The Malawi Project, Inc.

Meeting Establishes New Drop Site For Supplies
        Mzuzu, Malawi … In early August 2008, a three-hour meeting was held at the Bible College in Mzuzu, next door to the University of Malawi. In attendance were Randy Judd, the Director for the school, Richard (Dick) Stephens of the Malawi Project, and local church leaders Davison Z. Ndhlovu of Ekwendeni, Moster Kanyinji of Mzimba, and C. T. Chirambo of Salima. The meeting focused a great deal of attention on creating a closer working relationship with medical facilities in northern Malawi that are sorely in need of additional medical supplies.

Site Holds Many Advantages
        The campus was selected for a number of reasons. First, it is a central location for the north, positioned on the main road just north of the regional capital of Mzuzu, and next door to the University of Malawi. Second, the campus has an excellent facility with excess capacity in its current status of 20 buildings situated on 18 acres of finely manicured property. Third, its recognition as a major trade area makes it an excellent location for various groups to reach in order to pick up needed resources.

Land of the Tumbuktu
        Primarily, the Timbuktu tribe inhabits the northern portion of Malawi, with a scattering of Angoni tribes. It’s major center of commerce and government is located in the city of Mzuzu, which takes its name from a small stream. Its current population is estimated at 175,345. The region serves the districts (states) of Mzimba, Karonga, Rumphi, Nkhata Bay, Likoma Island, Chitipa, and is home to Malawi’s first national park, Nyika National Park. The Park holds what is considered by many to be one of the most beautiful montane plateaus to be found anywhere in Africa. Near the park at its southern end rests the Vwaza Marsh Game Park, home to a high number of wild animals and birdlife. To the east sits Lake Malawi, the 12th largest fresh water lake in the world, and home to one of the largest varieties of fresh water fish in the world. Above it to the west raises the high mountainous plateau that anchors the lower end of the Great Rift Valley. On the mountain above the lake is the historic community of Livingstonia, which dates back to the time of the early missionaries led by the Scottish missionary David Livingston. A short distance to the south of Mzuzu is one of the largest rain forests in the world, Chikangawa.

His Business Card Reads…
    His business card reads "Daniel Shipley, Helping Malawi One Dollar at a Time". Then his address, email address and phone number are listed at the bottom. On the back the card is filled with suggested items that are needed in Malawi; Band-aids, Folders, Paper Clips, Rulers, Pencils, Pens, Tooth Brushes, Tooth Paste and the thing that got it all started several years ago, raisins. The list goes on and on until the back of the card is full with the wish list that Daniel gathers up for the children of Malawi

    In many ways this business card says a lot about this young man from Knoxville, Tennessee. It says he is in it for the long haul. It also says a lot about his mother and father. Malawi has become a vocation for him, and in turn it has involved great deal of time and energy for his parents, Dean and Jamie Shipley.

It started During the Great Famine
    It started in 2002 when Daniel was just 11 years of age, and Malawi was suffering from the worst famine it had experienced since the 1950’s before it gained its independence from Great Britain. His story appeared on the Malawi Project web site after Daniel gathered raisins to send to the children who were suffering during the famine. Most people who learned of the famine helped for a few months until the worst of the famine had past, and then moved on to other programs of service. Not Daniel. He focused in on Malawi and increased his endeavors to assist the people there. After his inspiring story sparked a major food supplier to send an entire trailer load of raisins to Malawi, Daniel increased his own involvement again and again.

    Today, Daniel is 17, and he continues faithfully to serve the people of Malawi. On a recent trip to Indiana to deliver supplies for an outgoing trailer to Malawi Daniel delivered buckets of needed items along with a sizeable check that he presented to Dick Stephens, Director of the Malawi Project.

    You can read more about Daniel and others like him in the "Be The Change" section of the Project’s web site.

    It was an important day for both of them when Yasin Wame met George Banda  (Director of Kuthandiza Osayenda Disability Outreach (KODO)) in 1998. George was working hard to serve the needs of people with physical handicaps, and Yasin had one. Yasin had been born disabled, and his disability affected both his back and his legs. In spite of his problems Yasin was able to attend school up to standard five when he had to drop out because his parents could no longer afford the school fees. He was then trained in tailoring by the "Malawi Council for the Handicapped", but again he was unable to move forward when the program was unable to accomplish its goals, as there were not enough funds for the program to support him and improve his skills.

    When Yasin met George he found a home. It was not a place where he could receive, but a place where he could give. Since he was from the Kapira Village in the Salima District, Yasin was able to begin assisting George to assist others with disabilities. He has been there ever since, teaching, assisting, encouraging.

    The old adage is true: "I complained that I had no shoes until I met a man who had no feet." It is pretty hard to complain after you have watched George and Yasin  helping the disabled. It appears they no longer realize that they both also suffer from disabilities that would make others grow discouraged and quit.

    Yasin is seen in the left of this picture showing a young woman how to repair a bicycle rim.

Aide Director Receives
“Humanitarian of the Year” Award

    Each year the Malawi Project recognizes a particular person or group who have made a difference in the lives of the people of Malawi. Many of these people appear in the Be The Change category of the Malawi Project website. Each new recipient joins people such as Mama Cecelia Kadzamira, the woman recognized by many as the first First Lady of Malawi, the now deceased former First Lady of Malawi Ethel Mutharika, and Samatha Ludwick of the Cool Runnings Lake Resort. This year this awarding of recognition goes to the Universal Aide Society of Canada and its director, Shirley Gremyachev. Repeatedly Shirley and the Society have come to the aid of the Malawi Project when needs were evident.

    Shirley Gremyachev, its director, was born and raised in the Maritimes of Canada. She is the mother of three daughters and grandmother of four grand children. She spent her early years active in social youth work and the last twenty years focused on shipping humanitarian relief aid to those in need over seas. Shirley is Co founder of Global Relief Fund and Founder of Universal Aide Society. She has received many tributes for her dedication to the poor two of which are the Paul Harris award and Honorary Doctorate degree for humanitarian services.

    Shirley has traveled extensively over the years witnessing first hand those that are suffering from poverty and the ravaging affects it has on human life and dignity. Her dedication to partnering and networking with other like minds has enabled her to see thousands of shipments find their way to the poor. Shirley’s husband, Yuri Gremyachev also shares her passion for the poor and together they work to bring hope and help to the destitute.

Now it Has All Changed
Now, thanks to supporters in the U.S. including the Free Wheelchair Mission, the Malawi Project, and the Kuthandiza Osayenda Disability Outreach in Salima, Malawi she is freed from the cruel laughter many of the other children taunted her with when she was moved about in a wheelbarrow. Richard Stephens, Executive Director of the Malawi Project commented, "It is so sad to see this kind of story repeated over and over in a land that is so poor that the poor have no place to turn. I cannot imagine what this little girl has gone through because of the lack of a wheelchair in which her family could help to get her from place to place. Now, with the ability to get around who knows how much she may excel?"

    After this last picture was taken little Agnes was moved from the old wheelbarrow into a nice new shinny wheelchair.