In 2009 the Malawi Project issued its first financial grant to enable an individual to start a small business to help him, his family, and a number of orphans he has been trying to support. The grant went to Robert Chilemba of Nkhotakota.
Robert excelled in primary education, and was one of the highest rated children tested for entrance to secondary school.
After high school, Robert joined a leading sugar producing company in Malawi as a storekeeper. While there he also accepted the responsibility for raising his late brother’s and his sister’s children, but the additional responsibilities were more than his meager wage could support. He had to resign and move to farming. However, when climate conditions repeatedly affected the crops negatively the investment he had in farming melted away.
In 2003 Robert joined Blessings Hospital as the Warehouse Supervisor. He worked at this job for 42 months and it was during this time that he came in contact with members of the Malawi Project. Unable to support his growing family he returned to Nkhotakota where his family was living.
In 2009 Robert submitted a business proposal to the Malawi Project, and was awarded the grant to start a business selling fish so he could support himself, his family and members of the community around him. He formed a business committee, and laid out plans to create programs in food security, orphan care, and health care.
In the first year of the program the proceeds from the fish business compounded from the original $1,000.00 to well over $3,000.00. With the funds he has purchased fertilizer and seed for field cultivation. The harvest has given food to a large number of orphans. Forty 50 kg bags of maize (corn) have been given freely to 234 people. School fees have been paid for orphans to go to school, and soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste, and iodized salt has been given to the poor.
The Malawi Project is pleased with its assistance to Robert Chilemba of Nkhotakota, Malawi