It is referred to as the “mountain with a mouth” and one glance confirms the description. High up on the side of the mountain is a natural cave formation that makes the mountain look like it has a smiling mouth on its granite face.
We drove around the south side of the mountain to a point on the southwest corner. It put us almost in the shadow of the giant massif. All along the pothole filled dirt road we had been able to see the smiling face looking down on us.
After traveling more than 1 ½ hours south and west of the capital and making our way around the mountain we reached a government school, and in the distance, a large soccer field. On the far side of the field people were beginning to gather. Many were reaching the site crawling on the ground, others limping along with the help of hand-made crutches and sticks, and still others being carried by others. It was both a sad moment, and at the same time an exciting one for us, because the 10-ton truck following us down the road was carrying 17 band new mobility units, one for each of the people who were struggling to reach the site.
Well ahead of this day the governments Malawi Council for Disability Affairs (MACODA) had identified those people who were capable and qualified to benefit from one of the mobility units. Despite the distribution of so many units over such a wide area of the nation, this is not a haphazard program. It is well defined and highly organized. The Malawi Council for Disability Affairs (MACODA) focuses on those people who can benefit from one of the units, and those who are qualified to use them effectively. AfP does a follow up evaluation and then, after the units are distributed follow up visits are conducted to ensure the units are being cared for properly.
On this day the units are given to each of the qualified recipients and in short order they are moving freely around the soccer field. Several hundred school children have come out from their classes and are gathered at the edge of the filed to watch.
As we leave to return to the city I glance up at the mountain with a mouth. As I look intently upward I think to myself; Am I seeing a smile on the face of the mountain or is it just that everything looks more positive after seeing these people being served.