Problems Faced Before Coming To Mtendere:
To find enough food was a big problem. I had no clothes, no bedding, no shoes, and no school supplies

My Life At Mtendere:
Mtendere is very good, like a "Paradise on Earth." What was lacking at home, is now here at Mtendere. Life is now very peaceful and happy.

Hope For The Future:
To become an airline pilot. He believes there is no easy way to become a good professional apart from working extra hard in class. Next term he will put extra efforts on his studies so that he can score good marks.

When he grows up he wants to have three children; 2 girls and a boy. Too many children are difficult to look after.

Quote:
I did not realize the love of God before I came to Mtendere. I had no idea such a great chance would come to me. I believe it was already in the mind of God that I will be one of the first residents of Mtendere Village. I used to stay in a small mud house with my grandmother who is old. I used to sleep with chickens and goats in the same room, but today God has given me this chance to come and stay in this “mansion” here at Mtendere. I will work hard in class, I want to be a first pilot from Mtendere village so that the money I will earn can be used to support other children who will come to Mtendere in the future. Hard work never kills but it pays, I will work extra hard in class as to achieve my goals.

Problems Before Coming To Mtendere:
When her mother and father could not care for her young Pilirani went to live with her aunt. Her aunt could not care for her and problems grew. Pilirani tells of the other children in the house eating porridge with sugar on it, but she was given salt for her porridge. She also remembers the pain of going outside to play, but being forced to play beyond sight of the house while the other children could play near home. When she was given support her aunt took it away from her. She can remember sleeping outside for there was not enough room in the house, and often going without food, because there was not enough food to go around. Then her aunt deserted her, and returned her to her mother. In time both her mother and father died and Pilirani found herself alone, except for a young neighbor girl, Emily Chimgaipe, who helped her by giving her a place to sleep.

My Life at Mtendere:
Today Pilirani is excited about her new home at Mtendere. She says she is loved and being taken care of, has much food, and clothes to wear, a nice bed, and can now go to school again.

My Life at Mtendere:
In spite of the pain of the past Pilirani smiles when she talks about wanting to go to university and become an engineer. She also wants to be the wife of the President, and have two girls and one boy. Her hobbies are reading, going to church, and playing netball. Her favorite dish is rice with fried chicken. She wants to talk with all of the American who come to Mtendere because she wants to practice her English. She feels that there are no subjects in school that are difficult.

It is a smile that will capture the heart of anyone who meets her, yet her smile belies a past that is filled with pain. Although she is 13 years old, she does not know what day of the year is her birthday. It is only one of the great disappointments that are harbored in the heart and life of this beautiful little girl.

History:
Mercy is from Mozambique. She came to Malawi with her grand parents during the Mozambique war. They settled in Mayani in Dedza District. Later both of her grand parents died, and a Malawian family took her in. After staying for some years both of the foster parents also died. Mercy was directed to join her brother who depended on piecework at the bus depot of Blantyre. After joining him they stayed together for few months, then he died.

Mercy was taken to social welfare of Blantyre, than transferred to Social Welfare in Dedza, because she said she came from Dedza. She was then transferred to Lilongwe and stayed with Mr., Kandodo for some months while waiting to be linked to an institutional orphanage or children’s village. This failed to materialize, and she joined street life. She was sleeping in the Lilongwe Bus Depot. Finally she fled the city and headed toward Lumbadzi, a teacher by the name of Miss Fotsani Momba took her in. After staying for two months, the teacher observed that Mercy had strange behavior, and she chose to discharge her. She took her to the police and the police took her to Tikondane.

When being interviewed she told of having fits after losing her foster parents in Zomba, and when she had to join her brother who was a street boy. She said she felt heavy in heart, and could not understand that things like this were happening to her. After counseling she can now say; "God has a purpose for keeping me alive. It is a big testimony to me and other people who saw me when I was struggling with life as a street girl. I now know that my God is real, and that he cares for everybody. I had no home, but now I have found it. I had no mother, but now God has given me a mother. I can say many things, but in all I want to say To God be the glory for the great things He has done for me.

Problems Faced Before Coming To Mtendere:
I had no home, food, no school, too mobile, no care when I was sick, no medication, and no security, especially when I lived at the bus depot.

My Life at Mtendere:
Life has changed and I now have hope for a living. I now have food; a home and my needs are taken care of. I have finally found parents, relatives, and I have hope.

Hope For The Future:
I want to care for other people, like being a Nurse. Since I have a home I believe there is nothing to prevent me from going to the University and getting a Degree. I think two very interesting places in the world are America and England.

Problems faced before coming to Mtendere:
He had no clothes, his school attendance was very poor, he was in poverty, and having enough food was a problems.

My Life at Mtendere:
Food is now available, soap is provided, clothes are not a problem, as it was the case at my previous home. I can now play freely. Exposure to new things are now in my life, ie. places like the Airport, big trading centers like Lumbadzi, and Lilongwe town. I have medical services near me. In short I have all the basic human needs.

Hope For The Future:
He would like to have 3 children; 1 girl and 2 boys,. He understands that many children are difficult to give proper care. He wants to be a traffic policeman.

Quote:
I have undergone through hardships, my life was miserable, and I had no home. I had no parents, but I have some now. My life has completely changed. I will never be the same. Mtendere Village is a big relief to me. Most of times I was missing classes because of the people I was living with did not realize the importance of school. Now I have no excuse to fail my education. God has done everything possible for me to be here. I would like to thank the people who sponsored the project of building this village of Mtendere and those people who are supporting us for a living, they are all my parents, relatives and only God is the one who can thank and bless them. I will work hard in class so that I can go to Secondary School. After that I will go for Traffic Police training. I know with God nothing is impossible. He has made it possible for me to be here at Mtendere Village and will make possible for me to achieve my goals.

Problems faced before coming to Mtendere:
Lack of clothing, too much work with no time for study, no time to relax and play with her friends, most times unable to attend school, but rather she had to work at home.

My Life at Mtendere:
Provisions are easy, I am going to school daily, food is on time, and it is a friendly environment.

Hope For The Future:
I want to be a nurse, and have two children; a boy and a girl respectively. I know that having fewer children are easier to look after.

Quote:
I have seen the true love of God, I did not expect to have such a greet chance of being one of the first children of Mtendere. I have a great testimony to tell the world, God is real, and he cares for everybody. In times when you do not expect it God does great things. I have seen this and It is true. I want to tell the world that since I came here at Mtendere I have changed greatly, I will never be the same. God is real.

Problems Before Coming To Mtendere:
I had no food, no clothes, no soap, and no shoes.

My Life After Coming To Mtendere:
Plenty of food is now available, clothes are no longer a problem, and shelter is better than where he was staying before coming to Mtendere.

Hope For The Future:
I want to finish school and become a pilot, and since I am now near the airport I aspire to be a pilot. I want to have 2 children, a boy and a girl. I do not want my children to go through what I have gone through.

Quote:
To me Mtendere village is a big relief. When I was at Shoti village life was tough, but here everything is simple. I did not realize that God is so great and so good like this. I know everything has been made possible because of His greatness. I will always praise Him for the whole of my life. Oh God you are my God and I will always praise you.

Problems Before Coming To Mtendere:
Shortage of food, new wife, who is step mother to Jenifer, could not give food the children, short of clothes, not enough beddings, and not enough good shelter.

My Life After Coming To Mtendere:
Food is now available, so is clothing, beddings, and school. I now have time to play, and the chance to see places and being exposed to new things.

Hope For The Future:
I want to be a pilot, and I want to have two children; a boy and a girl. I understand too many children are expensive to care for. I want to provide them with a good education.

Quote:
God will not leave anyone to suffer, had many problems but God have solved them for me. God is in control of my life, I know and believe that he will never let me to suffer.

Problems faced before coming to Mtendere:
Lack of food, clothes, poor shelter, and school attendance was very poor; she missed classes for two months, she was taken to a relative to assist in house chores.

Life at Mtendere:
Happy because food is always available, clothes, shoes and other basic requirements are available, she goes to school everyday.

Hope For The Future:
I want to finish school and get a good education so I can become a Secondary school teacher. I would like to have four children, two boys and two girls.

Quote.
I am very happy to be here. I thank the contributors for making everything possible for me to be at Mtendere. May God be praised now and for ever.

Problems Faced Before Coming to Mtendere:
Food was a problem, only eating one meal a day. No clothing. No bedding. School attendance was very poor. She was going to school twice a week, but most of the time she had to work in the garden.

My Life at Mtendere:
Most of the problems faced earlier are no longer valid. Ides now has clothes, shoes, shelter, beddings, and many other materials she needs.

Hope For The Future:
Ides would like to have 3 children, a boy and two girls. She also wants to be a nurse.

Quote:
I want to be a nurse, I will work hard in class in-order to achieve my goals. I will put much effort into class. I understand that if one works hard they will succeed in life, and I know there is no reward for lazy people.

Problems Faced Before Coming To Mtendere:
He had no clothes, no school materials, no food, no good shelter, and no parental care

My Life at Mtendere:
I am now happy. I have time and materials for games like soccer. Clothes are also available School materials are not a problem any longer, and I have good shelter and enough food.

Hope For The Future:
To grow up and become a Member of National assembly, (Politician).

Quote:
I know there is only one way to achieve my goal, and that is to work extra hard in class. There is no way I can become a member of national assembly if I don’t have enough educational background. I will work had in class, I see no reason why i can fail exams because Mtendere village is providing me with everything; school materials, food, shelter, clothes, soap, and all the materials which are needed by a student. I also understand that for me to do well in class I have to respect God, for the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom.

Problems Before Coming To Mtendere:
Yobu had to stop going to school in 2004, because of no clothes, no school fees, no books, and no paper or pen. He reports that his future was very dark, and he did not know where he would end up in life.

My Life At Mtendere:
Coming to Mtendere is a big lift because now someone will help him go to school. He wants to grow up to be policeman and catch all the thieves in Malawi. He is excited with school, after spending a year at home with no future.

Hope For The Future:
His aspirations are to finish school and get a diploma. His most difficult subject is math, while his best subject is English. He plans to work hard to be one of the first students from Mtendere to be selected to go to secondary school.

Yobu loves to chat with his friends, listen to gospel music, and play soccer. He plays defender, and wants to form a Mtendere Soceer Team. His favorite food is nsima with stewed beef.

Problems Before Coming To Mtendere:
Lack of clothing, food, shoes, school, beddings, and shelter .Too much work, which was not of his size.

My Life at Mtendere village:
Everything (basic human needs) is now available. I have time for play and the facilities are available. I can go to school every day.

Hope For The Future:
When I grow up I want to have 2 children; a boy and a girl. I do not want many problems like being able to care for them. Having only two should be easy in regards to the requirements and demands from my children. I want to give them a good education, so they can become reliable citizens. I would like to be a pilot after I finish my education. The reason is that I would like to visit many places in the world. I believe I can only achieve this if I work extra hard in class. I am going to score good marks starting from next school term.

Quote:
When I was at home life was too hard, they used to give me lots of work which was not of my age i.e. farming, leaping tobacco and other crops, looking after animals such as goats and pigs. Most times I was staying at home instead of going to school. But since God is above all, I was amazed one day to see a truck coming to pick me to come to Mtendere village, I had no idea as to where Mtendere is and how does it look like, but off course the Lord knew every thing. When I came here I have completely changed and I will never be the same. I will use my talents to help my village mates and my schoolmates. I know God has a purpose for me that’s why I am here. And since nothing is impossible with God, I will achieve what I have planned for.