CCFM'S MALAWI CHILDREN'S PROJECTS
The worldwide AIDS epidemic has left behind an estimated 15 million orphans.
Approximately 80 per cent of hem live in sub-Saharan Africa.
Malawi has been struggling with high levels of HIV infection, which is
made worse by extreme poverty.
Poverty is a huge problem in Malawi and it estimated that 65 per cent
of the people live below the poverty line. Malawi is one of the poorest
southern African countries and has been facing acute food shortages due
to severe regional drought. Many people are unable to take on the responsibilities
of extra children because they are already strained.
More action and money are needed in Malawi for
the care of AIDS orphans and providing training for the orphans is essential.
Skills training can empower the children and give them skills and hope
for the future.
The need now is to help, care and protect these children and this can
be only done with increased financial support and commitment.
For more information about AIDS in Malawi, see:
The
World Health Organization's Summary Country Profile.
• The Plight of Orphans
The
AIDS crisis has had a crippling impact on the country's children and some
estimate that Malawi will have one million children orphaned by AIDS by
2010.
The AIDS orphan crisis in Malawi is a daunting challenge for the
country and its government.
• Access to Education
Investment in girls' education is the
single most effective way to reduce poverty. Education is the single
best development investment a country can make. It contributes to better
health, higher incomes, and increased participation in community life.
These social and economic returns have been proven to be particularly
high when girls are educated.
Top
• Results of Projects
PREVENT AIDS * PROTECT ORPHANS * EDUCATE GIRLS
These are the objectives of Crib and Cross Franciscan Ministries’
Hope for Malawi Program.
Malawi has been struggling with high levels of HIV infection, which
is made worse by extreme poverty. The AIDS crisis has had a crippling
impact on the country's children and some estimate that Malawi will
have one million children orphaned by AIDS by 2010. Investment in girls'
education is the single most effective way to reduce poverty. It contributes
to better health, higher incomes, and increased participation in community
life.
We are channels of God’s Peace
In June, I traveled to Malawi to assess the results of the projects financed by our fundraising efforts to date. Our mission continues.
A – Karonga Vocational Training School
St. Thomas Technical is part of the Lusubilo (Hope) Orphan Care Project.
It offers to orphans as well as other vulnerable children classes in
carpentry and joinery as well as tailoring and design. A course at St.
Thomas lasts two years. Currently there are 150 students with each trade
having equal numbers of students, comprising both males and females.
Young adults with no prospect to support themselves and their siblings
often turn to elicit activities and simply sink into despair, in which
case they are their loved ones become victims to malnutrition and disease.
The personal and social benefit of giving older teens hope and the capacity
to earn a living is immeasurable.
B – Lunyangwa Girls Primary
School
The school required additional classrooms in order to reach a student-teacher
ratio of approximately 50 to 1. A shortfall had meant that over 100
students utilized classroom space designed for half that number.
I met the students in Standard 8 who are using the facility and was
amazed to see their commitment to succeed academically with the help
of his well-built resource. They are actually using the classrooms during
this final semester before earning a place in a good high school to
sleep as well as study, with no more than straw mats to separate them
from the concrete floor. Students in Malawi normally get up very early
in order to go to school, which begins at 7:30. If they have far to
come and don’t have adequate nutrition and study environment at
home, their education is compromised. The decision to stay for the full
semester is a remarkable expression of gratitude for the opportunity
that our funding has provided.
C – Marymount Computer Lab
Marymount has been and still is the best girl’s school in Malawi.
Almost all of the students in final year pass the Malawi School Certificate
Exam. The capacity for graduates to progress to university or to get
good jobs had been compromised by inadequate facilities to keep pace
with the modest advancement in technology in Malawi government and business
life. There was a small room with a few computers before our building
project was organized with only a few students getting keyboard time
as a result. The new facility is bright, spacious and is already inciting
some girls to pursue information technology careers.
D – Marymount Bursary Fund
CCFM’s Bursary Project came to life during Advent 2008 as an expression
of solidarity with the poor. The project was administered by the MIC
sisters who have been working in Malawi since 1948 and are in contact
with many your people, many of whom are orphans. Education at the secondary
level is not free in Malawi. Without the capacity to pay fees, students
cannot attend school. With this donation, 14 young women have been assisted
with fees and other necessities.
E – Medicine for Orphans
CCFM raised funds in 2005 to provide Cdn$25,000 worth of donated medicines
to AIDS orphans. These, in the form of Physician Travel Pack from Health
Partners International of Canada, were dispensed by the Rosarians sisters
who operate a number of hospitals and clinics in the northern region
of Malawi.
More remains to be done
We will undertake similar projects in the future with your help. Please
share the joy and hope of this special season by making a donation today
to this address:
Procure des Missions
“Hope for Malawi Children Program”
c/o Missionaries of the Immaculate Conception
121 Maplewood, Montreal QC H2V 2M2
Please mark your cheque “Hope for Malawi Children Program.”
A receipt will be issued for donations of $10 or more.