the international school, the Malawi Project obtained information about the medical need that sparked the Chief’s request. It was learned that literally thousands of villagers in the Lintipi area have to travel 15 miles or more to reach the district hospital in Dedza. With no mechanized vehicles to transport ill patients it is necessary to walk, ride the back of a bicycle, or bounce along pothole laced, dirt roads in a wooden cart drawn by a pair of oxen. Few people from developed nations can imagine the harrowing trip, bouncing along on the back of a bicycle, or thrown around on hard slats in the wooden bed of an ox-cart. It is a long, dangerous, and harrowing trip, as the patient and the caretaker make their way slowly down steep, winding, mountain roads. Then, as if this were not enough, realize that when they reach the hospital there is the very real possibility the cash strapped government facility will be out of supplies, and unable to give the proper assistance. There is always the risk they will be returning home without care. No wonder, the chief extended her first and only request for someone to hear her plea for healthcare for her people.

Two Groups Respond with Assistance
Not only did members of the Malawi Project hear her request, so did the Board of Directors of the Dzidalire Development Agency. This later agency was formed in 2008-09 to assist the people in this exceptionally poor region of Malawi to develop the needed skills to become self-reliance. The Malawi Project assisted with funds to obtain land, and also helped in the creation of the marketing literature for the organization. (See upcoming story about Dzidalire in the next few days).

The two groups have set out to fulfill the request of the Chief, and build a medical clinic and birthing center that will be adequate to supply the needs of the people in the neighboring villages. The facility will contain twenty-eight rooms, with a construction cost estimate of $300,000.00. The Malawi Project has already been successful in sourcing most of the needed equipment, and the supplies to make the facility a first-rate asset to the surrounding communities. At the same time sufficient funding is available to pour the foundation for the buildings, and begin construction.

Village People Making Bricks
Meanwhile, the village people who live around the needed facility have been hard at work making bricks for construction of the buildings. While the bricks are a major expense to the project, the cost of concrete for the floors, the windows, doors, and metal roof will compose the major outlay for the buildings.

Both Sides Working Hand in Hand
At the conclusion of the project the facility will be solely owned and operated by Malawians. This is in line with the long-standing position of the Malawi Project to not own, manage, or control what should belong to the people of another country. This, as with its other programs, is built on joint respect, joint relationship, and the confidence that if the Malawi people own and manage their own programs, the pride of ownership and the self confidence that comes with personal achievement will sustain the programs long after the western supporters have ended their support. According to Scott Gordon, President of the Malawi Project, “The part the Malawi Project plays is to bring needed resources to the table for a project. The people of Malawi bring their creativeness, commitment, skills, and long-term sustainability to the program. Combine what both of us offer the other, and one can see a successful and dynamic relationship that can only lead to success. We feel the time has come for contributors to follow a different approach to helping Africa, and the Malawi Project intends to be in the forefront of this movement. Our relationship with the Dzidalire Agency extends to the time of it’s creation, and we have the greatest respect for those who brought this non-governmental organization (NGO) into existence.”

Members of the Malawi Project Board of Directors are currently taking the story to possible contributors in order to reach the funding goals and the completion of this joint program. It is hoped the buildings can be under roof by the time the rainy season begins in October 2011.

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The entire situation changed with a single wheelchair, thanks to a cooperative program being that is being carried out between four aid groups. It started with the Free Wheelchair Mission in Irvine, California, an international aid organization distributing wheelchairs around the world. The Wheelchair Mission has joined hands with the Malawi Project to deliver 2,300 wheelchairs to Malawi over a four-year period. The Malawi Project, in turn, focuses its attention on helping a number of in-country organizations with agricultural, medical and educational aid, including wheelchairs. Two of these organizations are the Namikango Mission and Maternity Hospital in southern Malawi, and the Dzidalire Community Development Agency in Dedza, Malawi. A single wheelchair started passing along through all of these hands until it finally arrived in the Dzidalire Agency, who moved it along to Mr. Makhuwila. A long trip and a lot of hands, but success was achieved through the efforts of all of these groups.

Mr. Makhuwila expresses his appreciation to the Malawi Project, and in turn to all of these groups, for the wheel chair. He was overwhelmed with joy with his wheelchair. He said, “I am very happy because the Malawi Project, through Mama Kadzamira has come to my rescue. I was unable to move around during the past six months. They have now given me a wheelchair that will enable me to move around and continue pursuing my pastoral work among people of Area 25. I thank the Lord for his mercy and the gift of the wheel chair. May God bless the Malawi Project, and Dzidalire Community Development Agency.”

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Malawi — It is often referred to as the “Warm Heart of Africa”. It is the home of a number of tribal groups. Generally they are scattered throughout the country by regions. The North, Central and Southern regions are distinctively divided by these political and historical backgrounds. Generally there is a demarcation of the main cultural tribes by the three geographical regions. The Tumbuka and Ngoni tribes with the Tonga tribe coming in smaller numbers dominate the northern region. The Chewa tribe is the largest and they live primarily in the central Malawi. The southern region is highly populated by the Yao and Lomwe tribes. However, this does not confine one to its tribe by region or district. Each region and district of the country has patches of people from other tribes living in harmony and unlimited peace. No wonder this is called the Warm Heart of Africa. Inter tribal marriages are not prohibited, and this further enhances the bonds of unity throughout the nation.

Built on four cornerstone principles by the father and founder of the nation, the late Hastings Kamuzu Banda, these principles are unity, peace, freedom and discipline. Although these principles are sometimes forgotten they still help to mold the nation in a friendly place both regionally and globally.

Although this nearly 50-year-old democratic nation still falls near the bottom of the world’s economic rankings, and the poverty level remains near the top, the strides towards a brighter Malawi are still being jointly fought by all Malawians. It is a country plagued with poverty, and few people can afford basic necessities. The lucky children may find a tablet of soap with which to wash their clothes. The unlucky ones must do without. Both are forced to walk many kilometers on rocky ground just to gather food, find firewood, and collect water. School classrooms are inadequate; and many children still access education studying under trees. The literacy rate is said to be at 62.7% of the population over 15 years and old.

Fifty-Three Percent Below the Line
The basic water sources remain unprotected shallow wells that supply the largest part of the population. Potable water is even inaccessible by many urban dwellers. Water taps are dry for the greater part of the year. Water authorities still depend on old malfunctioning equipment, when the precious commodity can be accessed at all. Despite the fact that 53% of the population lives below the poverty line the country’s inhabitants remain friendly and warm.

A fuel resource for the biggest section of the 13,931,831 inhabitants of the nation remains firewood. Each day starts with the girls actively involved in household chores. For school going girls, the collection of firewood to warm the bathing water is usually the first thing they do each morning. Firewood is needed to cook the breakfast. Although the burning of firewood is done with no feelings of guilt, the fact is that deforestation and soil degradation are on the increase at an alarming rate. The need for alternative means to firewood is coming very late. The direct ‘alternative’ remains the often-interrupted power generation by the only country’s controlled powerhouse — electricity Supply Corporation. Less than one quarter of the population is said to be electrified.

I Met a New Friend
This afternoon, I have made a new friend. Her name is Doricca Somanje. She is a Nyanja by tribe and hails from Mtuweni Village in Zomba. At her age, she might have collected dozens of kilograms of firewood for her family’s use. I asked for permission if I could take her friendly and beautiful face for the purposes of my article. She agreed, but with one condition, “Mutakachapisa mudzandipaseko changa” (After printing, please give me a copy of the photo).

One thing I observed from this little girl is that, without anything except freedom and peace of mind, a person is actually whole. I am not however, concluding that without the basic necessities, one is satisfied, but I have grown to realize that peace and freedom are fundamental properties for any human being, whether they are rich or poor. Despite the fact that she has almost nothing, Dorica still manages a smile that reveals the country’s warmth. Her daily life depends on firewood as a source of fuel. To her and other villagers electricity is not an alternative at all.

Such a Warm Smile
It is such wide smiles that Malawians are blessed with that make the country home to everyone. If one has not visited Malawi, one must be living in an incomplete ‘world’. This is the warm heart of Africa — the nation known for her poverty as well as being a nation of friendly people.

Physical features are enormous in this centrally located African nation. Mountains, hills, rivers, lakes, animals, national parks, all are in large numbers. This is the nation that houses the great African rift valley lake, Lake Malawi, the great Mulanje Mountain, and several attractive destinations that are patiently waiting to be visited. But above all of them, the thing you may take home with you above all else are the smiles of the people.

By Wilson Tembo, Manager Malawi Project Warehouse Thondwe, Malawi

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