Madzi = Moyo!
Water equals life! A popular slogan in Malawi and it’s so very true. Water is an essential commodity, required for drinking, washing, cleaning, for animals and crops. Often when there’s a shortage, people become ill and may die.
At Kombola, a village where the Malawi Project is operating, a reliable source of water was a major problem. Villagers collected water from the river which was around an hour’s walk away. The river water was often dirty and certainly not safe to drink, but with no alternative, villagers made do with it.
In the dry season things were even worse....the river dried up completely, holes would be dug in the river in the hope of finding an underground source. Quite often they had to dig down more than a metre to find water. The larger families were forced to collect water many times each day.
However, things have now changed! Bennet writes -
"I am very delighted to let you know at long last our dear brothers and sisters in Milepa have access to good water to drink now that the borehole has been drilled. Glory be to God."
Thanks to your generosity, Malawi Project has been able to drill a new borehole in Kombola Village.
The borehole has been drilled to a depth of 40 metres ensuring a reliable source of clean water all year round. The new pump is located in the village centre and helps everyone in the village by reducing the distance that water has to be carried.
In addition the Project repaired boreholes in two of the neighbouring villages. Those boreholes had been drilled many years ago but when the pumps stopped working the locals didn’t know how to repair them and reverted back to collecting water from the rivers again......water equals life!
Once the engineers completed drilling the new borehole at Kombola, the Project arranged for them to repair the two faulty boreholes providing these areas with clean water as well.
At all three sites volunteers living near the boreholes are being trained in how to look after and maintain them including carrying repairs if anything goes wrong. We are hopeful that this proactive preventative approach will provide the villagers with reliable clean water for many years to come.
Friday, 13 March 2009
Chicken Project - Matawere Village, Mulange District
Matawere is a village near the town of Mulanje where one of the churches meets. It lies under the shadow of beautiful Mount Mulanje, but in spite of the beauty of its location, life there is hard. Almost everybody who lives there is a subsistence farmer, but most do not have a great deal of land to grow the crops they need. Hunger is a danger never far from people’s minds. People are looking for, but rarely find, additional means to generate income so that they can make ends meet.
One way of helping the farmers deal with these tough conditions came in the form of the humble chicken. It doesn’t take much ground to put up a hen house, the eggs add protein to the diet if eaten and they can also be sold locally to bring in some money.
Not only chickens, but a provider of education on how to keep them had to be found. The government’s veterinary department had the answer. What the UK3 knew about this subject didn’t amount to much, but long-standing friend Neville Coomer of Buckhaven was able to supply useful questions to ask. His many years of farming birds allowed us to work out what we needed to know very quickly. A special mention here must also go to a man called Mr Mwape, one of the most helpful and kindly of all the government officials we dealt with during the year.
A genuine extra mile Christian, he was at his office sourcing materials for us when visibly ill with malaria. His condition was so bad that he was transported home in the newly purchased mobile clinic vehicle, thus unofficially becoming its first patient passenger!
Families from the church and other needy families in the community went on a training course in poultry-keeping, run by the government. Our intrepid birdmen (and women) were taught not only how to build the hen houses and look after the birds, but crucially how to market the eggs and keep records of what was produced. The group was then split into two batches so that the second lot could observe the experiences of the first and learn from them. Thanks to your donations, materials for building these brick and thatch henhouses (or ‘kholas’ as they are called)
were delivered. The farmers built them readily and now at last the birds have been supplied.
Please join us in praying that the birds may be kept from disease and predators and will lay sufficient eggs to meet the needs of these families.
One way of helping the farmers deal with these tough conditions came in the form of the humble chicken. It doesn’t take much ground to put up a hen house, the eggs add protein to the diet if eaten and they can also be sold locally to bring in some money.
Not only chickens, but a provider of education on how to keep them had to be found. The government’s veterinary department had the answer. What the UK3 knew about this subject didn’t amount to much, but long-standing friend Neville Coomer of Buckhaven was able to supply useful questions to ask. His many years of farming birds allowed us to work out what we needed to know very quickly. A special mention here must also go to a man called Mr Mwape, one of the most helpful and kindly of all the government officials we dealt with during the year.
A genuine extra mile Christian, he was at his office sourcing materials for us when visibly ill with malaria. His condition was so bad that he was transported home in the newly purchased mobile clinic vehicle, thus unofficially becoming its first patient passenger!
Families from the church and other needy families in the community went on a training course in poultry-keeping, run by the government. Our intrepid birdmen (and women) were taught not only how to build the hen houses and look after the birds, but crucially how to market the eggs and keep records of what was produced. The group was then split into two batches so that the second lot could observe the experiences of the first and learn from them. Thanks to your donations, materials for building these brick and thatch henhouses (or ‘kholas’ as they are called)
were delivered. The farmers built them readily and now at last the birds have been supplied.
Please join us in praying that the birds may be kept from disease and predators and will lay sufficient eggs to meet the needs of these families.
Orphan Day Care Centre - Ndirande, Blantyre
Ndirande is a huge shanty town on the outskirts of Blantyre. It is an unplanned settlement, meaning there is no rubbish collection or sewage system and the houses are built very close together. It is a particularly poor part of Blantyre, but has the largest Church of God in Malawi!
As with most African countries, HIV and other health issues are common in Malawi, many adults die young, as a result children are orphaned.
The Church of God in Ndirande were extremely concerned with the number of orphans and other vulnerable children living near the church.
Most orphaned children are taken in by grandparents or extended family, but often there is not enough food to go round, with adults constantly looking for work, the children are at home alone.
The church quickly came up with a solution, they wanted to somehow help these vulnerable children.
In February 2008, the Orphan Day Care Centre opened its doors in the church hall in Ndirande.
Three ladies in the church were sent on a childcare course and now work full time running the centre which at present cares for 22 children. The children arrive at 7.30 each morning and remain there until 2pm. What’s important is that they get two nutritious meals and have a full programme of games, crafts, songs and Bible stories. Most of all they are loved and cared for in a safe environment.
New Plans
The church hall in Ndirande is too small. On a Sunday morning about 100 people try and fit into the hall and it is a tight squeeze! The hall is used during the week for the Orphan Day Care Centre.
Land nearby has been purchased to build a new hall, it’s a 5 minute walk from the existing hall.
Work is underway and once completed the Orphan Day Care Centre will move there too providing children with the much needed extra space to play.
The larger hall would enable us to consider taking up to 60 children, with so many orphans in the area, this would be a welcome development.
As with most African countries, HIV and other health issues are common in Malawi, many adults die young, as a result children are orphaned.
The Church of God in Ndirande were extremely concerned with the number of orphans and other vulnerable children living near the church.
Most orphaned children are taken in by grandparents or extended family, but often there is not enough food to go round, with adults constantly looking for work, the children are at home alone.
The church quickly came up with a solution, they wanted to somehow help these vulnerable children.
In February 2008, the Orphan Day Care Centre opened its doors in the church hall in Ndirande.
Three ladies in the church were sent on a childcare course and now work full time running the centre which at present cares for 22 children. The children arrive at 7.30 each morning and remain there until 2pm. What’s important is that they get two nutritious meals and have a full programme of games, crafts, songs and Bible stories. Most of all they are loved and cared for in a safe environment.
New Plans
The church hall in Ndirande is too small. On a Sunday morning about 100 people try and fit into the hall and it is a tight squeeze! The hall is used during the week for the Orphan Day Care Centre.
Land nearby has been purchased to build a new hall, it’s a 5 minute walk from the existing hall.
Work is underway and once completed the Orphan Day Care Centre will move there too providing children with the much needed extra space to play.
The larger hall would enable us to consider taking up to 60 children, with so many orphans in the area, this would be a welcome development.
Farming Project - Solomoni Village, Ntcheu District
Malawi Project Team met with the Church of God in Solomoni Village. It had been reported that it was very common for villagers to run out of food, when this happened all they could do was just drink water!
Almost everyone in the church is a subsistence farmer, although they have their own land, sadly do not have the resources or experience to productively farm it.
The birth of the ‘farming project’, involving 50 farmers, including the local Church of God and vulnerable families living locally.
The Project arranged for local Agricultural Dept staff to visit and train farmers to grow crops more productively. Farmers were supplied with maize, cassava, soya, groundnut seed and fertiliser, which had to be transported to Solomoni, 16km along dirt roads from the main tarmac road. Crossing rivers without bridges was no mean task and involved a few complicated detours!
The farmers were of course very grateful, in particular Bennet Ntambalika (Ndirande) worked for 27 hours without sleep on one journey ensuring that the supplies reached the farmers.
The rains this year have been particularly heavy resulting in a poor maize harvest. Although yield has not increased as dramatically as hoped, new techniques, good fertiliser and high quality seed meant the yield was significantly higher from all involved in the farming project than the crops of others.
The harvest was on par with that of previous good seasons, the improved quality of supplies had certainly helped. In addition, farmers are now growing new crops such as soya, cassava and groundnut, all of which help to improve nutrition generally.
An important aspect was teaching farmers how to select seed to plant next year and producing compost, another benefit for the future.
The initial project farmers have saved seed which, with their new found knowledge will be passed on to other families in the village ensuring the benefits spread.
Here’s what some of them have said:
"This project helped many families here"
"We want to send our thanks and tell people elsewhere that we are happy"
"Every family has enough to eat, so we are happy"
Almost everyone in the church is a subsistence farmer, although they have their own land, sadly do not have the resources or experience to productively farm it.
The birth of the ‘farming project’, involving 50 farmers, including the local Church of God and vulnerable families living locally.
The Project arranged for local Agricultural Dept staff to visit and train farmers to grow crops more productively. Farmers were supplied with maize, cassava, soya, groundnut seed and fertiliser, which had to be transported to Solomoni, 16km along dirt roads from the main tarmac road. Crossing rivers without bridges was no mean task and involved a few complicated detours!
The farmers were of course very grateful, in particular Bennet Ntambalika (Ndirande) worked for 27 hours without sleep on one journey ensuring that the supplies reached the farmers.
The rains this year have been particularly heavy resulting in a poor maize harvest. Although yield has not increased as dramatically as hoped, new techniques, good fertiliser and high quality seed meant the yield was significantly higher from all involved in the farming project than the crops of others.
The harvest was on par with that of previous good seasons, the improved quality of supplies had certainly helped. In addition, farmers are now growing new crops such as soya, cassava and groundnut, all of which help to improve nutrition generally.
An important aspect was teaching farmers how to select seed to plant next year and producing compost, another benefit for the future.
The initial project farmers have saved seed which, with their new found knowledge will be passed on to other families in the village ensuring the benefits spread.
Here’s what some of them have said:
"This project helped many families here"
"We want to send our thanks and tell people elsewhere that we are happy"
"Every family has enough to eat, so we are happy"
Tuesday, 19 February 2008
Malawi Project Update
Farming Project
The UK3 have been in Malawi for 6 months now, and several projects are well underway, with more in the pipeline. We are thankful to the Lord that the agricultural project in Solomon Village is proving successful, despite this year’s unusually heavy rains which have adversely affected the maize crops elsewhere in Malawi. The District Agricultural Department have reported that our expected crop yields are much higher than normal, and the Solomon farmers are delighted. The maize harvest begins in early March, and will be followed later in the year by the soya, groundnut, and cassava harvests.
The UK3 have been in Malawi for 6 months now, and several projects are well underway, with more in the pipeline. We are thankful to the Lord that the agricultural project in Solomon Village is proving successful, despite this year’s unusually heavy rains which have adversely affected the maize crops elsewhere in Malawi. The District Agricultural Department have reported that our expected crop yields are much higher than normal, and the Solomon farmers are delighted. The maize harvest begins in early March, and will be followed later in the year by the soya, groundnut, and cassava harvests.
Health Education
During December and January, a pilot health education course was run in Chilomoni for saints and interested locals. Many subjects were addressed in the twice-weekly classes; topics included malaria prevention, personal hygiene, and AIDS awareness. The course was well attended, and each participant received a certificate and free mosquito net.
Orphan Day-Care Centre
A Day-Care Centre for orphans and vulnerable children was opened in Ndirande hall on 4th February. There are 20 children, cared for by three staff, who are in the assembly. Hilda, Lucy and Witley received 2 weeks’ training at the Association of Pre-schools and Playgroups of Malawi, learning how to care for under-fives. The course covered a wide range of basic skills, including practical lessons on how to make toys, keep medical records, sing and play with children, and teach Bible stories. Please pray for our sisters as they strive to make a difference in the lives of these little ones, many of whom are very needy.
Adult Literacy
As each assembly was questioned about the needs in their local community, it became apparent that many adults, particularly women, cannot read or write Chichewa. This means that they are unable to read the Bible for themselves. To address this need, two volunteers from each assembly attended a residential Adult Literacy course in February. They learned how to teach basic numeracy and literacy skills, and returned home ready to set up classes.
School uniform provision
School uniforms are compulsory in Malawi, but often families struggle to pay for these. Many children fail to attend school because the ground is too hot to walk on without shoes. As education is vitally important, the Project Team decided to provide each child in all the assemblies with uniform, and give shoes to those who need them. The money spent on this is having a double impact: assembly tailors, recently trained through Fellowship Relief funding, are gaining experience plus an income through the order for around 300 uniforms!
How can we sum up the work in Malawi over past years, and recent months? As Paul said to Timothy, “the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant” (1Tim 1:14). We ask you please, on our behalf, to continue to pray to Him “Who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think… to him be the glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all the ages, world without end” (Eph 3:20).
Norma McCarty & Colin Jarvis, on behalf of the UK3 and FRC
Monday, 19 November 2007
Church of God in Ntcheu - Part 1
Introduction
The Church of God in Ntcheu was planted in 2003. It is situated in Solomoni village in Ntcheu district in the west of Malawi.
There are about 45 people in the assembly including the chief of Solomoni village. There are 15-20 families in the church. All those who are in the assembly are subsistence farmers. There is one deacon in the assembly, Musa.
General Overview
Location
The Church of God meets in Solomoni Village, a village of approx. 2000 people. It is in a very rural part of Ntcheu district and is approx. 12km (7.5 miles) off the tarmac road. It is reached by dirt tracks and by driving across a stream (with no bridge).
People
The people who make up the church are all subsistence farmers. They are all poor (the average income of a subsistence farmer in Malawi is estimated to be £12/year) and generally have a poor level of education (2/3rds of the women are illiterate in Chichewa).
Health
Health in the area is generally poor with a high incidence of malaria and health problems associated with chronic malnutrition and poverty.
The nearest health facility is the government clinic at Bilira which is 16km (10 miles) away over dirt tracks. This is a 6 hour walk away with no option to use public transport as there is no bus service in the area. No-one in the village has private transport other than a few bicycles. When people are seriously unwell, a stretcher is made and people carry them (running in a relay of teams) to the clinic. This takes about 5 hours and we were told that often the patient dies on the way.
Child immunisations and growth monitoring is carried out once a month in the village by a mobile team from the government clinic at Bilira. This is popular and uptake is high.
The clinic at Bilira has 1 medical officer and 2 nurses/midwives covering a catchment area of 59,000 people. It provides a delivery ward and antenatal waiting rooms for expectant mothers to come and live in close to their delivery dates. In common with government health services in Malawi generally, there are problems with lack of available drugs.
There is no health care available in the village. There is a volunteer who was selected by the community as their community health worker (CHW). She has been given some basic training by the government (for about 4 weeks) on health promotion and treatment of a few conditions including malaria. She was dispensing a few drugs in the community (selling them at cost price) and seeing about 8 patients a day on a voluntary basis up until a few years ago. Then the government programme changed and the clinic stopped supplying CHWs with drugs. She has not been working since because of lack of medicines.
Education
About 12 children in the assembly attend primary school. There are three primary schools in the area. One is a 40 minutes’ walk away but only goes up to standard 6 (primary school in Malawi has 8 standards or years). The other two primary schools go up to standard 8, but are two hours’ walk away. Because children have to walk there, often in weather they consider cold or over burning hot ground with no shoes, this can discourage attendance. Once they get there, they can be too tired to learn effectively. There is a lack of resources at school with large class sizes and not enough books and writing materials. It is compulsory to wear uniform and parents need to provide this. No food is provided at school and this both discourages attendance and affects learning capacity.
The nearest secondary school is 8 hours walk away. It is not possible to commute there from Solomoni village. If pupils do go there, they need to live near the school at their own expense. Three children of assembly families do this.
Adult literacy
The men are mostly all literate in Chichewa, however 2/3rds of the women in the assembly are unable to read and write. This obviously has implications for their ability to read their Bibles, to support their children’s education and to participate in society. In the community, adult illiteracy is high among both men and women.
Agriculture and Nutrition
Everyone in the assembly is a subsistence farmer. Families tend to own their own land, which they cultivate by hand. The staple food is nsima, a type of ‘porridge’ made out of maize (although the consistency is more like mashed potato). It is high in carbohydrates. Some families keep chickens and eat the eggs and ground nuts and cassava are also grown in the area. A number of families are keeping goats (following a successful goat project). This is purely for income generation as they do not produce enough milk to drink. Meat is eaten only at weddings – 2 or 3 times a year. The people reported there are often times of the year when they have no food to eat. They never have surplus to sell and did not feel there were ever times of plenty. There was famine here most recently in 2005 because of drought.
Water
There is a borehole in the village that supplies water for free. This is used by those who live in the area around it. At the other side of the village is a well which is used by those who live there. This does not have water for 3 months of the year. Then they need to walk over an hour to the borehole. A few families who are about a 2 hour walk away from the hall get their water from another borehole which is owned by a school. A yearly fee of about 20p is paid to use this. Women are the ones that collect water for the family. Depending on the size of their families they can make up to 10 trips a day to get water.
Church of God in Ntcheu - Part 2
Firstly we visited the Church of God in Ntcheu and asked a broad range of questions covering health, education, housing, nutrition, land, sanitation, water and employment (see Appendix 1 for full list of questions). This was done with the men and with the women separately.
A project team meeting was held to discuss the findings and determine areas of focus for the next visit.
We then asked more focused questions to clarify areas of discrepancy and to further investigate the information given. This was again carried out with a male and a female focus group.
A project team meeting was held to discuss the findings and determine areas of focus for the next visit.
We then asked more focused questions to clarify areas of discrepancy and to further investigate the information given. This was again carried out with a male and a female focus group.
Village mapping was carried out with a mixed group to get a clearer idea of the surrounding area and amenities.
A semi-structured interview was held with the Community Health Worker to find out more about her role and health in the community.
A list of all the needs identified in the Church and community was drawn up by the project team (see Appendix 2). Opportunities to meet these needs particular to this area were noted alongside them. Ideas of mini-projects that may help to meet these needs were produced.
Research was done into a number of these ideas to look at the practicalities of carrying out these mini-projects in this area. This looked at what other organisations are doing, existing research on best development practice and potential costs of each mini-project.
These mini-project ideas were discussed at the Malawi Project Team meeting. The ideas were reduced to those which were felt to be potentially achievable over the next few years and cost-effective.
Preliminary meetings were held with various government departments to find out about the various regulations and procedures and also what things they might be able to offer to help.
We then went back to the Church and discussed the list of all the needs they had told us about. They then carried out a ranking exercise for each need based on how serious a problem it was, how widespread a problem it was and how suitable for joint action. This ranking exercise formed the basis for deciding the area of need that was the priority to be addressed in the first project in this location.
Further discussion was then carried out with the relevant government department to discuss practicalities and try and determine more exact costings.
The proposed project was then discussed at length at a Malawi Project Team Meeting and a detailed proposal including approximate costings was drawn up. Outline proposals for possible future projects have also been included in this document. These address significant needs but were not identified as the first priority. As the first project succeeds and more confidence in the community is generated, we can follow up the next one based on this information.
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