Gracious School Archives - Malawi Children's Village

A Simple Net That Saves Lives

Tue, 10 Mar 2026 01:58:00 GMT

Malaria continues to be one of the leading causes of death among young children in Malawi. The under-five mortality rate has historically been as high as 20%, with nearly half of those deaths linked to malaria. Preventing infection during their earliest years is critical.

One effective way to reduce malaria transmission is through the use of insecticide-treated bed nets. The malaria parasite in sub-Saharan Africa is carried by the Anopheles mosquito. This mosquito primarily bites at night, so sleeping under a bed net provides a simple but powerful layer of protection.

In January 2026, our team intensified bed net distribution to coincide with the peak mosquito season. During this time, mosquito populations rise significantly, increasing the risk of malaria transmission. Our program specifically focuses on children under five because they face the greatest risk of severe illness and death from malaria. Over the course of the month, we distributed 96 insecticide-treated bed nets to vulnerable children and their households.

A key part of the program is education and follow-up. Catherine Shabani leads the distribution efforts by delivering bed nets directly to village households, teaching guardians how to properly install and use them, and conducting periodic inspections to ensure they are being used correctly. This step is essential because bed nets distributed without guidance are sometimes repurposed for other uses.

The program has already achieved a greater than 60% reduction in monthly malaria cases among participating children . Each bed net brings us one step closer to protecting Malawi’s most vulnerable children.

Construction Begins to Protect Teacher Housing from Flooding

Tue, 03 Mar 2026 17:00:00 GMT

Construction has officially commenced to reduce flooding around the MCV teacher housing compound! Our team has started digging new drainage channels behind the buildings to help move water away from the houses during heavy rains. These efforts come in response to the cyclone that struck Mangochi in March 2023. The torrential rainfall from the cyclone caused widespread flooding and overwhelmed the drainage systems. The houses themselves fortunately remained in good condition, but the surrounding area was heavily affected.

The drainage problem is largely due to the site’s location. The residential area sits on low-lying land and is partially bordered by a shallow stream. During periods of intense rainfall, the stream regularly overflows its banks as water levels rise upstream. Floodwaters then spill over the existing barrier and flow into the housing area. This water damage disrupts daily life for teachers and their families each rainy season.

The current construction project will create a more permanent solution. The plan is to widen and deepen a 350-meter stretch of the stream so it can safely carry much larger volumes of water. The soil dug out of the stream will be reused to build up a stronger embankment, which will then be planted with vetiver grass to help hold the soil in place. The goal of this project is to reduce flooding at the teacher housing site, allowing teachers and their families to live their lives without constant disruption. Stay tuned for more updates to come!

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Growing Hope: Demonstration Garden Fights Food Insecurity

Fri, 30 Jan 2026 20:06:00 GMT

Food insecurity continues to worsen across Malawi each year. Extreme weather, rising costs, and repeated crop losses leave people struggling to grow enough food to feed their families. MCV is taking steps to support sustainable solutions.

One exciting example is MCV’s very first demonstration garden. The garden was created to help local farmers learn new methods to grow food and become more self-reliant. The new demonstration garden is located on MCV grounds. One of the main crops being grown is tomatoes. About 800 tomato plants have been planted in three stages, allowing harvests to happen at different times rather than all at once. The vegetables currently being harvested are already being used to support student meals at Gracious Secondary School.

The demonstration garden is designed as a learning space. Farmers are encouraged to experiment with new crops and organic fertilizer. Water for the garden comes from an 18-meter borehole powered by a solar pump to ensure consistent irrigation even during dry periods.

Looking ahead, MCV plans to expand this model by creating additional demonstration gardens in other villages. The goal is to reach more community members across the MCV catchment area. Future plans also include building a water storage tank, educating Gracious Secondary School students on gardening, and welcoming community members to share knowledge together.

This garden is a small but powerful step toward long-term food security. It is a hopeful sign of what’s possible when communities are given the tools to grow their own solutions.

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MCV 2025 Impact-By the Numbers

Fri, 16 Jan 2026 21:09:00 GMT

Because of your support, 2025 was a year of meaningful, measurable impact for children and families across our communities.

3,302 orphans and vulnerable children supported
215 children supported under the age of five
333 children with special needs supported
37 irrigation sites sustaining 15 families each
192 bed nets distributed to help prevent malaria
30 students completed vocational skills training, with 30 more graduating soon
550 bags of maize (50kg each) and 30 bags of rice distributed to families in need

To review our 2025 year-please review our newsletter!.

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104 little learners. One classroom. A whole community of care.

Thu, 18 Dec 2025 21:17:00 GMT

With a teacher leading through music and care—her own baby tied securely on her back—children learn how to play, share, and look out for one another. Among them are children with special needs, fully included, fully belonging. This is what inclusion looks like.

Every child comes to learn.
Every child has friends.
Every child belongs.

This preschool is more than a classroom—it’s a family and a safe, joyful place for the day. Through the support of our donors, MCV provides 15 preschools with special needs screening, early education, and treatment.

#EarlyEducation #Inclusion #EveryChildBelongs #MCV #HopeStartsHere #Grateful

Learn more about our special needs program here .

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Giving Tuesday!

Tue, 02 Dec 2025 16:22:00 GMT

Giving Tuesday: Open the Door to Hope

Today is Giving Tuesday! Today is when compassion turns into action. Help open the door to hope for vulnerable children. At Malawi Children’s Village, every gift strengthens the safety net for children who depend on us for stability, health, and opportunity. Your support creates a lifelong impact for MCV children.

What your support makes possible:

$30 – Provides a warm blanket that can cover up to three children
$50 – Supplies a month of nutritious food for a family
$200 – Protects 100 orphans with malaria-preventing medication
$350 – Gives a household a safe, dry roof during the rainy season
$400 – Sends an orphan to secondary school for an entire year
$1,200 – Builds a durable, flood-resistant home for a caregiver and the children in their care

Every contribution opens a door to safety, to education, to health, to hope. Donate today!

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2025 Newsletter is here!

Thu, 20 Nov 2025 05:05:00 GMT

The 2025 Newsletter is here and should be hitting your mailbox this week. To read the online version, click here !

Here is an excerpt from the newsletter.

MCV 2025 Impact-By the Numbers

By Felix Chirombo, MCV’s Director

215 Orphans/Vulnerable Children supported are under age five
3,302 Orphans/Vulnerable Children supported
333 Children with special needs supported
192 Bed nets to prevent Malaria
37 Irrigation sites sustaining 15 families each
30 Students have completed the Vocational Skills training, with 30 more about to graduate
550 50kg bags of maize, 30 bags of rice distributed to families in need

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Investing in Hope: MCV-US Board Meeting

Sun, 05 Oct 2025 18:56:00 GMT

The MCV–United States Board meets in person once a year, with all expenses personally covered by board members (no MCV donations or resources are used). These annual gatherings provide an important opportunity for strategic planning, ensuring that our goals remain aligned with MCV’s mission and that we continue to effectively support MCV’s staff and Malawian board. This year’s meeting took place in Cleveland and was truly inspiring.

In addition to our regular board meeting, we hosted a donor celebration to honor our local Cleveland supporters. The event was graciously held at The Darl Center for the Arts, and it was a wonderful evening of connection and gratitude.

Our host, Darl, beautifully captured the spirit of the night and our shared mission with these words: “All of us can live in a place of hope and wonder, investing one step at a time.”

Thank you to all of our donors! We wish everyone could have been present with us in Cleveland.

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2025 Special Needs Program Update

Fri, 12 Sep 2025 22:26:00 GMT

Special Needs Program 2025: Successes over the last year:
411 clinic visits
213 total clients
18 wheelchairs / tricycles
12 kids supported in special
needs school
30 kids supported in early
development schools

Every Child Makes A Difference! See the entire newsletter here: 2025 Special Needs Newsletter.

Read more or donate here: MCV Special Needs Program

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Malawi Children’s Village Summer Updates

Thu, 05 Jun 2025 15:50:00 GMT

Our summer online newsletter is here! Learn more about how Malawi Children’s Village supports orphans/vulnerable children in Malawi for the past 25 years!

You can download your own copy by clicking below!

Summer Newsletter (5)

Download

Thank you to our donors for making all that we do possible! To donate, please go here.

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Move-In Day at Malawi Children’s Village!

Mon, 17 Mar 2025 22:25:00 GMT

And So Much More. In Malawi, a country of more than 9.5 million children, only 10% of students complete secondary school, and for girls, less than 4% do.

Thanks to our donors, Malawi Children’s Village is giving girls a life-changing opportunity. These girls are students at Gracious Secondary School. They will be among the first to reside in the new “Visionary Dormitory” – a safe space to live, study and change the future for themselves, their families and their communities. Join us!

Learn more and donate to support education for all here .

You can also learn more about MCV’s secondary school, Gracious, here .

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MCV 25th Anniversary

Fri, 31 Jan 2025 15:31:00 GMT

Malawi Children’s Village was founded over 25years ago!

When retired Peace Corps volunteers founded MCV, over 25 years ago , they understood the importance of addressing the emotional and educational needs of orphans, in addition to their physical needs. These remain MCV’s goals, even after two and a half decades which is an incredible landmark for NGOs in Africa.

Thank you to the staff and volunteers who make MCV such a successful, sustainable support for the Mangochi area!

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Ubuntu: Developing connections and improving the lives of children living with Cerebral Palsy

Wed, 22 Jan 2025 02:57:00 GMT

The word ‘ubuntu’ is a term used in many African languages that means ‘humanity to others.’ It is often used to emphasize the interconnectedness of individuals with their surrounding societal and physical worlds. ‘Ubuntu’ is about developing connections within a community and recognizing individual differences. Connections help create change; change begins with educating families. Educating families and communities about disabilities connects people within their villages.

Ubuntu is the philosophy used by the Cerebral Palsy team in Mangochi to continue to strengthen the partnership between the hospital and MCV, improving the lives of children with Special Needs. To initiate this integrated approach, the team visited 5 villages in the MCV area, joining with chiefs, teachers (nursery/primary school), religious leaders (sheikhs, pastors), traditional healers and health assistant workers. Knowledge, cultural practices and beliefs about cerebral palsy and other developmental disabilities were discussed. These discussions provided the groundwork for the team
approach in caring for children with special needs at MCV.

Please watch this video to learn more about the Cerebral Palsy Clinic in Mangochi and their wonderful impact.

To learn more about the Special Needs Program at Malawi Children’s Village that has been helping children since 2008, please visit our website .

Tom and Ruth Nighswander receive Alaska Philanthropy Award

Fri, 17 Jan 2025 21:24:00 GMT

It is with immense gratitude and admiration that we share this announcement about two people who have devoted over 20years to transforming lives in Malawi and at Malawi Children’s Village. Tom and Ruth Nighswander are recipients of the 2024 Alaska Philanthropy Outstanding Family Award!

Their lifelong commitment to Malawi Children’s Village and the people of Malawi, Africa, has been nothing short of extraordinary. Through their work, they’ve built hope where it was needed most, transforming communities through education, program development, and by sharing the ‘Warm Heart of Africa’ with anyone that would listen. Their passion, humility, and selflessness are qualities that continue to inspire every day.

Ruth and Tom are more than philanthropists—they are mentors, leaders, and a beacon of light for all. Without trying, their dedication and passion is recruiting the next wave of dedicated volunteers.

I invite you to take a moment to watch this beautiful video that shares their journey and the incredible work they’ve done.

Please join me in celebrating their legacy, their impact, and the lives they’ve forever changed. Tom and Ruth-THANK YOU for being the example the world needs.

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MCV Kitchen Renovation

Fri, 27 Dec 2024 05:32:00 GMT

A much needed update at Malawi Children’s Village was the main kitchen which is the main food source for staff and students.

The previous kitchen was cramped, dark, and cooking was still being done by firewood which is slow and inaccurate and can cause harm to the environment and to workers in the kitchen. The previous kitchen also lacked storage, proper utensils, staff bathrooms or changing areas. See pictures of the ‘before’ kitchen attached at the very bottom.

Here is an excerpt from a letter written by one of the chefs in the kitchen. ‘To whom it may concern, My name is Austin Gondue, one of the full time workers at the kitchen. We have a very good looking modern kitchen. It is now accomodating all the necessary needs, such as changing rooms, side toilets. we have a new cooking system using gas which preserves our nature by not using the firewood. Keep brining modern things to our system.’

Thanks to our generous donors for making this much needed improvement possible! See the ‘before’ photos below!

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Giving Tuesday-Be a lifesaver!

Tue, 03 Dec 2024 07:26:00 GMT

It’s Giving Tuesday! This holiday season, the perfect gift can save lives.

We are all sons, daughters, parents, mothers, fathers. We have different roles – student, teacher, doctor, businessperson, retired from our professions.

Giving Tuesday at Malawi children’s Village is a chance to add “LifeSaver” to the important roles we play.

Here’s what your donation means to the people you help

$30 means a blanket that will keep as many as three children warm
$50 feeds a family for an entire month
$200 provides life-saving medicine to prevent malaria for 100 orphans
$350 provides a safe new roof for orphans and their caregiver’s mud brick house
$400 means an orphan can attend secondary school for a year
$1200 builds a flood-resistant home for orphans and their caregivers

Big changes come from small beginnings. This Giving Tuesday, Be a Lifesaver!

Donate now!

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Mitzvah Mall: A Wonderful Fundraiser!

Mon, 02 Dec 2024 04:24:00 GMT

Congregation Beth Sholom once again sponsored the annual Mitzvah Mall and several of Malawi Children’s Village Board Members were present to discuss MCV and our mission.

The Mitzvah Mall allows nonprofit organizations from around Alaska to contribute at this non-denominational, bizarre bazaar. The organizations may include animal welfare groups, supporters of the arts, food and health agencies, social causes, shelters, international aid, and more. There is no admission fee for the general public at the Mitzvah Mall. Attendees are encouraged to purchase gift donations starting at just $5 for themselves or in another’s name, but this is optional. Between presentations, area musicians and entertainers may also donate their talents. Combined, it’s a delightful afternoon with neighbors in support of our greater community.

The event was a huge success with over $2000 in donations collected for Malawi Children’s Village. Thank you to all who donated. If you are interested in learning more or donating, please visit our website .

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The 2024 Newsletter is HERE!

Wed, 20 Nov 2024 02:59:00 GMT

Every fall, Malawi Children’s Village staff, volunteers, and board members work together to put together a newsletter that highlights MCV’s recent successes, events, and projects. If you did not get a newsletter in the ‘snail’ mail and would like to in the future, please sign up here (at the bottom of the page).

You can see an electronic copy of our 2024 newsletter and others here .

Here is a wonderful article from MCV’s Director, Felix, with highlights from MCV’s 2025 accomplishments!

Highlights of MCV’s Accomplishments from MCV’s Director: Felix Chirombo

Currently MCV supports 2,934 orphans and vulnerable children.
154 orphans/vulnerable children are sponsored to attend Gracious Secondary School.
150 students have completed the new technical training program quickly giving them valuable skills to earn a living.
500 bags of beans and 680 50 kg bags of maize were distributed to families in 2023 to help with food shortages.
The Special Needs Program provided support to over 500 children in the Cerebral Palsy Clinic and built or repaired almost 200 adaptive chairs or devices.
There are 37 irrigation project sites with about 15 families each. In addition to treadle pumps, solar pumps are now being used. These enhanced farming allows more than 500 families to benefit from increased crop yield.
120 goats were distributed to 40 families to kick off the ‘Goat Pass-On Project’ supporting more sustainable
food sources
MCV gave out 363 bed nets and 200 blankets to vulnerable children. Five homes were constructed, and 32 were repaired for those families keeping orphans.

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Women’s Empowerment Club at MCV

Mon, 28 Oct 2024 03:44:00 GMT

National Exam Results for the participants in the Women’s Empowerment Club at MCV were just reported and they are excellent! MCV is so proud of these strong young women!

The WE Club (Women’s Empowerment) was started in 2013 with the main goal to empower young girls in school to succeed in their education and open up possibilities for careers outside the home. The WE Club started with extra tutoring support, funding for extra books and supplies. Over the last 11 years, it has expanded to include an impressive mentorship program, sanitary pad program, health and sex education classes, early exposure to science careers, and even a ‘women in sports’ day to encourage school athletics!

The entire program was started and continues to evolve based on the requests on these amazing young women.

Learn more or donate at our website .

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MCV’s First Cerebral Palsy Awareness Day

Mon, 14 Oct 2024 21:19:00 GMT

The first Cerebral Palsy Aware Day happened a few weeks ago at MCV! There was food, music, dancing, and story telling! The day brough together patients with CP and their families, caregivers, and supporters.

Over 80 families enjoyed the day and every child got a special toy gift.

MCV has been helping those with Cerebral Palsy for over 16years and sees about 500 patients annually in our CP clinic and during outreach events in the villages.

Check out the great pictures below and learn more on our website .

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Cerebral Palsy Awareness Day at MCV

Mon, 07 Oct 2024 16:48:00 GMT

MCV is excited to announce that they have organized, together with Mangochi District Hospital, a Family Day at MCV. This Family Day is part of acknowledging and celebrating World Cerebral Palsy Awareness Day, which falls on 10.6.24. It should be noted that World Cerebral Palsy Day is a movement globally that started 15 years ago and last year it reached over 10 million people in over 100 countries.

This Day brings together those living with CP and their families, as well as supporters and organizations (such as MCV), who are all working together to secure futures for children/adults with CP, helping to offer them the same access and opportunities as everyone else. The latter has been our main tenets with the Special Needs Program at MCV. On MCV’s Family Day, there will be activities including drama, Traditional dances and stories told by the families of the children. Everyone is looking forward to this day to celebrate the abilities, not disabilities, of children with special needs.

The Special Needs program continues to grow and develop since it started 16years ago! Under the amazing guidance of Dr Bente, the Mangochi District Hospital team (physician, nutritionist, social worker and physical therapist) assess every child during the weekly Cerebral Palsy (CP) Clinic at MCV. This collaboration provides comprehensive care for each child’s needs. Over 560 children have been seen over the last year. Over 560 lives have been bolstered. Over 560 families thank the generous MCV donors.

Donations from your hearts touch many hearts in Malawi. Donations to support our Special Needs Program and other programs can be made here .

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Bonito’s Success

Sun, 29 Sep 2024 21:06:00 GMT

A young student’s triumph over his disability.

‘In 2011, when I first met Bonito, he was walking. In 2013, his father and uncle carried him into the CP clinic at MCV and he could only stand if supported by a large stick. A neuromuscular disease was consuming his movements. He could not bend anywhere in his body, except for using his hands for writing. His dream was to return to school. The physio from the hospital was standing next to me. We made a plan to make a metal cane with a forearm support, a wooden standing table with a platform for writing and a metal, padded gurney with 2 wheels in front and a leg in the back (for stationary balance) for pushing him to school.

Now, 11 years later, he is in the top 10% of his class of 103 students, friends push him to school along a rocky path full of pot holes and he is ready to start high school next year.

More challenges to come, which he faces with the goal of education. Abilities not disabilities. He is one, amazing resilient, young man. In his world of a large family who relies on fishing for income, living in several mud brick dwellings with dried grasses for roofing and wondering if there will be sufficient food for their evening meal, he wakes up each day, following his dream with a smile and ready for school.’ -Mary, MCV Board Member and Special Needs Program Founder.

Bonito’s ability to travel is dependent on this specially-made ‘padded gurney.’ It was in deperate need or repair this year-see the picture above. Below, Bonito stands at his adapted desk and is able to participate in class with the rest of the students.

Thanks to our generous donors, the Special Needs Program builds and/or repairs ~200 adaptive chairs/equipment yearly! Your gift will have an impact empowering a child in need.

Some specific costs include:
- Tricycle Wheelchair: $350
- Manual Wheelchair: $160
- Repair of custom device: $50
- Wooden Stander: $35
- Walker: $40

To learn more about MCV’s Special Needs Program (and others) or donate, visit our website .

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Connecting the Dots

Sun, 29 Sep 2024 16:23:00 GMT

Food Insecurity and MCV’s Response

-Tom Nighswander, MCV Board-US

Lake Malawi has been higher than anyone can remember. Several lakefront resorts are closed, some permanently, due to the high lake water. This is a lake that is 365 miles long, 52 miles across, and over 1300 feet deep. It is th10th largest lake in the world. In addition, the stable, predictable rains in December, January, and February necessary for subsistence farmers to grow maize, the principal food source, have all but disappeared.

The first hints of this weather change were noted about 20 years ago, but now it has become chaotic, including this year when there was a crop failure. Two cyclones have hit Malawi in the last five years. An event never before seen in recent history. And today, we heard from Malawi that there have been some rain showers. This is the middle of the dry season.

Connect the dots and it translates to significant climate change and an additional blow to food security. The 39 villages served by the Malawi Children’s Village are not immune.

Is there any hope?… The answer is yes.

Malawians are very resilient and smart. Thom, a former orphan, could not wait to show us his garden. He uses a solar pump and a well to fill his watering tank suspended on a platform above his garden. His uses hand watering. Fertilizer comes from his penned-in goats and chickens. He showed us maize in various stages of growth, eggplants, beans, onions, and tomatoes.

Our staff member who coordinates our water pump irrigation effort showed us a 5-hector, 5 village collective garden project on land close enough to the lake to have non-salty water just a meter below the ground. Using hand-dug wells and hand watering of crops, they, like Tom, had a variety of vigorous crops, including maize in various stages of growth. Where possible, they are using organic fertilizers. And the most exciting for us was the 30 member nature club at Gracious Secondary School who are making experimental organic fertilizers from available materials and organic insecticides from organic sources, and testing them out in their experimental garden.

MCV is expanding its food security program with proposed demonstration gardens, watering and fertilizing techniques that do not require expensive resources and are easily available to the villagers.

Plus, a glimpse into the near future – solar pumps. The are getting cheaper and more efficient. They can come with their own solar panels. We saw several of them already in use. These are all focused on the subsistence farmers dealing with food security for their families.

Thanks to our wonderful donors, over the last year, we repaired/supported over 60 treadle pumps, distributed new treadle and solar pumps that allow increased crop yields and growing seasons. Your donation could help improve food security!

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Malawi’s Forgotten Children

Thu, 12 Sep 2024 17:08:00 GMT

Reflection from MCV Board Members, Tom and Ruth Nighswander, after their recent visit.

Malawi’s most vulnerable children with the greatest risk are those with serious disabilities. The most frequent cause (but not the only one) is birth asphyxia from traumatic births. Prolonged labor, abnormal position of the unborn, inadequate size of the birth canal are frequent causes. They all have the same result-cerebral palsy (CP). It is a lifetime disability. The severity depend on how long the infant was without oxygen.

In the 39 MCV village area, 267 have been identified. An astounding rate!

The MCV response is a weekly CP clinic and field program. It was founded 26years ago by Mary Pomeroy, a physical therapist from Anchorage and a Board Member of the American MCV Foundation Board.

This clinic now occurs on a weekly basis and is fully run by Malawian physiotherapists. They treat children starting at the newborn age. For infants it is joint stretching to prevent contractures, and muscle exercises to maintain and improve core and limb strength. For older children it is evaluating and then training them to use assistive devices, allowing them to be mobile, to stand and even participate in their community and go to school!

For the families, this program lets them know they are not alone in providing assistance and care
for this lifetime disability and connects them to other families for support and comfort.

In addition, MCV technical students build each of the adaptive pieces-often 100-200/year!

To learn more, please visit our website .

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MCV Mid-Year Updates

Wed, 28 Aug 2024 03:15:00 GMT

Did you miss our summer update we sent out via email? If so, please make sure you are signed up for website updates and that our emails are not going to your ‘junk folder.’

In case you missed it-here it is! MCV Summer Updates

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Gracious Student Profile: Agness

Fri, 26 Apr 2024 14:35:00 GMT

Agness Frank is the 9 ^th born child in the family of 9 siblings. She is 15 years old and resides with her mother and other siblings. Her father passed away while she was very young. Agness is in form one and very ambitious as she dreams of becoming a nurse after completing her studies. However she sees her dream being shattered due to the daily challenges she encounters.

Living in an extended family without any formal means of livelihood makes her school life very tough. None in the family works to bring the food on the table. They rely on finding casual works in different farms which sometimes are not available in the communities. ‘ The largest amount of money my mother gets after casual works does not exceeds mwk15, 000 per month and this is what feeds our family. My other siblings help my mother to bring food to the table’~ Agness

Daily travel to school is just one of the daily challenges she needs to overcome. ‘Most of the times we do not eat at home. We just drink water and sleep and in the morning I travel a long distance to school without eating anything in the morning’~ Agness

She travels a distance of 9kilometers (6 miles) from her home to school and back every day!

She uses a battery torch for her evening studies. Sometimes she fails to study when the batteries are drained. To them the batteries are very expensive because every single Kwacha is very valuable to them. She sometimes lacks basic school supplies which are very crucial to achieve her dreams of becoming a nurse.

MCV supports Agness by providing tuition fees, lunch, uniform, and school materials. Once construction is complete on the girls dormitory, Agness will also have the opportunity to stay at the dorm over the week which will save her time, provide steady meals and study materials. -Vincent, MCV Deputy Director

To learn more about Gracious, other students, or the girls dorm, please visit our website .

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Storm Damage at MCV

Sat, 24 Feb 2024 04:37:00 GMT

Before they have had a chance to fully recover from cyclone Freddy, the people of Malawi face another disaster! In the first week of February, there was a severe wind and rainstorm which caused great damage around the MCV catchment area. To make damages worse, this was preceded by a very dry season which made the crop yield small and fragile. The recent storm has left many homeless as some of the houses are fully ruined and others partially collapsed. Not only the houses are affected but also many trees have been completely knocked down. The trees entangled with electric power lines as they were falling down which caused major black outs for weeks.

We are thankful that no human or livestock lives were lost however the damage is great. Houses are missing walls, roofs, or gone completely. While we are still gathering information, the initial count of houses affected is 56 homes without a roof and 30 houses with partially affected loose or missing walls across 12 villages in the MCV catchment area.

In addition to housing damages, the storm also damaged crops and local infrastructures. MCV has already committed to send over funds for housing, food, and supplies. At the request of MCV director, MCV board sent over $12,000 in emergency funds and will likely need to send more.

The breakdown of some initial needed items:

1. Food: Maize flour: $5000

2. House/Roof repairs: $6000

3. Household items: $1500

For context: A typical Malawian family will use two 50kg bags of maize/month and the current price has increased to $30/bag!

To learn more, get updates, or to donate, please visit our website here .

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Sewing Program Update

Tue, 20 Feb 2024 20:38:00 GMT

‘

‘ In 2001 I read that one reason that children in Malawi do not go to school…….. is because they do not have a shirt to wear …..The Sewing project at MCV was started in 2002. That summer we made shirts, skirts and shorts for the children, and Nettie’s Sewing Project was born. Annually, I would return for several months during my summer breaks from the University. The Sewing Project became a free training program for older teenagers, orphans and children who are vulnerable and under the care of Malawi Children’s Village. Over the years we started production of many different items for sale in order to create jobs for the experienced trainees to earn an income. ‘ -Nettie

The Sewing Program at MCV is a huge success. For the last 20 YEARS , it has provided skills and the ability to obtain an income to trainees from disadvantaged backgrounds and low-income families. A lot of these students are orphans and vulnerable children from MCV. Please see Nettie’s full report here: 2023 Report .

To learn more visit our website: malawichildrensvillage.org

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Special Needs Program Update 2023

Wed, 17 Jan 2024 03:39:00 GMT

The Special Needs Program at MCV was started in 2008 by Mary Pomeroy, a pediatric physical therapist who is also an MCV board member. The program provides therapy and adaptive equipment to children in need and is village-based care which allows families and patients to avoid the burden of travel for care. The program also provides advocacy and education to reduce stigma and shame.

The Program has been very busy this last year! Here are some numbers

362: Number of clinic visits
196: Total number of clients
85: Standing frames built
54: Cerebral Palsy Chairs built
34: Wheelchairs built
20kg bags of maize to each family

MCV technical students build each of the adaptive devices.

Read the entire newsletter here . Learn more and donate directly here .

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Girls Dormitory Update: The Roof!

Wed, 13 Dec 2023 05:09:00 GMT

Recently the roof was started on the new girls’ dormitory at MCV! This new dorm has been a wish from MCV students and staff for several years. The previous overcrowded and poorly ventilated dormitory is being replaced with a spacious, light-filled space with study areas and even a washroom and shower facility. Thank you so much to generous donors to make this happen!

When finished the students will no longer have to walk great distances, sometimes getting hassled along the way. They will have an adequately lighted study area, not possible in the villages. They will be relieved of the household duties expected of young women. Most importantly they will be able to focus on learning, friendships, and developing leadership skills. If you would like to learn more, visit our website .

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Giving Tuesday

Tue, 28 Nov 2023 19:27:00 GMT

Giving Tuesday is a global day of generosity to encourage all of us to do a little good. Make a gift today to help support orphans and vulnerable children in Malawi!

Even a small gift goes a long way!

Here are a few examples of what can be accomplished with your support…

$30 can buy a blanket to keep as many as three children warm
$47 can pay for enough maize to feed a family for an entire month
$200 can purchase anti-malarial medicine for 100 orphans
$350 can pay for a new roof for a family housing one or more orphans
$410 can send an orphan to secondary school for a year
$1200 can build a home for a family caring for orphans

DONATE HERE!

You can learn more by visiting our website . Signing up to receive our annual newsletter is also a great way to learn more about MCV. 2023 NEWSLETTER

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2023 Newsletter

Wed, 22 Nov 2023 05:28:00 GMT

Our 2023 newsletter has been delivered! It is a wonderful synopsis of what MCV has been able to accomplish in the last year. You can view an online version here: 2023 Newsletter .

Here is an excerpt: the President’s Address written by our MCV Board President-James Miller.

‘Resiliency is something that people aspire to describe the way they approach life, although the hope is that it is in relation to relatively minor challenges. Malawians are generally subsistence farmers with meager means and have endured recurring hardships that would break most people’s spirit. Yet, when you visit Malawi, you will find kindhearted, welcoming, and hospitable people whose mentality is to appreciate the joys of life that are present as you look for them. They are resilient.

Over the past year, the 39 villages that Malawi Children’s Village serves have faced more extreme hardships than usual, including a cholera outbreak and Cyclone Freddy. The cyclone devastated traditional mud brick houses, and washed away household materials, crops and roads. MCV was able to quickly provide emergency support to the families it supports who are raising orphans and the most vulnerable children. While the immediate needs were met, housing and food security needs remain.

MCV was founded on the belief that when kind people contribute their knowledge and invest their financial resources, through culturally accepted structures, the impact will be transformative. This has proven to remain true, 25 years later, thanks to the devotion of you, our donors, and to the strength of the MCV leadership, which is entirely comprised of Malawians.

Under the direction of Felix Chirombo, MCV’s Executive Director, the dedicated staff remain focused on programs that provide help with basic needs, and opportunities to build skills to create a better life. Education is at the heart of most of MCV’s programs, both for those parenting the children in their lives, as well as for students all the way through high school and technical training programs.

The aggregate support from our donors makes the programs covered by the articles in this annual newsletter possible. While the impact is often hard to quantify, imagine the opportunities and hope made possible for someone whose life circumstances are incredibly challenging and require resiliency.’ Zikomo, James Miller, MCV Board President.

If you did not receive our mailing, please see the online version here: 2023 Newsletter You can also sign up to get future emails by subscribing on our website .

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Mitzvah Mall: A Yearly Fundraising Success Story

Mon, 30 Oct 2023 20:50:00 GMT

Congregation Beth Sholom is once again sponsoring MITZVAH MALL on November 12, 2023 from 12-3 PM. Mitzvah Mall is a holiday gift from Congregation Beth Sholom to the Anchorage community. This year there will be 24 non-profit organizations with representatives to share their stories of the assistance they give to those in need. Malawi Children’s Village is excited to participate again.

A non-denominational bizarre bazaar that is an alternative gift fair!

This year Malawi Children’s Village has chosen to focus on these three items:

$18 Blanket
$36 Maize to feed a family for a month.
$280 One year of school tuition for an orphan

Mitzvah Mall will be on Sunday, November 12 from 12-3 PM at Congregation Beth Sholom, 7525 E. Northern Lights Blvd, Anchorage. For further information go to Congregation Beth Sholom’s website here :

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Staff Highlight: Austin Gondwe

Sat, 21 Oct 2023 14:59:00 GMT

Austin Gondwe was raised in northern Malawi with 11 siblings. When 21, he and his wife traveled to Mangochi, by boat along Lake Malawi for 4 days, searching for his grandfather who had a fishing business. He found his grandfather, but a big storm crashed the boat. Little boats were purchased, which Austin managed. The fish population declined; his job was lost.
In 2002, Austin secured a job with MCV as a night security guard. Within a year, he had proved his worth, becoming the office assistant. His wife started a small business, selling dresses and chitenges (colorful Malawian cloth). This helped pay for Austin to attend Driving School in 2008. He then drove part-time for MCV, “fetching food” for the many MCV cows.

Austin in the MCV truck, doing what he does best!

In 2009, Austin was hired as MCV’s full time driver, also being Felix’s office assistant. By 2011, just driving for MCV was more than a full day’s work. He said about himself, “I was one-size-fits-all man”. He went to the market purchasing food for the cooks, helped at Gracious Secondary School, assisted gardening, drove Outreach Coordinators to villages, delivered food and clothing to families that were taking care of orphans and helped transport sick orphans to Mangochi hospital.
Austin loves driving and being a part of the MCV community. MCV is fortunate to have such a committed worker as Austin. He is focused, ambitious and will do anything for anyone.

He is the “one-size-fits-all-man”, that everyone needs to have as part of their staff.

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MCV Student Success-Ellen’s Story

Tue, 05 Sep 2023 19:13:00 GMT

Ellen Enock was born on September 4th, 2006, and her birth brought great joy to her parents,
Hawa Paul and Enock Suleiman. However, they soon discovered that Ellen was born with a
disability and was epileptic.

Despite her challenges, Ellen possessed an indomitable spirit.

She was determined to live her life to the fullest and pursue her dreams. She attended Lisumbwi Secondary School, where she was in her second year of studies. Her schoolmates admired her resilience and her positive outlook on life but her family struggled to continue to support her in her studies.

Hawa and Ellen learned that the MCV organization would provide support for Ellen’s education. Recognizing her determination and potential, MCV pledged to assist with school fees, necessary supplies, and any additional resources that Ellen might require to succeed academically.

As Ellen grew older, she aspired to become a doctor, driven by her experiences and the desire to
help others facing similar struggles.

She hoped to create a world where no child would be limited
by their disabilities and where support and care were readily available to all.

Ellen Enock’s story continues to inspire and uplift others, reminding everyone that with love,
support, and determination, individuals can overcome any obstacle and achieve greatness. To learn more about students supported by MCV and/or to donate, please visit our website . -Vincent Sisya, MCV Deputy Director

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New Girls Dormitory

Thu, 20 Jul 2023 23:08:00 GMT

An update to the MCV girls dormitory is LONG OVERDUE!

The current girls dormitory was originally a storage space connected to a small clinic. It was never adequate and additional capacity was needed for years. It currently houses 84 girls in an overcrowded, under ventilated space without any storage room (see picture above). It is located at the entrance to Malawi Children’s Village with heavy foot traffic and no privacy.

The dream of a new facility began when we again partnered with Journeyman International, a nonprofit firm which does site design and architectural work for nonprofits in developing countries. We worked with them on the successful building of the 8 teacher duplexes. They have designed a 134 bed dormitory with an attached matron’s house. The dorm rooms are designed for 4 and 8 girls. It includes storage space, a large study area, washing and shower facilities. Thanks to our generous donors, the foundation is done and the framework is now being built!

When finished the students will not have to walk great distances, sometimes getting hassled along the way. They will have an adequate lighted study area, not possible in the villages. They will be relieved of the household duties expected of young women. Most importantly they will be able to focus on learning, friendships, and developing leadership skills.

While our first priority remains to continue funding of our existing programs, if you would like to support this important project-please donate today! Donation page

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MCV Post Cyclone Dispatch 10

Wed, 17 May 2023 01:35:00 GMT

Mary Pomeroy, a current MCV board member, entered Malawi shortly after Cyclone Freddy hit. Here is the final in a series of her experiences.

MCV will be building 5 village houses/month for families with orphaned children. These families include grandparents, aunts/uncles or friends who have taken in children without parents or single parents with many children to feed. Bricks have been made: sand mixture and cement. Door and window frames are ready to be placed in the new houses. Soon each house will become their family home again. They will move what pots/pans they have been given or were salvaged after the rains subsided, add their wovenmats for bedding, blankets and 25 kg of maize flour proved by MCV .

MCV secured bags of maize from surrounding areas, emptied the maize kernels for drying on large sheets of plastic on MCV grounds. This dried maize was then put back in the sacks and taken to the local mill for grinding into flour. MCV staff members have been busy to ensure the dispersal of this needed food. Clothes have also been distributed. Their homes will again be active and vital, providing family security to many in each home. The daily collection of water at pumps or Lake Malawi continues. Collecting wood for their small fires for cooking is imperative. From nothing there is now something.

After 3 weeks in Malawi, Mike and I are on our way home. It was hard to leave, as their daily rhythm became our rhythm. Daily, the Malawians helped each other. We were only a small part of their community as they each started taking steps forward after Cyclone Freddie. Their resilience is deep and strong. Sharing their resilience with us helped us see their fortitude. Being part of their daily lives offered us a glance into many lives, as they began rebuilding their communities and family homes. We are grateful for this opportunity and look forward to returning to Malawi, another home for Mike and me.

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MCV Post Cyclone Dispatch #9

Wed, 10 May 2023 21:56:00 GMT

Mary Pomeroy, a current MCV board member, entered Malawi shortly after Cyclone Freddy hit. Here is the third in a series of her experiences.

The rains have stopped, devastation remains, community support continues. Malawians help Malawians. Daily as we go to villages to see children with Special Needs, we deliver maize flour, lukini phala (nutrition supplement for babies, blankets, soap. It seems so little when there is nothing, but it is everything to them.

Huge smiles say zikomo kwambili (thank you very much). For the children with malnutrition, the MCV village coordinators (Catherine and Florence) go out weekly to ensure food supply. Now there is a petrol shortage. If there is gasoline, one may have to wait in line for hours only to find they close down as supply has ended. It’s hard to provide needed supplies without vehicles to take us to locations. It is all so hard but daily life continues. Food is shared, families gather. We are grateful to be here during this time of sharing.

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MCV Post Cyclone Dispatch #8

Tue, 09 May 2023 02:09:00 GMT

Mary Pomeroy, a current MCV board member, entered Malawi shortly after Cyclone Freddy hit. Here is the second in a series of her experiences.

Time is different, grief is the same. My husband Mike, our younger son Kyle and I have returned after a 3-year hiatus, the pause a result of Covid. It has been 15 years that we have been coming to Malawi. After so many trips familiar faces greet us each day, welcoming us back to our second home.

The recent Cyclone Freddie has flattened houses and wiped out their crops. Food is limited, people are hungry. Their time each day is helping out their family members, finding something to eat and waiting for the next day. Our time each day is with a roof over our heads and food to eat. Grief is the same. Sadness. Loss. Heartache. Worry. Despair. Their resilience facing grief is remarkable. It is what they hold on to each day and the next day.

As a MCV BOD member, I am helping to distribute 25 kg of maize flour and blankets to families in villages, at the same time that I visit families with children with Special Needs, my program efforts as a pediatric physical therapist. Malnutrition is more evident now and there is the concern for increased malaria with wet ground from the rains being breeding grounds for mosquitos. Children under 5 are more susceptible to malaria and at a higher risk of scary complications with the disease.

There are 2 volunteers for each of the 39 villages in the MCV area. During their monthly meeting, I thanked them enormously for their help for people in their villages. They are helping to identify the families who have lost their houses and / or crops. MCV is moving forward with donations to begin building new homes for those impacted. In the Vocational Program at MCV, bricks are being made and frames for doors and windows are now ready for these village houses. These volunteers are the heartstrings for MCV.

Last week I visited a mother and baby with special needs. She has 6 additional children. Catherine, one of the 2 MCV Outreach support personnel, translates for me that her house is in rubble and she is now living in nothing more than a quickly built stick house that can’t even hold her entire family. Her crops are gone. She has nothing except her family, a smile, resilience, and now the help of MCV.

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MCV Post-Cyclone Dispatch #7

Mon, 08 May 2023 02:11:00 GMT

Mary Pomeroy, a current MCV board member, entered Malawi shortly after the Nighswanders left. Here is the first in a series of her experiences.

‘Cyclone Freddie has settled down, leaving its destruction of homes, flattening of crops and washing out of roads and bridges. The rain has mostly stopped; the sun is drying up the land. The aftermath is more visible now. People here who have “so little”, have more of “so little”. A quick note via txt to the MCV BOD and those following our blog. There are knocks on our door daily asking for help. It is hard to say no to “nothing”. Today in a village there was an “Evacuation Center” with hundreds of families sitting outside under trees, on the front porch and in the surrounding area. Families with no homes are staying there with the Malawian government providing food. They have nothing and are waiting for something.’

Thank you to our generous donors. To learn more about donating visit our donation page here .

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Dispatch #6 on Cyclone Freddy

Fri, 07 Apr 2023 18:10:00 GMT

This is the last dispatch from board members, Tom and Ruth Nighswander, who arrived in Malawi right after Cyclone Freddy hit and were there for two weeks .

‘The MCV response during this crisis has been amazing. The timeline below shows how quickly, efficiently, and organized the MCV program can be. Thank you to each of our donors who made this possible. ‘

Here is the timeline:

‘No word yet from the government when disaster relief program will start or if there is a plan!

Next steps for MCV are continuing damage assessment, prioritizing the families hit the hardest, continued fundraising and distribution.

It has been an incredible two weeks! The MCV staff are fun to work with. They are resourceful, resolute, and compassionate. MCV’s responsibility is to help. They will get through this.

I want to end with a very short story you might have heard:

“One day a massive ocean storm sweeps hundreds and thousands
of star fish onto the beach. Soon afterwards scorching sun appeared.

Up on the ridge, an old man saw a young boy down with the dying starfish picking them up and tossing them back in the sea…one by one.

He called down “son, son you are wasting your time”!!

The boy looked up with a starfish in his hand, ready to toss and yelled: “Sir, not for this starfish”! ‘

Thank you to all of our donors.’ —Tom and Ruth

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Cyclone Freddy Update-Dispatch 5

Sun, 02 Apr 2023 18:22:00 GMT

Dispatch #4 from board members, Tom and Ruth Nighswander, who arrived in Malawi two weeks ago.

‘This was day three of the distribution. And yesterday, the MCV truck took supplies and several staff members to a distant village not within walking distance. They got stuck in the mud. Fortunately, there was a tractor from a local company that was able to pull the truck from the ruck up to the distant village.

Today’s distribution was to the second tier group of disaster families. They lived in homes which were damaged enough that they will need to be torn down. However, they are suitable enough to temporarily house the orphan and the family caregiving for the orphans. They received the same supplies as the first group except that 25 kilo bag will be shared by two families.

Tomorrow will be distribution to the final tier; group of villagers/caregivers who houses are standing, but need roof repairs, mainly plastic sheeting .’

If you are interested in donating or learning more, visit our donation page here .

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Cyclone Freddy Dispatch #4

Fri, 31 Mar 2023 02:16:00 GMT

Dispatch #4 from board members, Tom and Ruth Nighswander, who arrived in Malawi two weeks ago.

‘The women had already gathered when we reached MCV just after 8am- grandmothers, their daughters, and older children. They were a select group for the first day of a three-day distribution, chosen by their MCV village volunteer. The criteria for selection: they had lost everything: no house, no food, and no place to stay.

One by one their names were called and each received a water bucket, eating utensils, two blankets, and a 25 kilo bag of corn flower. None received plastic sheeting, there was no home to cover.

To begin the distribution, Felix spoke on behalf of the MCV staff, Malawian Board of Trustees, and the American Foundation Board expressing our support for them, and a commitment to help see them through this. He then asked Ruth and I to comment. There was lots of clapping and even singing. ‘

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Cyclone Freddy-Dispatch #3

Tue, 28 Mar 2023 02:28:00 GMT

Dispatch #3 from board members, Tom and Ruth Nighswander, who arrived in Malawi last week.

‘The day after Cyclone Freddy hit Malawi, the USA Board of Directors wired over $10000 for disaster relief. Before the winds died down, the MCV staff, led by Felix, were already making plans, realizing the impact of what was happening. By the time we arrived they already had purchased and had on hand 200 blankets, compressed bundles of children’s clothes age 0-14, cooking utensils, water buckets, and plastic sheeting for roof repairs. 185bags of ufa (corn flour) arrived shortly after from Zambia. Each bag is 25 kilograms.

Distribution will begin this week. Given the needs of the entire village, it would be impossible to take a truckload of supplies to a village to only hand out to MCV households. The Village Volunteers will come to MCV to help distribute materials to those who had been identified during the village devastation assessment. The director and deputy director feel this is enough resources for the immediate emergency needs.

What comes next? If endorsed by both Boards, MCV wants to buy 1000 fifty kilo bags of maize in April for storage for the impending food shortages expecting to begin in August. The April purchase time is the optimal time for this purchase because of the increased availability. The housing replacement plan being proposed is for MCV and its contractors to build 6 houses a month for as long the materials and finances are available.

Its is a busy time folks. We are usually in bed by 7:30 and have the first visitors on the front porch by 6am.’

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Cyclone Freddy-Dispatch #2

Tue, 28 Mar 2023 02:26:00 GMT

Dispatch #2 from board members, Tom and Ruth Nighswander, who arrived in Malawi last week.

‘Malawians display resiliency that defies explanation. In the midst of the current disaster, they carry on with a quiet dignity. Their attitude: “we will get through this.’

They have faced adversity all their lives: crop failures and the resulting njala (hungry) season, infant and maternal mortality rates that are among the highest in the world. Yet when you are with them, you are warmly accepted and if you have known them before, hugged with smiles on their faces.

Today was no exception.

We witnessed a mound of dirt that 8 days ago was a home for 4 orphans and their grandmother; a grandmother and 13 yo undernourished granddaughter standing in front of their former home, now impossible to repair; another pile of now dried mud with the former orphan kids playing in the background

The full extent of the lost or damaged homes is becoming more clear. Each of the resident village volunteers were aske to survey village orphans homes and report on their status.

The preliminary figures were compiled today:

Houses collapsed 113

Partially Damaged 110

Roofs needing repair 32

Poor condition 62

Needing plastic sheeting 192

Current cost of a village house built by MCV: $1200. These homes are built by MCV staff and students and built from longer lasting materials. All the ones built prior to Cyclone Freddy are still standing!

More to come….’

$1200 to build a new home that is sustainable!

To donate now or learn more, please visit our website here .

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Cyclone Freddy Relief and Update

Mon, 27 Mar 2023 02:40:00 GMT

Malawi has experienced several cyclones over the past few years however this year’s cyclone (Freddy) has brought misery that the nation will never forget. All 39 villages of MCV catchment area have been affected but with varying degree. Some villages have more than a 100 houses demolished while some had only a few houses.

The MCV response has been quick and well-coordinated. An initial $10,000 was sent last week and has already been used ($8000 on food supplies, and $2000 on housing supplies).

MCV is ready to build homes and purchase more food. Your donations mean a lot and will go a long ways with MCV’s dedicated staff. Please donate by following this link .

Long term Board Members of Malawi Children’s Village, Tom and Ruth Nighswander, arrived in Malawi last week. They have been sending updates-here is the first. Watch the blog for more to come.

Dispatch from MCV 1 : ‘We arrived last night in Malawi after dark, a country we first visited 57 years ago as Peace Corp Volunteers- a place known as the ”Warm Heart of Africa” because of the people.

We knew this was going to be different from the numerous trips we have made over the last 23 years. Cyclone Freddy hit Malawi with devastating wind and rains 8 days ago and it was raining when we arrived. It would be a disaster assistance visit. We packed differently…this time there were solar lights (I am writing by one now), solar chargers, waterproof boots, and chlorine tablets (They are in the midst of a cholera epidemic).

At 6am I went down to Lake Malawi to see the water level and walking along was our old friend Victor who lives in one of the MCV covered villages just behind our cottage. I asked him to walk me through his village to see what damage had been done. With a swarm of a dozen + kids, under 4 , all trying to hold my hand, we stated to walk.

It was devastating !!

Scattered though the village were sun- dried brick homes, some completely destroyed or beyond repair, others which would have been sturdy ,fire brick built homes with metal roofs , missing whole walls because of failed foundations. What remained of blankets and modest clothes were lying on the remaining roofs or hanging up to dry. Some were missing utensils and all clothing due to the rushing water which swiftly took it all away. We walked through only a small portion of the village and returned home.

Reflecting on what I just saw, which was a small portion of just one of the 39 villages covered by MCV, was extremely difficult. When I told Ruth what I saw, I could barely get through a sentence without being overwhelmed with emotion. An hour later, we were off to Mangochi with Felix, our director, for additional supplies. Our next step will be assisting with distribution of sorely needed supplies and food.’

More to come….

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Cyclone Freddy Devastation in Malawi

Mon, 20 Mar 2023 02:33:00 GMT

Malawi and the MCV area have yet again been hit hard by a natural disaster- Cyclone Freddy. We are still collecting information about how bad the destruction is at the MCV campus and will keep you updated. The MCV director did state that several housing/structures were flooded and damaged and, of course, food supplies. We will be sending over an immediate support of $10,000 for food and supplies but this will likely be just the tip of the iceberg. If you would like to donate, please visit our donation page.

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History of MCV 5/5

Fri, 17 Feb 2023 05:32:00 GMT

FINAL THOUGHTS

There are many wonderful projects around the developing world that are working hard to lift the hopes and dreams of people born into environments that make life difficult and challenging. When the Malawi Children’s Village was the dream of Dr. Denny and Mr. Sibale in 1996, their hope was to improve the lives of the many children, more than 2,500, born as orphans because one or both of their parents had died from AIDS or other devastating diseases in a small strip of land with 30,000 citizens along the western shore of Lake Malawi.
Now, a quarter century later, their dream has blossomed into a program that has given thousands of these children a good chance of a productive life. The program is stable, in good leadership hands, and has every intention of continuing to increase its services to those most vulnerable. It’s not easy to determine how many who may not have survived childhood without MCV have graduated from secondary school, how many have gone on to university or other specialized programs like nursing or education, and how many have become productive, thriving citizens of this small but beautiful strip of land called Malawi. But it is certain there would have been few of these who could have so thrived, or even survived, without the presence of the Malawi Children’s Village.
Perhaps the most noteworthy indicator of project success is that it still exists and evolves after 25 years! It is an indication that the expectations of Malawi villagers, as well as donors, are being met. Here are a few measures that are most worthy of note:
—At project inception in 1996, surveys found that 6-7 orphans were together under the care of a single family member. For the past decade, annual surveys now indicate that this number has dropped to 2+ orphans within an individual household. This is the result of project efforts to spread the placement of orphans by convincing more households care for orphans with the additional support services offered. Clearly, this gives orphans a better chance at life.
—The introduction of insecticide-treated bednets decreased cases and deaths from malaria in orphans under age 5 by more than 80%!

—A growth survey comparing orphans and non-orphans under age 5 showed no difference in weight gain between the groups.
—Similarly, a survey of orphans and non-orphans in secondary school also showed no difference in psychosocial outlook between the groups.
In summary, it appears that the goal of giving orphans the same chance at life as non-orphans is
being reasonably met. Those of us who have been involved believe strongly the success of MCV is for several reasons, including: a) the program has always been run by Malawians who care deeply about the orphans in the country; (b) the program must be multifaceted and include a focus on outreach, education, health, agriculture, vocational training, and provision of clean water and food security; (c) the orphan and OVC program must be village-based rather than concentrated on a central location (d) that so many good people have given of their time and their financial support in making so many of our dreams for MCV come true. From the beginning, our motto has revolved around the famous African saying that “It takes a village to raise a child.” For orphans and other vulnerable children, sometimes that village needs to be expanded. To us, the Malawi Children’s Village IS one of those special villages.

APPENDICES
ROTARY CONTRIBUTIONS

Every gift received from individuals, companies, foundations, churches, schools, etc. has combined with all the others to enable the Malawi Children’s Village to develop and thrive for its first quarter century of work. We are, of course, grateful for every gift or volunteer effort that has helped enriched our program.
From the beginning Rotary has been a constant and significant partner. The first water elevated storage tank was funded by Rotary in 1999. Over the years Rotary clubs throughout the United State have partnered with Rotary International and worked with the Limbe Rotary Club in Malawi to fund various health and food security projects.
A number of clubs in the United States have independently sponsored programs and
projects. To show the overall impact of this partnership, consider following successful projects that Rotary clubs have funded:

The first backup generator for power to the MCV campus was purchased in 2002 by the
Anchorage Downtown Rotary Club.
The Seneca Falls Rotary Club annually funded the treadle pump project.

Over the years, the Kansas City Plaza Rotary Club, under the leadership of MCV
Foundation Board member Elizabeth Usovicz, has been a consistent, active and vital
participant in numerous ways:

(a) they were the first to build latrines for the primary schools in the MCV catchment areas which dramatically improved attendance for the girls. In 2003 through a Rotary Discovery Grant they conducted a needs assessment for the gender-segregated latrines at village primary schools. Then, in 2005 they secured a matching grant for the first Latrine Project for primary schools. In 2007 they provided funding for the second and expanded latrine project.
(b) in 2009, they supported the Malaria Bednet Program, which led to an 85% reduction in the child (0-5 years old) mortality rate in the villages involved
(c) in 2010, the purchased medicines for patients in the MCV health clinics
(d) they funded the 2016 Student Empowerment and Education Program, village primary school teachers on a 12-session after-school program to encourage students and especially girls to stay in school
(e) during this period, they also provided solar panels to primary schools and their students to provide a lighting source for studying in the evenings
(f) in 2021, through a Rotary Global Grant, they provided 100 treadle pumps, seeds and fertilizers to subsistence farmers and also provided training in green-belt farming and conservation.

In all, this single Rotary Club has contributed at least $150,000 for the combination of these critically important projects.

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History of MCV Part 4/5

Fri, 17 Feb 2023 05:10:00 GMT

NUTRITIONAL REHABILITATION PROGRAM AND OPEN ARMS

For the first few years at MCV the nutritional rehabilitation program continued to function in
a small building, serving about a dozen infants and toddlers, with a small staff of committed trained Malawian women. By 2004, 78 infant orphans had been admitted to the program and 44 had died, mostly from being born with the HIV+ at birth. Open Arms, a well-funded British nonprofit in Malawi’s largest city, Blantyre, served as a model for the MCV program, and in 2004 Open Arms provided the funding for MCV to add a dining room, kitchen, and new washroom to the original MCV building.
On Friday, July 13, 2007 at 10:30 p.m. a fire started in the kitchen of the rehab building while
21 babies were asleep. Fortunately, all were rescued unhurt as the fire raged, but the building, all of the equipment, and the program supplies were completely destroyed. It was one of the lowest points in MCV history.
Fortunately, Open Arms had plans to expand its operation beyond Blantyre. They stepped
forward with MCV’s blessing and purchased land from the local chief adjacent to the MCV campus. On this land, within steps from MCV’s now destroyed building, they constructed a first-rate rehab center, larger and better-funded that could be done at MCV. They were able to expand the care for additional at-risk infants and provided continuous training to professional staff. Several of the original MCV rehab workers still work at Open Arms.
Open Arms continues its complementary services with MCV today. They normally have between 40-50 infants and toddlers in residence, and nearly all these children now survive. Open Arms has become an invaluable partner organization for MCV. In addition to their good work with the newly born children, they have established several pre-school programs for children in some of the area’s primary schools.

MCV HEALTH CLINIC

From MCV’s beginning in 1996 until 2012 MCV operated an onsite clinic staffed by Faith
Sibale, a registered nurse. This clinic served both the orphans and the households caring for them. In 2004, the clinic registered 2,070 visits, which was a typical annual number.
Drugs for the clinic were purchased by individual donors and by US Rotary clubs. The Kansas
City Plaza Rotary Club bought more than $3,000 worth of malaria treatment drugs and had them shipped to Malawi. But the clinic was a huge job for just one nurse, and when Faith retired in 2012, MCV needed find an alternative way of serving its orphan children and their families. In anticipation of Faith’s retirement, MCV negotiated a clinic contract with the nearby Catholic Khochi Clinic and later with the nearby Muslin Clinic, which had better resources ―equipment, drugs, and a more experienced staff. Once again, the generosity of many American citizens enabled MCV to provide this outstanding health coverage for the orphan and OVC populations and their families.

THE SPECIAL NEEDS PROGRAM

Although originally MCV was focused on the large number of orphans born with little chance of a normal or hopeful life, one of our MCV Foundation Board members, Mary Pomeroy, was a strong advocate that we also needed to focus on the significant number of people in the MCV catchment area with special needs. These are vulnerable in the same sense that orphans are, so Mary, a registered pediatric physical therapist, helped MCV evolve from an orphan program to one that included the otherwise vulnerable children (OVC’s). Her work and advocacy has enriched the overall program and has given a better life to otherwise near-hopeless lives.
Abilities, not disabilities, are the focus for each individual in the Special Needs Program. When
Mary’s family first visited MCV in 2008, Down’s syndrome was not discussed. Children with motor impairments were carried on parent’s backs until they were too big when they simply stayed at
home. Few wheelchairs, walkers or even decent crutches were available. Once MCV established its Special Needs Program, the lives of people with these needs have changed dramatically. A village educational program, run by the MCV Village Outreach Coordinators Florence and Catherine, under Mary’s guidance, focused on the reality that a disability does NOT define a person. For example, the diagnosis of cerebral palsy (CP) in Malawi is frequently a result of cerebral malaria or malnutrition. Mary, being a pediatric physical therapist, taught that if parents spent attention to better nutrition and the use of bednets, it would reduce the scourge of CP. Thus the bednet campaign ties well into the Special Needs Program. In addition, an emphasis of providing more nutrition in the staple food nsima, by adding pounded ground nuts to the ground maize, mixed with water and salt to make a porridge, could become a deterrent to much of the special needs causes. Programs like this, of course, will not eliminate special needs children, but it does help decrease the scourge.
Clearly, all special needs cannot be eliminated. But through the educational and training
programs now in place in the MCV villages, parents now say “My child has abilities, not disabilities!”
In addition to these helpful preventative programs, over the past 13 years MCV’s Special
Needs Program has advanced into three areas:

Village-Based Care: Catherine Shabani, one of our Village Outreach Coordinators, continues
to travel to 39 villages to see and encourage children (and their families) with special needs
Cerebral Palsy (CP) Clinic at MCV: A physical therapist (physio) from the nearby hospital
provides weekly therapy since 2008 to children. On average this includes 12 children per
week, thus about 50 per month and 600 annually
The Wheelchair Equipment Workshop: This is also part of the Carpentry area within the
Vocational Education Program at MCV. This workshop continuously makes wooden
standers, chairs, walkers, and wheelchairs, plus accessibility ramps for homes and schools
as well as cement washing areas for families.

The Special Needs Program continues to thrive and expand, thanks to all the gifts and donations that are received. It is now a direct part of the MCV budget, mission, and goals.

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History of MCV Part 3/5

Tue, 14 Feb 2023 03:32:00 GMT

WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT

The Women’s Empowerment (WE Club) was started in 2015 by girls at Gracious Secondary School in an after-school program to enhance girls’ confidence with debates, morals, and education. They subsequently asked for funds to purchase extra books plus a locked bookcase, and to provide tutors after regular school hours so they could increase their academic standings.

Ruth Nighswander held a small fund raising program for women in Alaska to provide the funding needed to begin the program. Mirror Lake Middle School in Chugiak, Alaska raised on-going funding by selling smoothies prior to the start of their school day. The next project was to obtain funding for T-shirts & sanitary pad bags (washable pads, soap, plastic bags, monthly calendar & outer bag) sewn by the MCV sewing project on campus.

Caroline Matkom, a current MCV Foundation board member, was able to obtain a series of large grants through her work as a member of the University of Wisconsin’s Project Malawi Student Club that sustained and expanded the pad project & and included post-secondary scholarships for women graduating from Gracious Secondary School who qualified for entrance to university or professional schools.

In 2021 what started as a modest program has now expanded to 90 girls in the Women’s Empowerment program. The pad project now includes all of the 252 girls attending Gracious Secondary School.

EDUCATION AND TRAINING

Primary School Projects

Clearly, education is the ticket that breaks the chain of poverty. The earlier a child is exposed to quality education the better the future is likely to be. Though true for all children, those who are orphaned at an early age and those who are otherwise vulnerable through disease, handicaps, and those in extreme poverty are the most affected. From the early days of the Malawi Children’s Village, education has been a top priority.

In Malawi, elementary school (the first 8) is free. All children can attend. Unfortunately, these elementary schools are often understaffed, oversubscribed, and poorly equipped. It is not unusual to have 100 first and second graders in one classroom with the two classes with their backs to each other. Many schools have neither desks nor benches for the children to work on. Typical critical teaching equipment and supplies, like paper, pencils, and blackboards are often either lacking or nonexistent. Some of the school buildings have no roofs. As a result, little learning occurs.

The school system in Malawi is parallel to that in the USA: 8 years of primary school (our grade school) followed by 4 years of secondary school (our high school). However, in Malawi only 35% of elementary school students complete their education on time and only approximately 16% of these children go on to secondary school. Thus for every 100 students who begin primary school only 35 complete all eight years. Of those 35 students, in Malawi only 17% enroll in secondary school. Thus, of the 35 student leaving primary school only about 6 will begin secondary school. In secondary school (our grades 9-12), there are two national exams, the MSCE exams. The first is administered to all secondary school students completing the first two years. Those who fail this exam, about half the students who take it, do not go on to the final two years – meaning only about 3 students who began elementary school will complete high school. But that is even optimistic. There is a further “leaving exam” after a student completes Form 4 (our senior year), and the national pass rate is around 50%. The stunning result is that only 1 or 2 of those beginning elementary school will successfully complete all 12 years with what for us would be called a high school degree. This compares to the comparable 88% successful high school completion rate for the American students who enter Grade 1.

In the MCV “catchment” area (the area served by MCV) there are 8 primary schools. Ruth Nighswander, a former mid-1960s Peace Corps Volunteer with her husband Tom, began a program in her home city of Anchorage, Alaska, to pair 6 of these 8 village primary schools in Mangochi with grade schools in the Anchorage area, 9,192 miles distant. The children and parents of these Anchorage schools held a variety of fundraising events ― bake sales, art bizarre, raffles ― to raise money for the Mangochi schools. They also launched a pen pal project. The first money was sent over in 2006. The results of these American children have been impressive. Their first priority was to provide the building of latrines (there were none before). Soon they also funded the purchase of chairs and desks for the classrooms, bicycles for the teachers, and even modest housing for the elementary school teachers.

Success encourages more challenges. The village of Nasenga, adjacent to the MCV central campus, was desperate for its own school. The children of Nasenga had to walk miles, sometimes hours, to the nearest elementary school. The Nasenga school committee requested MCV to consider building a new school located nearer its village. The Nasenga community doubled down on their request by making enough handmade bricks for the classroom. Once again the Nighswanders and the people of Anchorage stepped forward. The Saint Mary’s Episcopal Church, and their future sister school in Anchorage, Denali Montessori, provided initial funding for the first classrooms at Nasenga. The Malawi government then stepped forward and guaranteed to provide the teaching staff.

In 2010 the new school opened its doors and 200 students walked in. Today the Nasenga School has 700 students. Four teachers from the Denali Montessori School visited and provided training for the Malawi teachers while learning invaluable information about education in Malawi. With the remaining funding, a modest house was built for the school’s headmaster. Since that time, this school has been named a “Model Primary School.”

One other school in the MCV area has received the “Model Primary School” award. This school, the Mauni Primary School, has partnered with yet another Anchorage school, Chugach Optional School. Because of this partnership, Mauni Primary now has additional classrooms, desks and books, teacher bicycles, teaching supplies, and three teacher’s houses.

The improvement of early education for the Mangochi area students has benefitted, of course, both the orphan population and the greater general population of children. It has been a critical component of MCV’s vision and dreams.

Vocational Training

Just before MCV committed to building a secondary school, it decided the first project should be to establish a vocation training program so that orphans and others could be prepared for a profession. In 2001 the need for a vocational training school on the MCV campus was becoming more and more apparent. The first project was to raise the funds for the vocational training program. The fundraising efforts in 2002-2003 raised enough to build facilities for programs in carpentry, auto mechanics, bricklaying, and welding.

Enough funds were raised to send a large container of vo-tech equipment from Boston, including a table saw, a planer, drill press, hand carpentry tools, motor workshop tools, Gould water pumps, and, additionally, wheelchairs and shoes for orphans. By the end of 2006 the facilities were constructed and there were 20 students taking carpentry, 10 in bricklaying, and 12 in motor vehicle mechanics. The following year there were 36 students in these programs, 22 of whom were being funded by other nonprofit and governmental programs in the country.

In addition, a companion vocational program in sewing was established on the MCV campus. Nettie Graulich, who had spent time in Malawi in the 1960s, began teaching tailoring to orphans and other young villagers. This program was highly successful from the beginning. Not only did the program give employment and training to MCV’s orphans, but it began successfully selling its high-quality products including Malawi aprons, hand bags, and personal clothing. In addition, the program contracted to provide school uniforms to primary schools and special smocks for the Malawi hotel industry. This program was successful enough to build its own tailoring program on the MCV campus, complementing the other vocational programs located nearby.

Gracious Secondary School

In Malawi, primary school is free but secondary school is not. In the early years of MCV (1996-2005) the program paid the secondary school fees for all the orphans who qualified to attend the few secondary schools in the Mangochi area. It became clear that there was a need for a secondary school on the MCV campus that would be available for no cost to orphans in the MCV area. The MCV Foundation would fund the fees for all orphans. Each year approximately 20-25 orphans in the MCV area successfully complete primary school. The school would also accept a limited number other students from other locations in Malawi on the normal fee basis.

The MCV Foundation had evolved to have the funding necessary for construction of the school, all done by local Mangochi village builders. The classrooms and labs were modest but reasonably well equipped. A teacher’s prep room and headmaster office were included, and a small kitchen was added to serve lunches to the students. In addition, dormitories for men and for women, plus a soccer field were added. All of these buildings and facilities were modest, but by Malawi standards more than adequate.

Construction began in 2004 with funding provided from a variety of sources, including many Alaskan donors and the nonprofit Solace International, which had experience in building girls schools in Afghanistan. The school opened on January 3, 2006. Fifty students enrolled this first year, but MCV still had 83 orphan students enrolled in other boarding schools. That changed rapidly when the early students received excellent passing scores on the mandatory National exams, taken at the end of Form 2 (sophomores) and Form 4 (seniors). One of MCV’s original faculty members, Miss Eunice Zikiti, had been a sponsored orphan from the MCV program in boarding school at Malawi’s Educational/Teaching College.

The first students from Gracious received excellent passing scores on the national MSCE exams. These results resulted in a rush of nearly all the orphans in the MCV catchment area transferring to Gracious. Word got around the country that Gracious produced high numbers of students passing the MSCE exams. Within the next few years the enrollments increased annually, and today the school’s capacity is approximately 400 students, with about a quarter of the students in the “orphan or otherwise vulnerable children” categories.

One of the primary reasons for the Gracious Secondary School’s success rate is the quality of the teachers. Excellent teachers produce high quality programs, and MCV did their best to recruit the best and keep them, especially with the continuing student success. In a country where the national pass rate on the national Form 4 MSCE exam system is about a 50% pass rate, Gracious has produced a rate of 90-95% success rate for the past decade.

Good secondary school teachers are difficult to retain in Malawi, and MCV leadership tries to make its good teaching staff content so they will stay. Periodic meetings are held on what the teachers feel is most important to them. Since 2010 the response always had “decent teacher housing” as a primary need on the teachers’ “wish list”. For the first years of Gracious most of the teachers lived miles away from the school and their transportation was the unpredictable bus/taxi system or bicycles or just walking. It was a real problem. The MCV Board in the USA undertook this need for good housing as a top priority for Gracious, and fundraising began in late 2018. The need is to have 8 duplexes constructed on the MCV property, where the teachers can easily walk to campus. As of November 2021, seven of these duplexes are completed and teacher families have moved in, and the final duplex is well on its ways to being funded. These duplexes are far and away more comfortable and convenient that the normal village home. Each duplex is made with proper cement brick, a metal roof, attached cooking area, comfortable bedrooms and living spaces, a bathroom and all have running water and electricity. Each duplex is adjacent to garden plots. There are few, if any, teacher housing units in rural Malawi that compare.

With this history and current activity in mind, it is clear why Gracious Secondary School is now recognized as one of the outstanding secondary schools in the country.

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History of MCV Part 2 of 5

Mon, 13 Feb 2023 06:02:00 GMT

VILLAGE OUTREACH

Village outreach is the cornerstone of MCV’s program. The orphans live in the villages, and they are raised by relatives or villagers willing to incorporate them into their families. MCV’s primary goal is to make sure these families receive as much healthy assistance that we can provide. Foremost among these needs are health care, access to education, good nutrition, and periodic visits by Malawian MCV staff to track the positive growth, both physical and emotional, of the orphans.

Soon after MCV was established, Florence Kondwani and Catherine Shabani were hired to focus on tracking the success and health of the roughly 3,000 orphans living in the villages, visit with the families caring for the orphans, keep in touch with each village chief, work closely with the village volunteers, and provide assistance to help whenever possible.

The most feared disease in Malawi, other than HIV/AIDS, is malaria. But there is an evil relationship between these two most frightening diseases in the developing world. They thrive together. HIV infected people are more susceptible to malaria, and malaria reduces defense against the HIV infection. This is true for people of all ages, but particularly for vulnerable children. An early and continuing priority of the outreach program carried out by Florence and Catherine has been the battle to control malaria, a constant evil that can kill a child by a single mosquito bite.

What Americans call “mosquito nets” most the rest of the world, including Malawi, call “bednets.” The Gates Foundation initially subsidized a worldwide initial effort to begin a bednet distribution. Subsequently the Kansas City Rotary Club provided a substantial and life-saving grant for the purchase of a generous supply of bednets specifically for the MCV catchment area. Catherine and Florence distributed and explained the proper use of the bednets in each of the villages. They stressed the importance of using these nets only for nightly mosquito protection rather for any other purpose.

The results have been dramatic! In 2005, the early childhood death rate in Malawi was 4.5 deaths per 100 children ages 0-5. The 2004 MCV household survey, an important project for Florence with the assistance of Catherine, indicated that 40% of the deaths in children under 5 were from malaria. In 2004, the year before bednets were introduced, 210 children in the MCV catchment area developed malaria. The first distribution of 216 bednets were introduced in 2005, and the malaria cases of children decreased to 173. The following year, 2016, the use of bednets increased to 919, and the childhood malaria cases were reduced to 31, an 82% decline in the number of malaria cases in these children. It is planned and hoped that the program will continue forever.

Climate issues have a devastating effect on Malawi villagers. Droughts and flooding are becoming more and more frequent and unpredictable. The primary crop in Malawi is maize (corn), which is the most important food source throughout Malawi. A good maize crop requires sufficient rain and sunshine to flourish. When there is drought or flooding, the maize crop dies or is washed away. “Nsima” is the staple food across Malawi. It is the basis of nearly every meal. Nsima consists of large quantities of finely pounded maize mixed with boiled water. The nsima is then combined with “ndiwo”, either vegetables, beans, fish, or other meat when available. Since nsima is consumed at least twice a day, a family of four will consume one or two 50 kg (110 pounds) bags of maize per month. If the maize crop is either completely destroyed or severely damaged, the result is massive starvation in the villages. The MCV outreach program keeps a large store of 50kg nsima bags, and during these desperate times, the MCV outreach program provides the necessary maize to its 36 villages to diminish the starvation.

Flooding is also a constant threat to the village dwellings during the rainy season. A severe flood can destroy many of the homes in a village, and when this happens the outreach program does whatever it can to help rebuild homes, fix leaking roofs and walls, and provide temporary relief from the families affected.

AGRICULTURE AND IRRIGATION

Most Malawian villagers rely on subsistence farming, and this requires a reliable water supply. This can be challenging even when the rains are reliable but somewhat irregular. Traditionally, farmers rely on the five-month rainy season to produce enough maize and other produce to provide year-round family subsistence. While the rains may be adequate in a majority of years, there are often years when inadequate rains lead to hunger and famine.

Irrigation is an obvious solution, but it is not easy in Malawi. While Lake Malawi, the sixth largest fresh water lake in the world, traverses one side of the country, sources of water inland are scarce. In addition, there is a longstanding cultural aversion to irrigation practices.

From its inception, MCV has advocated for irrigation in its catchment area. As a demonstration, gardens were established at the MCV campus, using electric pumps donated by American Rotary Clubs to draw water from nearby Lake Malawi. While the advantages of irrigation were demonstrated, the practice remained impractical without easily available sources of water.

Mike Hill, a former Peace Corps Volunteer, and Jerry Turner, a former government fish population consultant, spent several years in the catchment area providing education regarding irrigation. With donated gas pumps, they initiated several irrigation schemes in areas with access to small rivers and streams.

The introduction of treadle pumps (human-powered pumps working similarly to a stair-stepping exercise machine) allowed irrigation to expand. By digging shallow wells, inserting concrete cylinders, and topping them with treadle pumps, it became possible to use ground water to irrigate up to 200 yards. With a donation of 300 treadle pumps (from Rotary Clubs in upstate New York and Kansas City) the concept spread across the catchment area. Over the years, however, the use of treadle pumps has waned.

Another infusion of interest took place when the Seneca Falls NY Rotary Club undertook an educational initiative in the catchment area, including supporting a full-time MCV Agricultural Specialist. Dyson Magumbo, an MCV orphan “graduate” with an agricultural degree, was the first to fill the position. A few gas pumps were donated for use in villages with access to rivers or streams. And finally, “farm festivals” were held to encourage better farming practices.

Despite all these efforts, the number of irrigation schemes in the catchment area has grown only to 19. And many of these include just a few farmers. Even though the future of irrigation is in doubt, MCV remains committed to expanding the concept wherever and whenever possible.

Another immediate need was to make sure the village families caring for the orphans could have seeds for their family gardens. A modest seed program was begun to provide hybrid maize (corn) and a small bag of fertilizer to each village household so that they could have small gardens that would provide food.

An important priority for any country is food security. Malawians are excellent farmers considering that the typical village farmer has no electricity, gas-powered equipment, little or no irrigation, unpredictable rainfall, or access to specialized seeds. As mentioned in the Outreach section, rains are fickle: sometimes there are no rains, even in the “rainy” months of November through February; sometimes sporadic; other times flooding or just too much rain. It’s also clear that climate change, especially the frequent extreme heat in October, is making the growing season more and more unpredictable.

Felix Semu is now MCV’s Agricultural Specialist and there are many successful programs under his watch.

Climate issues are not the only enemy to Malawi village gardeners. A recent invasion of armyworms has attacked Malawi. This voracious caterpillar can destroy a complete crop of maize in a matter of hours.

To see other parts to this series, please visit our website .

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History of MCV Part 1 of 5

Tue, 31 Jan 2023 04:37:00 GMT

Last year was the 25 ^th year of Malawi Children’s Village. In recognition of this landmark, we would like to share MCV’s history which will be told as a five-part series. Enjoy!

Dr. Kevin Denny had been a Peace Corps Volunteer in the Mangochi District of Malawi working on a tuberculosis public health program from 1964-1966. During his Peace Corps service he met and became friends with Mr. Chakunja Sibale, who became a Malawi clinical officer in the Mangochi District after studying in Edinburgh and managing several international health projects. Their friendship deepened over time. Shortly after the HIV AIDS crisis became a worldwide horror in the mid 1980’s, they began discussing what they could do to help the children of Malawi.

AIDS was devastating Malawi and resulted in more and more children growing up without one or both parents. But it was just one of many diseases, including the scourge of malaria, tuberculosis, bilharzia, and a host of other diseases, causing nearly 10% of children born in Malawi to become orphans before their first birthday. In the mid-1980s, Mr. Sibale and Dr. Denny began talking about what they might do to help the orphan children. They knew they could not serve all the children of Malawi, but they were determined to make a difference to the orphan population in the 37 villages within a defined area of the Mangochi district.

These 37 villages had a total population of approximately 30,000 citizens. This included roughly 2,200 orphans and many otherwise vulnerable children (OVC’s). There were often as many as 6-7 orphans living together with their grandparents. With the increasing AIDS crisis, the number of orphans in these villages would soon soar to about 3,000 within the next five years.

In the entire country of Malawi, the age population density shows that, in the MCV Catchment area, the age group 0-17 accounts for about 50% of the total population, roughly 15,000 children. Because we know that about 3,000 of these are orphans or otherwise vulnerable children, roughly 20%, one in five of all children in this MCV area population, are orphans being raised by grandparents, other relatives, or loving village neighbors. These are staggering numbers. [ NOTE : comparative numbers in USA: 443,000 “orphans” (those in or seeking foster care) out of population of 360 million = 0.12% of population; % of all children in USA in or seeking foster care = 0.68%]

THE BEGINNING

With these realities so shocking, Dr. Denny and Mr. Sibale decided something must be done. They dreamed of a program in this rural area that would give hope to the roughly 3,000 orphaned children. At best the program would evolve into a truly life-enriching program for these orphans. They envisioned a kind of program for these children that would most likely to succeed – a program that is village centered, administered by Malawians, and would incorporate many facets of life in these 37 villages ― a program that would truly give these children a good chance at a decent and healthy life. At a minimum, it would include free education for the children through secondary school and possibly university scholarships, health care in the villages specifically focused on the welfare of the children involved, food and clothing guarantees, and decent housing during the frequent drought or flood times.

They would call this project the Malawi Children’s Village (MCV). Mr. Sibale would be the chief administrator, and Dr. Denny would contact a small group of returned Peace Corps Volunteers who had served in Malawi during the initial years of the Peace Corps, asking them for their financial and voluntary support. The volunteers responded, and the MCV dream began modestly but with great hope in 1996.

These two MCV pioneers began researching the local conditions around the Mangochi area. They secured property along the shores of Lake Malawi and began construction of the first two buildings for what would become known as the MCV Campus. They insisted from the beginning that all structures on campus would be for services rendered and NOT for a resident orphanage. The fundamental belief was that all orphans would remain in their village, be cared for by village families, and overseen by two adult volunteers, chosen by the village chief. These volunteers, coordinating with the MCV staff, would monitor the orphans health and wellbeing.

Funding, of course, was a priority. Dr. Denny recognized the need for an American organization that would generate funding for MCV. In 1997 he called a group of his late 60’s Malawi Peace Corps friends to a meeting in Boston. It was the first meeting of what would become the US MCV Foundation Board. The initial Board included Garry Prime, a former volunteer school teacher, and Mike Hill, Terry Liercke, and Richard Glazer, all volunteers in the Tuberculosis/Public Health program. During the first six months of putting together and organizing the project, Garry Prime agreed to sponsor Mr. Sibale, who became the Project Director full-time in June 1997.

The program began with 36 villages identified in the Mangochi area. A survey at the time revealed that these villages had a combined number of approximately 30,000 residents. The survey also identified a minimum of 2,200 orphans, a number that would increase to 3,000 in the coming years.

Mr. Sibale met with the chiefs of these villages. With the assistance of the chiefs, they identified two volunteers from each village who agreed to look after the needs of the orphan children in their village. Once these 72 volunteers were chosen, they had a series of monthly training sessions with Mr. Sibale and his wife, Faith, who was a registered nurse and would later become the clinical provider for the MCV health clinic.

The top priority in 1997 was to address the needs of babies born to a parent or parents who had died from HIV AIDS. In Malawi, as in so many other developing nations, an infant becoming an orphan is a life-threatening event. The first major project at MCV, therefore, was to secure some land, which Mr. Sibale purchased for MCV. On this land in 1997 the first building was built as a nutritional rehab center that would house a small group of seriously malnourished infants whose mothers had died and who desperately needed nutritional support. It was a modest building including a kitchen, sleeping quarters, and a small office area for the project.

This infant nutritional center was completed in 1998 and soon began caring for 11 severely malnourished infants. A small staff of infant care workers were hired and trained and supervised by Faith Sibale. Not all the children survived, but many children did survive and would receive the benefits of MCV for the rest of their young lives.

THE EARLY YEARS

The next few years were a time of active physical development, always focusing on the support system for the orphans and OVCs. Thanks to the generosity of the MCV Foundation’s fundraising results, construction began on the guesthouse and the library. The guesthouse would become a critical facility for housing overseas volunteers coming to assist for short time periods, and the library foresaw the need to nourish the minds of the orphans as well as their bodies. A soccer field and a netball field were built, and an American Rotary Club provided funding for a lake water system and a water storage tower for what was now becoming the MCV Campus.

Training continued for the 70 or so village volunteers, all receiving an MCV Volunteer shirt and a bicycle, with an agreement to replace the bike tubes when needed. None of the volunteers, of course, had automobiles, and transportation by reliable bicycle was considered a luxury. Monthly meetings were (and still are) held to continue training for the village volunteers and attendance is usually 100%. There was some question whether these volunteers would lose interest or not be active, but five years later more than 85% of the original volunteers were still doing important tasks. They were the important “cornerstones” of the village-based program.

In these early years, a small staff was formed: Felix Chirombo, who would become the MCV director when Mr. Sibale retired years later; Monica Msosa, a community health nurse, was hired to work with Faith Sibale; and Esnath Phiri was hired as an outreach field worker. It was a small but devoted staff.

Surveys showed the orphan population in MCV’s defined area increasing from 2,200 orphans in 1997 to 2,910 in 1999.

Stay tuned for the rest of the history to be posted soon on our website .

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Giving Tuesday and the 2022 Newsletter

Tue, 29 Nov 2022 05:17:00 GMT

November 29th is ‘Giving Tuesday,’ a globally recognized day of giving to charities and non-profits. Please consider donating to help orphans and vulnerable children of Malawi.

Here are a few examples of what can be accomplished with your support…

$30 can buy a blanket to keep as many as three children warm
$38 can pay for enough maize to feed a family for an entire month
$200 can purchase anti-malarial medicine for 100 orphans
$370 can send an orphan to secondary school for a year
$320 can pay for a new roof for a family housing one or more orphans
$1200 can build a home for a family caring for orphans

DONATE HERE!

You can learn more by visiting our website . Signing up to receive our annual newsletter is also a great way to learn more about MCV. The paper copies of the 2022 Newsletter will be delivered soon! In the mean time enjoy a sneak peak of our online copy here. 2022 NEWSLETTER

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Irrigation Program Update

Wed, 16 Nov 2022 03:27:00 GMT

By: Felix Semu

The irrigation program as of now has more than 600 farmers with 37 irrigation sites. The
irrigation program continues to register new beneficiaries. At the beginning of the year we had
572 direct beneficiaries and now we have 630 direct beneficiaries with an average of six
household members. The 21 irrigation sites are near the lake and the other 16 are away from the
lake. The very successful irrigation sites are self sustaining. The project has shown positive
progress depending on both harvested and current crops stand for the farmers. We managed to purchase treadle pumps and irrigation farm supplies as shown in the pictures. Farmers have received irrigation supplies (chemicals, seeds and fertilizers) for the 2022 irrigation season. Thanks to our supporters for the continuous support to the project.

Current Crops :

Our farmers have different types of crops ranging from corn, tomatoes, onions, cabbages, different leaf vegetables and other crops. The crops are for both consumption and for sale. Crops meant for sale are sold at the field and in different markets to the local vendors.

Program Impact :

The program continues to transform the lives of many vulnerable families through the provision of sustainable means of livelihood. Many families are able to meet all the three aspects of food security. Through the income generated after selling some of the harvest, families are able to support their children’s education as a result the communities are able to have responsible citizens who can contribute to their community development. Farmers are able to have good living conditions, such as iron sheet thatched houses, from the benefits realized from the irrigation program.

Thank you to all of our generous donors. To donate, click here .

The post Irrigation Program Update appeared first on Malawi Children's Village .

Technical Training Success

Sat, 06 Aug 2022 01:50:00 GMT

‘In Malawi there is a direct relationship between the level of education and level of poverty.’ -MCV Director, Felix

In January 2022, the technical training program at MCV held a special pilot to expand technical training skills to the vulnerable in the MCV area. The 30 trainees were undereducated from poor families and motivated to find a reliable source of income. The program was expediated and the 30 trainees graduated with technical skills after just 3 months. MCV also provided each graduate with the equipment needed to encourage their success.

Read more about the first program in the report by MCV Director here .

The second cohort of trainees starts in September and is made up of thirty students who were selected by MCV Village Volunteers. All of them are MCV orphans or vulnerable children who are from poor families and no way providing for their families. These students will master masonry or hospitality/tourism. For students doing hospitality management MCV has made an agreement with a local tourism college (Dawn College of tourism to do the training), while those doing masonry will be trained by MCV Technical college. The masonry graduates will help MCV in village house building and repairs.

The post Technical Training Success appeared first on Malawi Children's Village .

Update on Tropical Cyclone Damage Repairs

Tue, 21 Jun 2022 04:03:00 GMT

January of this year, Cyclone Ana brought heavy rains and flooding and damaged or destroyed more than 50 homes in the MCV catchment area. With generous support from donors, we raised over $10,000!!

In the last 6months, MCV was able to build 10 houses in different villages. The homes are built of cement bricks and tin roofed which will last longer in future floods/heavy rains. Also, 18 homes were repaired in the MCV area as well. The repairs are ongoing.

Zikomo (thank you) to everyone who donated! If you would like to donate-there is still need-click here .

The post Update on Tropical Cyclone Damage Repairs appeared first on Malawi Children's Village .

Relief For Tropical Cyclone Damage

Fri, 04 Mar 2022 04:39:00 GMT

Cyclone Ana made landfall on Malawi on 24th January, 2022.

It brought heavy rains and a strong storm. The heavy rains brought many floods in the southern districts of Malawi.

Over 50 homes in the MCV catchment area were damaged. Flooding and heavy rains easily collapsed the mud walls of houses and strong winds blew roofs off of several houses. These houses belong to caregivers and guardians of vulnerable children. We hope to rebuild these homes and to build them out of cement bricks to make them more permanent. It costs only a $1000 to build a full house out of cement and make it a lasting home for a family.

Thousands of hectares of crops were also damaged during the storms, livestock washed away, and infrastructure such as roads and bridges were damaged as well. MCV has and will continue to provide extra food security to those guardians and families who support MCV’s vulnerable children.

To donate, please visit our donation website here.

The post Relief For Tropical Cyclone Damage appeared first on Malawi Children's Village .

2021 MCV Newsletter

Tue, 08 Feb 2022 03:57:00 GMT

Did you miss our 2021 Newsletter that went out a few months ago?? If so-you can read it online here ! Here is the President’s Address :

Moni Achimwene (Hello, Friends),

Soccer was a daily pastime for my friends and I growing up in the township of Balaka, Malawi. We would occasionally compete against other teams, and these games were rewarding, regardless of the final score, as they challenged us to try hard and work together. Ultimately, they drew us closer to each other. While it was not a truly organized “team” by western standards, I am reminded of the saying that TEAM stands for “Together Each Achieves More.” This was true on the dirt soccer pitch in Balaka, and it is true for MCV today.

MCV’s “core program” was built around resident volunteers selected by the Chief in each village to support their community’s orphans and vulnerable children, along with the extended families that took them in. The staff at MCV partner with these village volunteers to provide support with nutrition, healthcare, education, social services, amidst other services. Today the core program supports 3,200+ orphans and remains the central purpose of MCV, outlasting the normal lifespan of NGO’s because of this unique, culturally integrated team approach.

Since its inception 24 years ago, MCV’s impact has grown as new initiatives were implemented, including Gracious Secondary School, a special needs clinic, a school-to-school program, irrigation /agricultural program, technical training options, a Women’s Empowerment program, amidst other programs / projects, including several sponsored by Rotary Clubs. International friends are also members of the MCV team and have provided technical knowledge, advice, equipment, and financial resources to bring concepts to life.

In recapping key aspects of the last year, Felix Chirombo, executive director of MCV, highlighted that the needs of families caring for orphans grew significantly during the pandemic, primarily from lost income that caused greater food insecurity. MCV’s team could not stop their work, rather they established safe ways to check in with families to sustain services, including distributing facemasks made by the sewing project, and provided additional access to healthcare and food. When the nation’s schools were required to close for roughly six months, construction gradually resumed on duplexes for MCV’s Gracious Secondary School faculty. This long-awaited advancement of a dream provided the teachers, and community, with reassurance that MCV remained focused beyond the pandemic, providing hope for a brighter future.

Coach Vince Lombardi said, “Individual commitment to a group effort – that is what makes a team work…” Those MCV serves rely on the village Chiefs, volunteers, MCV staff and each of us to make individual commitments that are greater than could be achieved individually. Thank you for accepting the opportunity to join the MCV team. Together we are and will continue to make an impact in the lives of those MCV serves. – James Miller, Board President

The post 2021 MCV Newsletter appeared first on Malawi Children's Village .

Special Needs Program Update-July 2021

Thu, 22 Jul 2021 17:50:00 GMT

The Special Needs Program at MCV has been able to continue during the Covid 19 Pandemic. More recently the Covid figures have been rising every day, having a third wave of infections within Malawi. The Cerebral Palsy (CP) clinic at MCV has been able to provide physiotherapy treatments every week, but they are running under strict conditions for safety, secondary to Covid. There is an average of 12 clients per week, so around 50 per month or around 600 physiotherapy visits per year. These numbers may reflect some children that come in several times per month, or weekly for intensive therapy sessions if needed, but what is good to reflect upon is that the Clinic is open and services are being provided to the children who are vulnerable with special needs!!
Equipment is still being made, but supplies are harder to come by at this time. Some pieces of equipment (walkers, standers) are being returned, as the children are advancing and not requiring the adapted equipment. The equipment is then cleaned up and passed on to another child.

Here is a story about Elizabeth, who is now 5 years old. She has a diagnosis of Cerebral Palsy. At 2 years of age, both of her parents died so she is being cared for by her grandmother, Linely Chiwaya. She couldn’t walk, so for the last 4 years she has been coming to the CP clinic at MCV. She is now able to walk without a walker, thanks to the effort of her grandmother, who never missed a scheduled physiotherapy session. The family also benefitted with a house which was built by MCV. They also receive supplement food (Likuni Phala) to improve the nutrition status of Elizabeth.

Your donation for the Special Needs Program will go towards the following:
—$216.00 for a hand propelled wheelchair (3rd wheel out front) —$162.00 for a manual wheelchair
—$75.00 for a ramp to a school, home or business
—$34.00 for a wooden stander or chair for a child with Cerebral Palsy
—$27.00 for a walker —$27.00 for a school uniform to ensure that children with Special Needs attend school
—$1.00 for a mask

Thanks for considering helping out a child in Malawi who has special needs, allowing them to now attend school, move around by themselves to go visit friends or participate in family activities.

The post Special Needs Program Update-July 2021 appeared first on Malawi Children's Village .

MCV Irrigation Program Update

Tue, 29 Jun 2021 18:39:00 GMT

Seeding 2021 irrigation success : It all begins with a seed seem to be worthless in the eyes of someone who knows nothing about farming and irrigation. These seeds worthless to non-farmers play a vital role in transforming the lives of the poor farmers to a better one. Through the monetary help such multiple seeds and other aspects which complement farming are purchased each year. This year the program has purchased seeds of cabbage, tomato, onions, mustard, okra, corn, and chemicals to complement the health of the crops. The distributed seeds are planted on nursery beds as they wait to be transplanted in fields.

Land Preparation: While the seeds are on nursery beds farmers prepare the land to accommodate and plant the nursery seeds. Farmers prepare the land differently depending on the technologies (gas, treadle, solar) being used. Some farmers are still using the primitive (watering bucket) methods of irrigation. Some farmers incorporate manure when preparing the land while other farmers use zero tillage farming and cover the land with grasses. It takes great efforts from our farmers to prepare the land from clearing, tillage, ridge making, weeding and harvesting. All these farm work is done by hand with a hoe and there is zero mechanization with MCV farmers. Below is a picture of some farmers preparing water well for irrigating crops. The farmer plans to dig a well with a depth of 7m so that water should last for a number of months.

Empowering farmers with technologies : Many thanks to Charlie Cappellino and Tom Stephen for the solar and gas pumps (respectively) donated last year. Each and every year our farmers are empowered with farming technologies and farm supplies. This year all smiles have been on Evergreen, M’jesi, Mtambuwa and Kamwendo farming sites for receiving such wonderful farming technologies. Piping and these technologies are very expensive and unaffordable for poor farmers in our country. Many thanks to Seneca Falls, Clifton Springs, Mark and Matt Turner for the continuous support which makes the program to access such technologies, piping and inputs. This year as we were getting set for the new season we distributed some piping to two farming sites which are extending their farming land.

Planting : Farmers have different timing of planting their crops both at the nursery and field beds. There are a number of factors contributing to this variation including timing for market, availability of water, weather, end of rain season and access to inputs. Some farmers have become sustainable so that they plant their crops on time using their own seeds. While some farmers had crops in nursery beds the other farmers had crops in the field beds.

New crop : “ Wow!!!!!!! What????? This is unbelievable; it’s my first time to see such crop with my farmers in this quantity.” Indeed I did not believe what I saw until I walked around the Pepper field which they use to make ‘hot chill’. One of the farmers is planting pepper which is the rarest farming within our catchment. “ After selling some of the crops that I harvested, I thought of purchasing this seeds and plant this crop. I have managed to access this crop because of the profits that I have benefited from MCV irrigation program. I would like to say thank you to our donors and sponsors for the many years of support I have received from the program”-Reported Razaq Manyowa pictured below in his pepper field.

“Farming is one of the hardest things if you do not have right resources, labor alone is not enough, and we are privileged to have MCV irrigation program which provide us with the other valuable resources (which are very expensive in our country) essential for farming. On behalf of my farming site members I would say we will forever be grateful for your support for indeed you have shown us our purpose which we believe we will try to enlighten others”. —Maria from Matewere farming site

Your Donation

Helps to purchase farm seeds for poor farmers
Helps to purchase piping
Helps to purchase chemicals and fertilizers
Helps to purchase treadle and gas pumps
Helps MCV irrigation staff to reach out to farmers for extension services

To learn more, please visit our website .

Article written by Felix Semu

The post MCV Irrigation Program Update appeared first on Malawi Children's Village .

Student Profile: Meria Joseph

Mon, 07 Jun 2021 21:46:51 GMT

Meria Joseph is one of our sponsored students through MCV. She is currently at University. Learn more about her in the video below!

Here is a letter she wrote in early 2021.

I am Meria Joseph, your sponsored student studying at University of Malawi Chancellor College, doing education science majoring in Human Ecology. Right now I am still on holiday and will be going back to school May 2021. Results of third year-second semester are in and my grades are good. I am in my final year at university. After my studies, I am planning to help my fellow students here at MCV’s Gracious Secondary School on academic issues so they can finish with good grades at the end of their Malawi School Certificate of Education. Thank you very much for your support to me and my family . -Meria.

To learn more about sponsoring students and our training programs, go to our website malawichildrensvillage.org!

Meet MCV’s Deputy Director, Vincent Sisya

Tue, 25 May 2021 22:06:24 GMT

From Vincent: ‘I joined the MCV as an Assistant Project Director in June 2015. My job as an Assistant Project Director entail that I;
—Assist in developing and implementing plans and goals for the organization
—Work with the director to coordinate and supervise daily operations
—Undertake staffing responsibilities (hiring, training, evaluating etc.)
—Assist in budgeting.
—Maintain scheduling of events and represent the organization when needed
—Create reports and submit them to the director

My six years I have worked for MCV has been so exciting in so many ways. The project has a very big impact on the community it saves. I have seen (orphans and vulnerable children) OVC attaining Degree and Diploma. I have seen disabled children being able to do thing on their own. A feat which they could not achieve if the project was not there. The different programs that the project has, has also changed the status of the families from where the OVC come from.
My typical week start by formulation of a week work plan together with my team. I have a team of two people, a Health Surveillance Assistant, and Social worker. We work together with Village Coordinators, who are two in each 39 Villages that MCV saves. My duty is to make sure that all necessary arrangements are made in order to fulfill the work planned. Beside this I also help in the management of the Gracious School and MCV Technical College.

I would like to thank the MCV US foundation for its tireless effort of making sure that funds are available for the running of the project. The biggest challenge is the boarding facility for girls. There is need to build a purpose built structure so that it accommodate more girls both at secondary school and technical college.‘

Women’s Empowerment Update

Mon, 12 Apr 2021 22:26:20 GMT

Handing out supplies to students of the WE Club

WOMEN EMPOWERMENT PROGRAM

The WE Club (Women’s Empowerment) was started in 2013 at MCV’s Gracious Secondary School as one of the authorized clubs. The aim of the club is to empower young girls in school to succeed in their education and open them to other possibilities. Mangochi has been one of the districts in Malawi that encouraged early marriages; although the government is now trying to educate people so girls attain higher education before they marry, many still marry at a young age.

Read the 2021 update below from the head of the program, Patricia.

‘We have had no activities from March 2020 when the country declared a lockdown due to Covid 19. The school reopened in October due to the increased cases observed in the country schools were closed again early December expected to get opened early January 2021. We have just opened schools this week on 22nd February and hoping that things will now work better.

We managed to buy additional books for the New curriculum for form 3 and form 4 last year. Girls use the newly purchased books for their studies as a supplement to the notes which are taken during their classes.

Each and every girl who is in WE Club has the privilege of attending part time tutoring classes. These classes are done just soon after their normal classes. This is one of the reasons why girls are mostly performing better in the final National Exams. Girls who have problems have the privilege of having discussions and interactions with teachers and fellow students on areas or subjects which they have problems with during their normal class time.

Last academic year we had 17 girls in form 4 who sat for the final Examinations We are waiting for the results. The writing for examination delayed because the government nullified the examination in the second week after noticing that there was examination leakage.

The PAD project is still occurring allowing the distribution of sanitary pads to girls at Gracious. This project includes a health talk to the girls about sex education and their menses.‘

If you would like to read more about MCV or donate, please visit our webpage .

Sewing Project Update

Mon, 22 Mar 2021 22:52:31 GMT

A NEW BEGINNING - An update from Nettie:

Looking back at the history of Nettie's Sewing Project at Malawi Children's Village, I am struck by how far we have come over the last 18 years. It was 2002 when we began the program, training women how to sew and making clothing for the kids to go to school.

To provide jobs for the trainees, we made contact with the tea estates and other local businesses to produce work clothing. From there we expanded into a line of gift items for visitors, mostly handcrafts made out of the colorful African prints. Over time, this provided the program with a steady income as we wholesaled our items to the Malawi tourist industry.

Every year, we accepted new trainees and as a result very experienced tailors graduated from the program to good jobs. We provided free training to our students and whenever we could, we also filled their families' basic needs through assistance with transportation, housing, medical, stocking maize for the year ahead and other support.

2020 and the Covid-19 pandemic put a stop to all this. The borders were closed, with no flights in or out of Malawi. We had to close the workshop and it has been a hardship for everyone.

Still, we remain hopeful for the future. In June, we were allowed to begin operations again with a small group, following strict protective guidelines. Training has always been our main objective, and Ayami – the manager who has run the workshop since 2005 – opened the program for 12 new students to begin basic training, as well as to continue sewing the 600+ school uniforms for the MCV-sponsored children.

With no visitors to Malawi our wholesale and retail business has come to a standstill, so your generous donations to the program ensure that the training side of the program and school uniform production can continue until tourism rebounds. Someday soon, we hope people from around the world will once again visit Malawi, the 'Warm Heart of Africa.' We want our newest trainees to be ready for full production as times get better. -Nettie Graulich

A Message from a Sewing Program Graduate

Chrissy Solomon

'Hello mum (Nettie)! I'm Chrissy Solomon and I had been working with Mcv sewing program with you for 2 years. I don't know how to say thank you for what you did to me but I can say THANK YOU MUM! ! for what I am now. I have my own shop and things are growing day to day. I make k2000 per day and sometimes k5000 (*720 kwacha=1$) when things are good but some days no kwacha because of this corona virus, most of people they are not working. And I always saying Thank you to Ayami because each and every day he's encouraged me to work extra hard to find what I wanted in my life. Big missing mum. I love you mum! '

To donate, visit MCV's donation page, here .

2020 Newsletter

Fri, 22 Jan 2021 23:05:05 GMT

Did you miss our 2020 Newsletter? If so, go to this link now to learn more about all the great projects MCV has been doing even during the pandemic.

Read our President's Address below.

'Around the world the coronavirus pandemic has impacted people's lives, significantly challenging most organizations and businesses, regardless of their location. The virus and efforts to prevent its spread threaten the way of life that we have taken for granted, including how we view / prioritize what is truly important. Malawi Children's Village and the 3,000+ orphans located in the 39 villages it serves along the shore of Lake Malawi are no exception.

Businesses and schools in the developed world shifted to virtual spaces instead of physical proximity for continuity, yet what comprises a business, school or organization at its core? We have been reminded that relationships and interactions between people, even if they are never physically in the same space, are the central theme that matters most.

MCV's origin was built on love, concern, compassion and most importantly – action for those most vulnerable who were impacted by the AIDS epidemic that raced through Africa leaving scores of children without parents and with little hope. Yet, it was the action by MCV's founders that made the difference, from across the globe.

Twenty-three years later, MCV is facing another worldwide challenge that is threatening the lives and way of life for the communities that it serves. Unlike those in the USA, Canada or Europe, in Malawi the lack of access to technology prevents the continuation of things like education, tele-medicine and working from home is unrealistic for most types of jobs. Unemployment is even more prevalent now with no access to governmental support programs.

Yet, MCV continues to provide support to the most vulnerable – orphans and children with special needs, along with the extended families that care for them and the communities in which they live. The articles in this newsletter reflect the accomplishments of the dedicated staff at MCV both prior to and following the pandemic's arrival, as they strive to meet people's continuing and growing needs. At the heart of their success lies the kind and compassionate actions of our donors, who are physically distanced from MCV, yet are close in spirit.

On behalf of MCV, Zikomo (Thank you) for the relationship you have in the MCV community. '- James

Need a Holiday Gift Idea?

Mon, 16 Nov 2020 21:11:51 GMT

Congregation Beth Sholom is hosting Anchorage’s annual “Mitzvah Mall.”

Mitzvah Mall is a chance to buy a meaningful gift for someone on your holiday list. All vendors are nonprofit organizations, and the gifts are donations! MCV is one of the charities.

This year the Mall is all virtual from Nov 15-Dec 1! Please visit their website to learn more about the Mall here .

Or donate directly to MCV here .

This Year's Gift Ideas:

$18 can buy a blanket for 3 children
$36 can buy maize to feed an entire family for an entire month
$118 can buy anti-malarial medicine for 100 children.

MCV Staff Profile: A Day in the Life of an MCV Social Worker

Sat, 26 Sep 2020 23:23:53 GMT

My name is Florence Kondwani working here at MCV as a Social Worker. I plan my work at the office two days a week and go out to the villages three days a week. I like and enjoy my work as it involves working directly to the affected children and families. My activities include the following:

Providing medical services to orphans and vulnerable children together with their guardians to give the voucher/receipts to access medical treatment to the nearest clinic.
Provision of food orphan needs like clothes, blankets, food, shelter uniforms to those going to school.
Psychosocial support through counselling to orphans as well as care givers(guardians)
Conducting meeting with village volunteers once every month to talk about orphan registration, HIV AIDs prevention, Child protection and imparting them with the skills that enable them work properly in their villages.
Child justice to the juveniles who are trouble makers in the village in order to save them from being jailed and making sure that they change their behavior to be good citizens.
Receive reports from village volunteers on the issues from their villages for example:
If a house has a problem and it needs maintenance or it needs to be constructed, I make sure that the office does all necessary work to have the house done.
If a child is being abused, I hold a meeting with all key people in the village to make sure that the child is well protected and lives happily in the society
if there is a family dispute, I go to family and hold a discussion to unite them

This is how my work is done.-Florence

During COVID times, Florence's work has continued and has become even more important to help identify sick families and assist those sick families/orphans with food/supplies.

Florence and Mary (an MCV board member) sitting with villagers.

Malawi braces for COVID19

Fri, 10 Apr 2020 23:30:37 GMT

Two days ago, the first death from COVID19 was reported in Malawi. It will not be an easy fight with less than 30 ICU beds for 18million people but the country known as 'the warm heart of Africa' can and will make it.

MCV has started to prepare with increased hand hygiene, education, and even making masks. The Sewing Club at MCV is making these for staff and families.

We are in constant communication with MCV directors and will be providing anything we can to help.

Update on Teacher's Housing

Wed, 12 Feb 2020 20:36:52 GMT

Wonderful progress from teacher's housing at MCV! To learn more about this project, go to our website .

Seed of Hope

Tue, 03 Dec 2019 05:26:00 GMT

Our newsletter went out in the mail last week. Click here if you missed it- 2019 Newsletter! Below is our MCV Board President’s opening statement.

‘Moni Achimwene (Hello, Friends),
The programs at MCV are like seeds planted by hopeful farmers all over the world. Each kernel contains great potential to produce multiple times its humble origin, when carefully planted and nurtured; yet no guarantee of a harvest exists. What is it that motivates the farmer to invest precious time and resources each year — Hope and past results?
A key to MCV’s success over the last 22 years is that it is run by Malawians, with international friends, and built on a model of volunteers chosen by each village’s chief. These volunteers are at the heart of MCV’s core mission-to serve the orphans and most vulnerable children, who are cared for by their extended families in 39 villages near Lake Malawi. The latest census reflects 3,399 children in 1,587 households, of which 670 were newly registered this year.
Through the years, a variety of ancillary programs have been implemented to provide a hand-up to these communities.
These include:
• Gracious Secondary School, a high school providing a quality education to more than 500 students, about a quarter of which are orphans
• Malaria prevention (bednets)
• HIV education
• Women’s Empowerment Program
• Sanitary Pad Project
• Solar projects
• Tree planting
• School-to-school relationships
• University sponsorship opportunities for orphans
• Irrigation and farming enhancement projects
• Special Needs Clinic, caring for 191 children now, and providing manual wheelchairs, walkers, chairs and standers.
• Technical training programs, teaching sewing, masonry and carpentry skills.
• Building and repairing homes for the most needy families.
• Famine and disaster relief during critical times, including the cyclone that hit Malawi hard this past year.
For many people in Malawi, hope is instilled by others. The articles within this year’s newsletter are the result of the seeds of hope that you, our donors, have sown. MCV is only possible through your kind actions.’
Zikomo (Thank you),
James Miller, Board President

The post Seed of Hope appeared first on Malawi Children's Village .

A story of raising money for MCV!

Thu, 07 Nov 2019 03:16:00 GMT

MCV at the Mitzvah Mall

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 3 12-3pm

Congregation Beth Sholom is hosting Anchorage’s annual “Mitzvah Mall.” Last year’s event raised more than $15,000 worth of goodwill in three hours! All the vendors are nonprofit organizations and charities. It is an easy way for shoppers to make donations on behalf of friends and family. MCV is one of the the booths so if you live in the Anchorage area-consider going to support them!
For more information, go their website .

The post A story of raising money for MCV! appeared first on Malawi Children's Village .

Student Success Story: Nathan Munthali

Fri, 18 Oct 2019 04:18:00 GMT

We love sharing success stories of our students. Nathan is just one example of how education can change lives. If you would like to learn more about helping support orphans/vulnerable children with their education, visit our donation page.

The post Student Success Story: Nathan Munthali appeared first on Malawi Children's Village .

Teacher Housing Project and Dedication

Thu, 11 Jul 2019 04:19:00 GMT

We are excited to announce that the first house for the Gracious teachers and their families is complete! For the past several years, a repeating request from MCV staff/directors was to add teacher housing. Housing would improve teacher’s commute, living situation, and hence work environment. It would also attract top quality teachers for our school positions. Please see the original article here .

‘This teacher housing project is dedicated in honor of Tom and Frances Vitaglione. Peace Corps volunteers in Malawi in the mid-1960s, Tom and Frances never lost their love of the people of Malawi and especially their love of the vulnerable children served by the Malawi Children’s Village. Tom and Frances were committed to making certain these children got the best education possible. Hiring and retaining the best teachers require that they have a comfortable place to live near the school, in MCV’s case- Gracious Secondary School. They believed deeply that outstanding teachers are the key for retaining and encouraging excellence in the classroom. And our MCV children deserve the best.
For many years the Vitagliones served on the American MCV Foundation Board, Tom as president, helping to raise funds to assist the program and giving their advice when asked by MCV’s Malawian project director. If it “takes a village to raise a child”, then it takes leadership like Tom and Frances Vitaglione to make this village available to those children most in need.’ -Don Gray, MCV Board member

Dedication Plaque above

The post Teacher Housing Project and Dedication appeared first on Malawi Children's Village .

Update on the Flooding in Malawi

Mon, 17 Jun 2019 03:53:00 GMT

Above: Donations, including blankets, laid out to distribute.

A huge thank you to everyone that donated to help the families affected by the devastating flooding. Below are a few words from our President.

“The response to the appeal for Storm Relief from our MCV supporters has been impressive and heartwarming. To date we have received almost $19,000 designated to address the needs of families caring for orphans who were impacted by the storm. These funds enabled MCV to provide emergency relief in the form of food, clothing, household items, and building supplies to families who live on the edge, and who suddenly found their home and meager possessions washed away. In a country with no home insurance, social security, or food pantries, most people in Malawi live on the edge. On behalf of these families, and MCV, I would like to thank our many donors who were so generous in helping people in desperate need of help, and most of all – hope. Your entire gift went directly to help a family in need. Bless you!” -James Miller

We will continue to offer updates as these families are supported and their homes are rebuilt!

The post Update on the Flooding in Malawi appeared first on Malawi Children's Village .

Devastating Floods in Malawi

Mon, 01 Apr 2019 03:47:00 GMT

Your help is greatly needed. You can donate by going to our donation page at: https://malawichildrensvillage.giv.sh/027f

As updates become available, we will post them on the MCV blog site.

Zikomo (thank you)

-Tom Nighswander and Tom Vitaglione

The post Devastating Floods in Malawi appeared first on Malawi Children's Village .

Mdala’s Story: A Sewing Project Graduate’s Story of Survival

Tue, 05 Mar 2019 04:09:00 GMT

Please read the heart touching story about a strong, miraculous Sewing Project Graduate.

‘Mdala was one of our new trainees in the sewing project in 2014, but he was dismissed several months later. He was not ready to become a tailor – too young. In May 2015, Ayami (manager of the sewing project), saw Mdala working with cement and ‘looking desperate’ doing heavy work without protective clothing or shoes. Mdala was invited back to the Sewing Project and he said yes enthusiastically. By the end of 2017, Mdala was one of the best tailors and a beautiful young man. He got a passport and went to South Africa to work to support his family.
Just before New Year 2018, he was hit by a car in a hit and run as he was waiting by the side of the road for a bus. He was transported to Zomba, a large hospital 3 hours away. He was badly injured, internal bleeding and both bones in the lower leg had open fractures that were infected. Miraculously he made it. He stayed at the Zomba hospital for almost 6 months. Ayami was a pivotal key of his care. He visited Mdala regularly to make sure he got medication/care/funds as needed. Ayami arranged that the daily needs of the family were also taken care of. Mdala’s fellow tailors at the Sewing Program took care of Mdala’s family maize garden.

After 7months, Mdala went back to the hospital for checkup and it was clear his bones were not healing properly. He has since been at the international hospital in Blantyre, supported by the Sewing Program. He has had several operations, with the last in December 2018 with ongoing weekly visits to the clinic. His care is ongoing.

-Nettie, Sewing Program Director

We are hopeful for a full recovery for this strong young man. To learn more about the sewing program, see the yearly reports here:

https://malawichildrensvillage.org/category/sewing/

The post Mdala’s Story: A Sewing Project Graduate’s Story of Survival appeared first on Malawi Children's Village .

Big Thanks to UW-Madison students!

Mon, 18 Feb 2019 19:36:00 GMT

In case you missed it, here is an amazing fundraising story that was published in our recent newsletter.

Three students, in the span of six weeks, generated a total of $50,000 for MCV’s scholarship initiative, the women’s empowerment program, and the feminine hygiene project. Wow!

This last year, Caroline Matkom, a student at UW-Madison and a member of the student club, Project Malawi, became interested in helping MCV. She met with several MCV board members to see what was needed at MCV. She and her student colleagues submitted a proposal to UW’s Philanthropy Lab class, which gives annually to nonprofits. The MCV project received a $15,000 grant that will be used to empower young women through the distribution of reusable feminine hygiene products to the girls at MCV’s Gracious Secondary School.

Caroline and her student colleagues, Eric Malamud and Calli Hughes, were then invited to submit a proposal to the national Philanthropy Lab competition. Their proposal allowed MCV to receive another grant of $25,000. This grant will be used to provide scholarships for postsecondary education (college, technical schools, etc). Finally, Caroline submitted another proposal to the national Panhellenic Council and was awarded a $10,000 grant! This one will enhance the feminine hygiene project. Thanks to Caroline, her student colleagues, the Philanthropy Lab organization, and the Panhellenic Council for supporting MCV.

To see more of the newsletter, follow this link: 2018 Newsletter

For updates on this amazing project, visit our website!

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Njala Update: What is Likuni Phala?

Fri, 01 Feb 2019 00:43:00 GMT

LIKUNI PHALA: A STAPLE FOOD

Fry ½ bag soy beans, add ½ bag ground nuts, 3 bags maize meal. Mix and grind all together and what do you have?

Likuni Phala! A staple peanut butter paste for babies and infants who are malnourished. This food is now made at MCV and provided to the young children who need it within the MCV catchment area.

Njala is the term used in Malawi to describe a year of hunger which, sadly, has been every year recently. The 2018-2019 season has been better than most and thankfully we are nearing the end of the Njala season with the maize harvest to start in April. With the assistance from donations, MCV is able to support orphans and vulnerable children and the families that care for them with both maize and Likuni Phala. Likuni Phala is necessary for survival and this simple peanut butter paste can help children survive!

Women making Likuni Phala to distribute.

Any donations to MCV help these babies and infants survive another Njala season.

Zikomo or thank you!

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2018 Nettie’s Sewing Project Update

Thu, 17 Jan 2019 04:25:00 GMT

The Sewing Project is a training program at MCV that was started in 2002 by Nettie Graulich. This technical program focuses on teaching students both fashion design and/or tailoring. Every year the sewing program continues to grow and help more and more Malawians learn a craft and make a living to support their families! Below is an another amazing update from Nettie.

‘The year is coming to an end, time for an update on the sewing project in Malawi. The training program and the production are going very well. Because the handcrafts we make are beautiful and of the highest quality, we have built up a very successful wholesale business. Ayami the manager (middle below) and James the teacher (left below) are a dedicated team, they keep the program running all year round. I am there from June to September every year and after 17 years I feel right at home as soon as I arrive.

A hugely successful handcraft wholesale!

Over the last years, the wholesale of our handcrafts has become our main steady stream of income. We have major accounts in Blantyre and Lilongwe, in the game park and at Blantyre airport.

We always knew we had to get into the departure hall of the Lilongwe airport, now a major hub.This summer everything fell into place and Ayami made the contact with Airport Development Lilongwe ADL, the largest retailer with several stores. We now feel very secure. With all our accounts and our own retail shop at the program, we are busy with production all the time.

Our stores say : “Your articles sell themselves, they are colorful, of the highest quality and make great gifts.’’ –Nettie Graulich

Busy work room!

To read the full report: Sewing Report 2018

Reports from pervious years can be found at https://malawichildrensvillage.org/category/sewing/

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New Housing for Gracious Teachers

Mon, 07 Jan 2019 00:11:00 GMT

For the past several years, a repeating request from MCV staff/directors was to add teacher housing. This housing would be available for Gracious teachers and their families. Without housing, teachers often have to travel from miles around without adequate transportation to get to school daily. Housing would improve teacher’s commute, living situation, and hence work environment. It would also attract top quality teachers for our school positions.

We are excited to announce that housing design and location has been decided and a few houses were started over the past few months. Please see initial pictures below!

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Njala Update 2018

Fri, 21 Dec 2018 01:02:00 GMT

Hunger strikes almost every year in Malawi. When it comes, it is known as the njala season. (Njala means hunger in Chichewa.)

Every year, there is great hope that there will be a good crop season with the right amount of rain. Unfortunately, every year for the last several years there has been famine that starts as early as August and lasts through January or February. The price of imported maize skyrockets and is well beyond the reach of the villagers who live in a largely subsistence society. Each year, with your help , we are able to secure maize ahead of time at reduced costs. This maize is distributed to MCV orphan guardians and their families.

This is a picture of the distribution of the maize to all families keeping MCV orphans in all the villages in the month of November and beginning of December. With the coming in of the rains, guardians will use some of the maize for planting. Families are very thankful with the relief food.

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98% Pass Rate at Gracious School!

Thu, 06 Dec 2018 23:50:00 GMT

We are so proud to announce that Gracious Secondary School at MCV has done exceptionally well on the Malawi national exam. All students at the end of Form 4 (12th grade) sit for the Malawi School Certificate of Education (MSCE).

Students at Gracious had a pass rate of 98% versus the national average of 63%. We are so proud of our students!

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The 2018 Newsletter is here!

Wed, 21 Nov 2018 03:51:00 GMT

In case you missed it, The 2018 newsletter is here and it is amazing!

Here is an excerpt: The Board President’s Address

Moni Achimwene (Hello, Friends), Malawi Children’s Village became a reality because its founders’ lives had been positively impacted by their experiences working as Peace Corps Volunteers with the welcoming and compassionate people in Malawi. Decades after their active service, they responded to the urgent need to care for the growing number of orphans with an action plan built within the context of the rich culture. The Malawian run, volunteer based core programs focus on partnering with the extended families that care for more than 3,000 orphans to provide for their basic health, social and educational needs.

Stability of these core programs, made possible by your financial support, has enabled many ancillary initiatives through the years that further address the needs of those MCV serves. These include the development of a program to assist those with physical challenges, the creation of Gracious Secondary (grades 9-12) School, college sponsorship, development of a skills based training program, building houses for some of the families who take orphans in, and partnering with organizations on a variety of humanitarian projects aligned with our mission. MCV has grown beyond the initial vision of its founders, while its focus remains the same. It is surprising to note that more than half of the funds sent to MCV this year were enhancements of non “core” programs, that are enhancing MCV’s impact. The stories shared in this newsletter provide a glimpse into the variety of ways we are serving vulnerable children and the communities that support them, in 39 villages along the shores of beautiful Lake Malawi.

The lives of thousands are positively impacted each year through MCV because a few dedicated people understood the overwhelming need and elected to take action. Their vision sustains and transforms lives today because you also elect to invest in the lives of those who need help, and above all else – creating hope for a brighter tomorrow. Together we are transforming lives and building brighter futures.

Zikomo (Thank you),

James Miller, Board President

To see more of the newsletter, follow this link: 2018 Newsletter

To sign up for future emails and newsletters, please make sure you are signed up to get notifications by clicking subscribe from our website.

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New Dining Pavilion at MCV

Sat, 27 Oct 2018 01:49:00 GMT

Can you imagine not having a place to sit at work or school during a break or at lunch!!? Recently, this was the number one request from MCV staff and students! We made this happen with the help of your donations! Below see pictures of the new dining pavilion to go along with the new dining facilities.

Look at this packed dining hall!

A Special Thanks from Felix, the MCV director:

‘Let me appreciate the recent project of the eating / dining hall. Gracious has lacked such a hall since its birth. Your support has come at the right time in a way that it will assist us to enjoy as well as realize the benefits we have been missing. This hall will improve school hygiene greatly. This in turn will improve performance of students. Arguably because students who eat healthy foods in a good environment will remain healthy hence concentrate more during classes and more likely to remember what has been taught.’ -Felix

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Gracious Secondary School Graduate Bio: Sara’s Story

Tue, 28 Aug 2018 00:15:00 GMT

Sara Maliseni

I am aged 25, and I stay in Makawa Village. I am the second born in the family of six, two girls and four boys.

I have been raised by my mother, my father passed away in 2007. When my father passed away, I dropped out of school for two years because I was doing part time jobs to help my mother with the upkeep of the family.

I registered with Gracious Secondary in 20014 as a self-sponsored student. I used to work during holidays to carter for my tuition and my school supplies.

Minus all the challenges I had, I used to excel in class. I came out top of the class among all girls at Gracious Secondary School in the National Examinations. I scooped 14 points. I have always desired to be a lady of influence in my family and society at large.

Currently I am doing my first year of Bachelors of business education at The Malawi Polytechnic. I like this program because it will instill a sense of business management in me and this will enable me to run a successful business. -Sara

The post Gracious Secondary School Graduate Bio: Sara’s Story appeared first on Malawi Children's Village .

Tragic loss of a former MCV orphan

Wed, 22 Aug 2018 22:12:00 GMT

We are deeply saddened to hear about the tragic loss of a former MCV orphan, Timothy Kamanga. He changed the lives of many and inspired all along his journey.

This was written by the director of MCV, Felix Chirombo:

‘Timothy was one of the orphaned children supported by Malawi Children’s Village. He came from a family of 5 children. He lost both parents long time ago.
He went to Nkope Community Secondary School for his secondary education and finished form four in 2004. In 2005 he was picked on Student Rotary exchange program and went to New York, USA. MCV chose him and Patricia Symon because of their good grades at school, behavior, character and their dedication in supporting work at MCV. It was a one year program and they came back home in 2006.
Timothy lived with a family in USA and after coming back home the following year, the family he
lived with in USA got impressed with him and arranged to bring him back to USA to continue his
education. He finished his degree program and got a job in USA.
It is a big loss to his family as he was taking a bigger part in supporting his family members in
Malawi. It is a big loss to MCV as well. He was one of the role models to the youths. I remember
when he came back to Malawi in 2006, he talked to the fellow MCV students about his experience in USA. His speech motivated the other youths and made a positive impact as it encouraged them to work hard in their studies.
He shall always be remembered in many ways. May His Soul Rest in Peace.’ – Felix

Please refer to the news article here for details of this tragedy.

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A new kitchen at MCV’s Gracious Secondary School

Sat, 16 Jun 2018 23:49:00 GMT

Gracious School at MCV has been long overdue for a new kitchen. The old kitchen was cramped, dark, and lacked adequate storage and cooking space. Food was often stored in buildings across the campus. MCV students and staff expressed a kitchen remodel as a top priority.

With help from donors, we were able to fund a new kitchen that just opened this spring! It now has enough space for storage, including new shelves and a lockable storeroom for keeping food items safe.

Here is a heartfelt thank you letter from a student:

I am Joseph Mulewa, a student at MCV’s Technical College .I am doing Automobile Mechanics in addition to that, I am a caterer at this college. As one of the students and the caterers at MCV, I would like to say thanks for the kitchen improvement. The kitchen was not in good condition because it was confined that made other resources to be kept far away from the kitchen. In addition to that, the kitchen was not in good appearance but your funds have brought a great change. This has improved the whole campus. — Yours faithfully, Joseph Mulewa

Above, students are served through the ‘serving window.’

To learn more about MCV and our ongoing projects, please visit our website .

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Gracious Secondary School Staff Bio: Ellaton’s Story

Thu, 31 May 2018 02:09:00 GMT

Read below about one of our amazing teachers!

Ellaton Siyabu

‘My father died when I was less than a year old. Life became miserable and hopeless for me right from the start. I could go to bed without food and go to school as well with empty stomach. As if this was not enough, I lost my only bread winner (mother) when I was in standard five. At this juncture, life became empty henceforth I started absconding classes. Instead, I engaged in fishing where I was a victim of child labour. At the verge of almost opting to start stealing, an angel came to my rescue and restored the lost hopes. This angel in disguise is what has brought us here-MCV. They registered me as an orphan and promised to handle my education should I became successful. I worked hard and passed primary certificate. MCV took the responsibility of sponsoring my secondary education. While there I studied hard and got selected to Mzuzu University.

I am permanent employee of MCV. I am a secondary teacher. I teach English Grammar and Geography.

Basing on the above information, I owe a huge debt of gratitude.

To the donors and sponsors, I say thanks for your generosity. Your assistance has seen many hopeless orphans including myself achieving impossible dreams. I am who I am because of you. More than thousands of orphans will go to bed full, well-nourished and better off than the night before your coming. Continue your support for you are not doing this in vain. I would be very happy as well if you can go as far as master level. -Ellaton

To support MCV and learn more, please visit our website .

The post Gracious Secondary School Staff Bio: Ellaton’s Story appeared first on Malawi Children's Village .

Check out our new BICYCLES!

Tue, 15 May 2018 02:25:00 GMT

New Bicycles have arrived for our volunteers!

This bikes are used by the 76 volunteers to cover MCV’s service area, which includes 38 villages-a 70 sq. km. area! The bicycles are the lifeline that keeps the volunteers connected to the MCV central office for technical assistance and training. More importantly, the bicycles are often used to transport orphans for medical care or to bring important items, such as bed nets, clothes, blankets, and other supplies to the villages.

Many thanks on behalf of the 76 village volunteers and the 3000 orphans!!!!

To donate to MCV, please visit our donation page !

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Update: Special Needs Program at MCV

Mon, 30 Apr 2018 02:42:00 GMT

Now in its tenth year, the Special Needs Program is fully integrated into MCV operations. It provides health resources for families with infants/ children (and for the children themselves) to become more mobile to attend school or to participate in family or village activities. At this time there are about 100 families being followed and several hundred have been served in the past. Adaptive equipment is currently being made at the MCV workshop-more than 55 wheelchairs, 100walkers, and 200 chairs have been built! Also, MCV now has it’s own weekly Cerebral Palsy clinic.

A few lives that have been changed:

– Winnie (post-polio) walked on hands and feet for over 30 years: she now has a wheelchair.

– Benito (age 12), living with a rare neurological condition, has returned to school on an adapted rolling cart, now uses a modified platform cane to take a few steps, and has support at school.

– Mayankho lost his leg to a snake bite, but now has a prosthesis to walk to school and run with friends.

donation site

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Gracious Secondary School Student Bio: Beatrice’s Story

Wed, 04 Apr 2018 00:00:00 GMT

One of our goals at MCV is to support higher education for orphans and vulnerable children. Currently MCV is supporting:

– 124 Students at Gracious School (high school)

– 13 MCV orphans are currently sponsored at college/continuing education

– 4 special needs students (2deaf and 2 blind) are sponsored.

Here is another example of an amazing and hardworking student at Gracious Secondary School who is supported by MCV.

BEATRICE MBELA (Form 4)
I was born in Chiwalo Village at Nkope in Mangochi and I still live there. I am a second born in the family of six children. I have three brothers and two sisters. MCV has helped me in accessing education because my father could not afford to pay for my school fees.
MCV is important to the people in the community in that it helps to pay for school fees and
also medical care for orphans who cannot manage. It also build houses for orphans. Gracious secondary school is a good school with good environment, and hardworking
teachers. I like the school because of this.
On free time, I like playing netball, listening to music, and storytelling with my friends. When I grow up, I want to be a Nurse or a Social worker. I want to help my relatives with
education. – Beatrice

If you would like to donate or learn more about Gracious School, please visit this page .

The post Gracious Secondary School Student Bio: Beatrice’s Story appeared first on Malawi Children's Village .

Gracious Secondary School Student Bio: Stanely’s Story

Mon, 12 Mar 2018 03:19:00 GMT

Another inspiring student biography from MCV’s Gracious Secondary school.

STANELY MATATA (Form 4)

I am the third born in the family of six. I live at Matewere village. I live with both my parents.
MCV replied to my request after I submitted an application for sponsorship, since my
parents could not afford to pay for my school fees. I was so glad after I heard that I have
been picked for scholarship. Besides paying for my tuition MCV also provided me with
a school uniform and lunch.
MCV is important to the community because it supports the orphans by building houses for
them, providing them with farming tools, supporting their education and health, and also
caring for the disabled children.
Apart from school activities, I like watching movies, reading novels, and playing table tennis.
I like gracious Secondary School due to the presence of good trained teachers who make
students to pass well in national examinations. I want to be a medical doctor in future. I would like to support MCV in caring for the orphans and vulnerable children. -Stanely

Read more about the school and how you can help here .

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Grace’s Story: An update on this amazing young woman!

Tue, 13 Feb 2018 04:07:00 GMT

Grace Samson is a 16 year old who was born with Spina bifida (a birth defect where there is incomplete closure of the backbone and membranes around the spinal cord that often causes leg weakness and paralysis). Grace and her five siblings were raised by their single mother who had no support from their father. She lives in Chipoka II Village in MCV’s catchment area.

Because of her spina bifida, Grace’s legs are crippled and she is unable to walk. Since birth, she has crawled or used a stick to move around. Her mobility restraint made it impossible to go to school, have a social life, or help her mother.

In 2015, the Special Needs Program at MCV provided her with a wheelchair. In 2016, transportation money was provided so that she could travel to a hospital for repair of her club feet. This vital surgery allowed her to walk and return to school!

Last November, Grace enrolled for skills training at MCV sewing program, where she is learning tailoring, fashion, and design. After training she will be able to open her own tailoring shop and make a living to support herself and her family.

If you would like to donate to help more young women and men like Grace, please go to our donate page.

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Gracious Secondary School Student Bio: Sara’s Story

Mon, 29 Jan 2018 19:04:00 GMT

Another amazing and inspiring student biography from MCV’s Gracious Secondary school.

Gracious, like all secondary schools in Malawi, educates students in forms 1 – 4, the equivalent of grades 9 – 12 in the United States. Gracious currently has two classes per form, comprised of approximately 70 students per class, for a total of of approximately 560 students. Typically, 80 – 100 of these students are orphans and vulnerable children sponsored by MCV. The other students pay school fees, with the hope that the school will one day be self sufficient. While the non-sponsored students pay school fees a majority of these students are still impoverished, as 74% of Malawians are living on less than a $1.25 per day. Many of these students often struggle to pay fees on time, and some are sponsored by other non-profits in Malawi.

I was born in the family of five children (three boys and two girls). My father died when I was young. I live with my mum at Michesi village.
MCV has played an important role to the community because it supports orphans with education by paying for school fees, buying school uniform and learning materials. In addition it also give support to disabled children.
When am free, I like to sing, and reading novels.
The thing I like about Gracious is that it has social clubs which encourages good behaviour, and also religion clubs which helps us to grow spiritually. I also like gracious because it has good and well qualified teachers.
I want to do medicine and be a Medical Doctor. I want to help in reducing death from
curable diseases. -Sara

Read more about the school and how you can help here .

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Sewing Program Update 2017

Mon, 15 Jan 2018 22:39:00 GMT

This year my report is a picture story. The yearly reports are to show you how the project continues to make a difference in many peoples lives and how your contributions over the years help us do so much more than just being a sewing project. All year long Ayami, the Sewing Project Manager, keeps the program running at the highest level. I visit every year for 3 months and leave, always knowing that the project is in excellent hands.

We found a new supply of colorful fabrics while at the bus station in Blantyre. Surrounded by all the vendors, we bought through the window of the bus until we ran out of money. Last year fabric shortage was a big problem, this time we have plenty of options.

All the kids have a bicycle to commute to work and a treadle sewing machine at their homes to make extra “freelance” money.

Grace has spina bifida, but she can use her legs to run the sewing machine. Special arrangements have been made for her to attend the program. Bicycle taxi brings her and picks her up daily. A wheelchair is provided to help her get around.

Our biggest ongoing problem is the shortage of electricity in Malawi, not just for hours at a time, but for many full days. With no power, we cannot use the industrial machines. We sew what we can on the treadle machines and do hand sewing. The ironing is done with charcoal. We are known for our high quality work, which can only be done on industrial machines, it makes planning our production a challenge. But Ayami and his team get it done, even if they have to work on weekends.

** OUR NEW SHOP ** The handcrafts have become our main source of income. We have the best retail stores in the country as our wholesale customers. Our shop was just a corner of the workroom. A dream came true for me this summer – we added an extension to the building. All involved love our sewing program and worked hard to get it all done before I left. A 4’ canoe became a beautiful display piece. We now have a beautiful shop to display our handicrafts for our wholesale and retail customers.

Please see the full report with more photos here: Nettie Malawi Report 2017 (PDF)

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Gracious Secondary School Student Bio: Frank’s Story

Mon, 01 Jan 2018 18:14:00 GMT

Gracious Secondary School began in 2000 at MCV. Gracious is a member of the Independent Schools Association of Malawi (ISAMA) and is registered with the Ministry of Education of Malawi. Aligning with its mission to serve orphans and other vulnerable children, MCV currently provides school tuition, lunch fees, and school materials for orphan students. The results from the school and the students have been nothing short of outstanding. Read more about the school here.

Our students at Gracious Secondary School are hard working, intelligent, and grateful young adults. We are going to be profiling one of our wonderful students monthly in hopes to get to know them better. Each bio and picture was submitted by the students themselves for publication.

The post Gracious Secondary School Student Bio: Frank’s Story appeared first on Malawi Children's Village .

2017 Newsletter: President’s Address

Fri, 22 Dec 2017 03:46:00 GMT

The 2017 Newsletter was sent out with great success this year. Below is the newsletter’s opening address from MCV Board outgoing President Tom Vitaglione. See the entire MCV_Newsletter_2017 here.

Dear Donors and Friends,
Malawi Children’s Village has celebrated its twentieth anniversary! In 1996, MCV was a pile of bricks and a dream. Malawi was in the throes of an AIDS-induced nightmare that had produced 800,000 orphans who were experiencing high rates of hunger and death. Perhaps worst of all, hope was close to extinction.

The dream of MCV was to restore hope to orphans in 38 villages along the southwestern shore of Lake Malawi. There were more than 4,000 orphans in these villages with an average of six orphans living in households headed by grandparents and others. The death rate from malaria alone was about 10%, and few orphans could even think about going to school.

MCV was the product of fortunate meetings of former Peace Corps volunteers and Malawians. Together, they decided to develop a village-based orphan care program designed to provide support to households willing to care for orphans. The combination of chief-appointed volunteers in each village and a small central staff became the core of that support system. Soon, a clinic was opened, a nutrition center established, and regular outreach visits began providing food supplements, clothing, health education, and training in irrigation/food sustainability. Later, other programs and partnerships were established, and secondary and technical schools were opened.

Today, twenty years later, much of the dream has become a reality. More than 15,000 orphans have received services (including 3,000 currently enrolled), households now have an average of only two orphans, the death rate from malaria in young children has plummeted by 80% (due to treated bednets), and almost 85% of orphans are attending school!

While the Malawian staff and board have made all this happen, it would not have occurred without the continuous and generous support of hundreds of donors across the USA whose generosity is enhancing the lives of orphans and restoring hope to the 38 villages served by MCV. While we cannot serve all of Malawi’s orphans, we are called to do what we can, and you are making that possible. We invite all of you to become part of the MCV dream through your donations, well wishes, and prayers. The dream will not remain a reality without you.
Tsalani Bwino,
Tom Vitaglione, Board President

If you would like to be added to the mailing list for future newsletters, please contact us here !

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New bicycles needed for MCV Volunteers

Sun, 05 Nov 2017 00:57:00 GMT

Bicycles are a lifeline for orphans at MCV. Our 76 volunteers cover 38 villages across a 70sq. km. area! Bicycles are the only transportation option. They are used to deliver needed items to orphans and their households and often transport orphans to medical care or other appointments. The current bicycles have been well used and need to be replaced.

If you would like to learn more or donate, please visit the donation page: https://malawichildrensvillage.giv.sh/7c3a

Many thanks on behalf of the 76 village volunteers and the 3000 orphans.

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Sewing Update 2016

Sun, 22 Jan 2017 20:09:00 GMT

What a great first week we had in Blantyre. Ayami forgave me for oversleeping that first day, after a 30 hour journey, but then we were off on a shopping spree for fabrics and supplies for our project. Over the years we have developed a loyal group of friends in the business world in Blantyre, always ready to help us with finding sources for the materials we need.

The craft items we make have become a major part of income for our business. We use the zitenje , colorful cotton prints, and the only manufacturer in Malawi had a great supply at this time. So much fun, we bought yards and yards. The heavier cottons in ethnic prints had not been produced for more than a year now; we really need those fabrics. Maybe some shopkeeper had some stock left; we did not give up and asked everywhere. Finally it was: “let me give my brother a call”, and there it was, this brother had bought up the whole stock when the factory stopped producing. We hit the jackpot! We take the minibus home with Stefano; he runs a daily round trip service from MCV to Blantyre. We arrange to go to all the places where we have made our purchases and they fill up the whole floor under the seats as well as all the space in the back. At the bus station I am greeted by “Hey baby”; they remember “the azungu ” (white lady) from previous years. I love the lively scene, all the vendors and the hustling for passengers that goes on. When the minibus is full, we take off. All the passengers are sitting with their feet up because of all our baggage. The trip is four hours, but nobody complains; it is the Malawi way of travel.

How exciting to see all the kids in the program again. They are all wearing a shirt they have designed, proud of a uniform, proud to belong. Many text messages are coming in from our kids now working in South Africa. What a welcome! All the machines are humming, the kids are sewing and a happy chatter goes on. Ayami works on layout and cutting, James is teaching, and I am working out new pattern designs. Yes, for the next 3 months I am home.

Power outages

The training of new students starts on treadle machines. Using those machines and being able to do basic repair on them is very important, since that is what they will be using as tailors in the village. At the workshop they move on to the industrial machines, which are much faster. These special machines give a professional finish – quality work that our project is known for. We can really produce a lot in one day. This year our big problem is electricity; it is very unreliable and now is off for many daytime hours. The kids bring all the treadle machines out on the porch and the sewing continues. The charcoal iron is put into use. The girls cut small items that need hand cutting; all the leftover pieces of fabric are cut into sizes for patchwork. It is quite a scene working outside. The sales of our products and the labour charges for the work- clothing and uniforms are what pay the wages of our kids; we need to have a good daily output. The cutting is done in quantity in a layout at least one inch thick, but again that needs electricity. I am off to Blantyre to look into generators, meanwhile Ayami borrows a unit to try out at the workshop. We find that the capacity has to be very high in order to run the industrial machines. The MCV director, Felix Chirombo, has been involved in the whole process and suggests that we buy the diesel fuel and they will run the large MCV generator as needed. We immediately put this to the test and $25 of diesel gives us 6 hours of power. Meanwhile MCV has power as well, so we all benefit. This is affordable only on days when we really need the production going. Another problem temporarily solved!

Fabric sold out

Going back for more zitenje fabric, we find a very small stock on the shelves; the only Malawi manufacturer has run out of chemicals for the dyeing and has no idea when it will be available again. Ayami runs to the bank and takes out the money to buy the whole lot. Better to have the extra fabric supply, we cannot risk running out. Our next big sales are to several groups of high school students from England, doing summer projects. We sell many of our craft items and make shirts and Happy Pants, they love to choose the fabric and have the pants custom made for them. With cash in hand, Ayami goes to the big fabric market in Lilongwe (four hours away), the zitenje there is imported from Tanzania. He comes back with loads of beautiful fabrics and our kids cheer. Three weeks later the Lilongwe market burns down. No colorful fabrics available anymore! This is doing business in Malawi, you never know what hurdle comes up next; it keeps us on our toes. Our stuffed elephants and hippos have become a great seller, something as simple as finding the stuffing for that becomes an adventure.

Subject: You are amazing!

Ayami the manager, now with the sewing project for 12 years, keeps everything running all year long. I love working with him, I learn from him all the time. He never gives up and is a wise and caring person. This exchange between my son Ian and “his brother from another mother” says it all.

Sincerely, your “brother from another mother”,
Ian Graulich

——-

Ayami (your African Brother)

Read Nettie’s full PDF report here .

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Felix Chirombo Named Paul Harris Fellow

Tue, 27 Dec 2016 20:20:00 GMT

Missed the 2016 MCV Newsletter in the mail? Read it here on the blog. Read more stories from the newsletter here .

MCV Director Felix Chirombo

In Felix Chirombo’s office at MCV, one wall is covered with banners from Rotary clubs that have collaborated with MCV for more than 15 years. Among them is longtime partner, the Rotary Club of Palmer Alaska.

Recently, Palmer Rotarians recognized Felix’s contributions to MCV by naming him a Paul Harris Fellow of The Rotary Foundation. Paul Harris Fellows are recognized for their service in making a difference in the world. As Executive Director of MCV, Felix has been an example of the Rotary motto, “Service Above Self.” Congratulations to Felix for this well-deserved recognition, and for his ongoing efforts for the children of Malawi.

Rotary Banners in Felix’s office

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Treasurer’s Report 2016

Wed, 21 Dec 2016 13:08:00 GMT

Missed the 2016 MCV Newsletter in the mail? Read it here on the blog. Read more stories from the newsletter here .

Although our official thank you to donors is written in the receipt by our bookkeeper, we thank our supporters throughout the year! You all have helped with the many needs of our orphans and other vulnerable children: education, housing, health, clothes, food and clean water.

We receive student appreciation and follow them as they graduate, get, jobs, give back to the community and send thank you notes to donors.
You can be proud of your contributions. You are truly helping many children in the 38 villages served.

October 1, 2015 – September 30, 2016

Revenue

Direct Public Grants $14,815
Direct Public Support $173,786
Other Types of Income $146
Total Revenue $188,747

Expenses

Supporting Services

Business License $50
Bookkeeper $4,800
Tax Preparation $750
Bank Fees and Wire Costs $626
Insurance $1,408
Newsletter & Thank You’s $3,791
Supplies $196
PayPal Fees $722
Website Fees $217
PO Box Rental $348
Total Supporting Services $12,907

Program Services

Grants $55,100
Designated Funds $84,435
Orphan School Tuition $21,050
Total Program Services $160,585

Total Expenses $173,492

MCV Foundation has no paid staff and our board members pay all of their own expenses. As the activity statement above indicate, 92% of last years expenses were invested directly in programs and support in Malawi.

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Village Outreach: The Heart of MCV

Sun, 18 Dec 2016 13:46:00 GMT

Missed the 2016 MCV Newsletter in the mail? Read it here on the blog. Read more stories from the newsletter here .

Catherine Shabani (left) who joined in 2005 and Florence Kondwani (right) who joined in 2002 have both been providing care and support in the villages served by MCV for more than a decade.

The heart of MCV is with our Village Outreach Coordinators, Catherine Shabani and Florence Kondwani.

Florence learned resilience at an early age when she became an orphan herself at the age of three, losing both parents on the same day in her home of Dedza. She and her seven siblings were raised by varied aunts and uncles, mostly separated from each other. Following completion of secondary school, she took a Community Development course and began her life-long work in social services. She has coordinated and developed many HIV/AIDS education programs for individuals, groups and organizations.

She lost her husband when her daughter was two years of age. Florence kept her spirit going by giving to others, continuing her efforts in community awareness programs. MCV paid for Florence to further her education in a one year social welfare training course. She learned specific skills for child protection and family reconciliation, as well as increasing her knowledge in early childhood development, gender equality and women empowerment.

Catherine’s early childhood with her seven siblings was in Zomba and Mulanje. Following secondary school, she became trained as a Health Surveillance Assistant. In her first job with Save the Children she supported pregnant women, encouraging pre-natal care and distributing condoms. She assisted on home deliveries and supported newborns to ensure they received vaccinations and proper nutrition. She also provided education about HIV/AIDS. She then worked with a project distributing bed-nets and encouraging their daily use, followed by a number of years with a Community Health Partnership project, funded by USAID. Here her duties continued with the support for the health of pregnant women and child nutrition, now encouraging mothers to go to hospitals for their deliveries. She would also take chlorine to people for safe water and disease prevention. Further work with Safe Motherhood and Hands in Hands continued her ongoing education in the villages for safe and healthy lifestyles. In the course of all this work, Catherine raised her seven children, mostly as a single mother. Her resilience matches Florence’s.

The combined skills of Catherine and Florence allow the Village Outreach program for MCV to be strong and focused, providing education and support to orphaned and vulnerable children and their families. Their skills are used daily in visits to the 38 villages in the catchment area for MCV. The bars of soap they may provide are like bars of gold. The people in the villages await their visits. They are dedicated to help the people in this small area of Malawi live a better life. They are empowered women, sharing their lives and opening their hearts to those who appreciate their care, support and resilience. Catherine and Florence are truly the heart of MCV.

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Light and Empowerment

Thu, 15 Dec 2016 14:32:00 GMT

Missed the 2016 MCV Newsletter in the mail? Read it here on the blog. Read more stories from the newsletter here .

Teachers pose with their certificates after completion of the SEE Program Training. Teams of two will implement a new after-school program in MCV area primary schools during the next year.

“You treated us as equals, and you did it with love.”

This comment from Gladwell, a primary school teacher in Mangochi district is perhaps the greatest gift I received in working on the Student Empowerment and Education (SEE) Program at MCV in April, 2016.

I led a three-person Vocational Training Team to MCV, as part of a grant from the Rotary Foundation. The SEE Program project was sponsored by the Rotary Clubs of Limbe (Malawi) and Kansas City Plaza (Missouri, USA). Working in cooperation with MCV and the Light Foundation, the project installed solar lighting and study resources in schools and trained primary school teachers in an after-school program designed to empower children, especially girls, to stay in school.

Gladwell shows off a new Solar powered light.

We worked with ten primary school teachers. Together, the teachers and trainers collaboratively reviewed the curriculum for the program and the teachers refined it so that it was culturally and age appropriate for their students. The teacher training took place over five days.
While the training was taking place, The Light Foundation installed solar panels at eight primary schools with assistance from MCV staff members Vincent and Austin. Study materials and desks constructed by the MCV Carpentry and Joinery program were also installed at the schools.

The participating teachers received certificates of completion in their SEE program training, and officially took ownership of the program in a ceremony officiated by MCV Executive Director Felix Chirombo. Over the next school year, teams of two teachers will implement the after-school program in five of the primary schools serving villages in the MCV catchment area.

Malawian children, especially girls, face several challenges along their path to an education, including early marriage, teen pregnancy and HIV/AIDS. In a country where the World Bank reports average annual income of about $255 per capita, tenacity is more than an admirable trait. It’s a survival skill.

The SEE Program focuses on empowering girls to stay in school.

Multitasking: Village girls learn how to multitask from their mothers, walking barefoot several times a day from the village water pump with 70-pound buckets of potable water on their heads, babies on their backs, and another child or two by the hand. I saw village girls supervising younger siblings while pounding maize, herding goats, and trying to get homework done. These girls exhibited a tenacity that humbled me.

Tradition: According to a United Nations Development Program background paper on Malawi, 47 percent of girls finish standard 8 – the equivalent of the 8th grade. Family influences, the tradition of early marriage and teen pregnancy can easily discourage a girl’s plans for the future.

Role Models: I met dozens of girls who told me they aspired to become businesswomen, doctors, nurses or accountants. Most had never had an opportunity to meet women working in those professions. The village girls who succeed in getting an education are the future role models for other village girls.

My experience this past year has given me a global perspective on the value of girls’ education. With tenacity, encouragement and the support of MCV and its donors, it’s my hope that the girls of Malawi will reach their aspirations.

Zikomo to: The Rotary clubs of Limbe and Kansas City Plaza, Steve Huff of the Light Foundation, fellow trainers Bill and Cindy Schmidt, Felix Chirombo and the MCV staff – and especially to the extraordinary teachers who now guide the SEE program.

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Samama Village Profile

Tue, 13 Dec 2016 14:37:00 GMT

Missed the 2016 MCV Newsletter in the mail? Read it here on the blog. The Article below was written by Mary Pomeroy and Frances Vitaglione. Read more stories from the newsletter here .

As longtime donors know, MCV is NOT an orphanage. It is a village- based orphan care project. This means that aside from the infants living temporarily at Open Arms – next to the MCV campus – the orphans and other vulnerable children supported by MCV live with their extended families or other care givers in one of the 38 villages in MCV’s catchment area. Our “Village Profiles” series is designed to give our readers a bit of the flavor of each village.

Samama houses can be seen in the distance from the main road.

Samama Village is laid out flat between the road to Mangochi and Lake Malawi. Being close to the road has advantages. It is easy to get there (except in the rainy season when being low and flat means ankle deep mud.)

Samama boasts a full primary school including a two classroom block with Headmaster’s office and two latrines, all built by MCV. When last year’s solar light project installed a light in one of the classrooms, the workers came back at night after the first day’s installation to see if the light was working. They found the classroom already full of students studying!

Of the 42 orphans in Samama Village, 36 are school age. MCV supplies school uniforms and five are on scholarship at Gracious Secondary School at MCV.

The village economic base is fishing and subsistence farming, with two irrigation schemes supported by MCV with 25 farmers participating.
This past year MCV also provided 24 bed-nets to mothers with infants to help prevent malaria.

The Samama Village headman is Stefano Mwaliwa. His two Village Volunteers are Mike Msosa and Moses Jere. (Note: There are two Village Volunteers in each of the villages supported by MCV.) Since the beginning of MCV, almost 20 years ago, Mike has been an MCV Village Volunteer. He particularly notes the assistance provided in the areas of education, health and food security.

Mike says he has benefited personally through increased knowledge (MCV has a monthly training for volunteers) and incentives such as bicycles, tires, and monthly stipend.

Samama is just one of the 38 nearby villages that continue to benefit from the association with MCV and from your generous donations.

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Gracious Celebrates Ten Years

Sat, 10 Dec 2016 14:39:00 GMT

Missed the 2016 MCV Newsletter in the mail? Read it here on the blog. The Article below was written by Jesse Kwiek and Vincent Sisya. Read more stories from the newsletter here .

Gracious Students at work

The idea for Gracious Secondary School began in 2000, when 15 orphan students, each of whom was sponsored by MCV to learn in government schools, were unhappy with their learning conditions. They wanted a school with qualified teachers and enough learning materials to obtain a good education. The students expressed their concerns to the Village Volunteers and MCV staff. They bought the concept. Fundraising for the construction of a classroom block started immediately.

In January 2006, Gracious opened its doors with five teachers, and one class of fifty students. Today, ten years later, Gracious has fifteen teachers, six supporting staff, and it offers instruction in Form one (grade 9) through Form four (grade 12). Each Form has two streams, each with an average of sixty students per class.

Gracious is a member of the Independent Schools Association of Malawi (ISAMA) and is registered with the Ministry of Education of Malawi.

Aligning with its mission to serve orphans and other vulnerable children, MCV currently provides school tuition, lunch fees, and school materials for 124 orphan students.

The results from the school have been nothing short of outstanding. In 2015, 86% of Gracious students passed the Malawi School Certificate of Education (MSCE), far exceeding the 55% national pass rate. This success has not gone unnoticed. Mr. Stanford Mangani, the Chipoka Village Volunteer and the chairperson for all Village Volunteers, shares the following:

“The school brought hope to all villagers because orphans and their children are able to get a good education which shapes their future. We are grateful for the school, and as a community, we will continue to take care of it.”

Although Gracious has excelled, it can still be better. The school currently lacks a dining hall, there is insufficient housing available to the teachers, and with a new curriculum, Gracious needs to buy new books. Mr. Raymond E. Kapito, the Head Teacher observes:

“The academic performance of students is improving every year. However, for the school to achieve its vision, we need your continued support. We strive to make Gracious Private Secondary School one of the best schools in Malawi and to send many of our students to universities and college.”

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Njala Update

Wed, 07 Dec 2016 15:35:00 GMT

Orphan care givers lined up to receive food support when a similar famine struck in 2005.

Hunger strikes almost every year in Malawi. When it comes it is known as the njala season. (Njala means hunger in Chichewa.)

As reported last year, the devastating floods of 2015 wiped out the maize crop. As predicted there was famine starting as early as August a year ago. There was great hope and anticipation of good rains this last rainy season. It did not happen. The price of imported maize skyrocketed and was well beyond the reach of the villagers who live in a largely subsistence society.

You made a difference!

The focus was orphans and other vulnerable children. Last summer (2015) in anticipation of what was coming, you bought 10,000 pounds of maize In addition after the first of this year you purchased an additional 20,000 pounds of maize for the most vulnerable families in the MCV villages. From the villagers in the 38 MVC villages, zikomo kwambiri!! (Thank you very much.)

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2016 Newsletter – A letter from our President

Sun, 04 Dec 2016 15:46:00 GMT

Missed the 2016 MCV Newsletter in the mail? Read it here on the blog. Below is the newsletter’s opening address from MCV Board President Tom Vitaglione. Read more stories from the newsletter here .

Dear Donors and Friends,

Twenty years ago, some returned Peace Corps Volunteers and Malawians came together to consider the plight of Malawi. Already one of the poorest countries in the world, the AIDS epidemic was overwhelming the country. Among other problems, there were an estimated 800,000 orphans in the country, and that number was certain to grow. With the social fabric in great stress, the future for these vulnerable children was bleak.

While the size of the problem seemed to preclude successful resolution, the group felt compelled to at least try to do what it could. That decision led to the creation of Malawi Children’s Village, a village–based orphan care project that focuses on 38 villages along the southwestern shore of Lake Malawi.

Twenty years later, the dream continues, with more than 2000 orphans currently being served, and more than 12,000 orphan “graduates” making a difference in villages, towns, and government. Though there was no way to respond nationally, MCV has achieved success in its catchment area, and that is portrayed in the articles in this newsletter.

This success is not happenstance. It would not be possible without the hundreds of loyal donors whose contributions cover annual village-based orphan care ($30) and secondary school tuition ($255). Though small by American standards, these costs are well beyond the reach of Malawian households that have taken in children.

MCV also benefits from a growing number of partners: Open Arms provides rehabilitative care for infant/toddlers; Engineers without Borders (Anchorage) has installed a safe water system; THREEafrica provides tuition support for girls to attend secondary school; a number of American primary school-to-school initiatives support Malawian government primary schools. From its inception, MCV has benefited from the generosity of Rotary Clubs, including: Seneca Falls and Clifton Springs (NY) support for 25 village-based irrigation systems; Kansas City support for malaria bed-nets and a new initiative you can read about in this newsletter; Palmer (AK) support of housing repair; and of course continuous support from the “home” club in Limbe, Malawi.

Finally, the innate resilience of Malawians, in the villages, in the staff, and in the local governing board is the underlying reason for MCV’s success.

We remain ever grateful to the hundreds of you who support them as they continue this noble work. Zikomo!

Tsalani Bwino,
Tom Vitaglione, Board President

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MCV in the News

Wed, 30 Nov 2016 15:51:00 GMT

The Work of long time Board Members Tom and Ruth Nighswander and MCV were highlighted in the Alaska Dispatch News Article below.

An Anchorage couple worked decades to help African villagers. Other Alaskans decided to help, too.

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Wedding Gifts for MCV

Sat, 01 Oct 2016 14:21:00 GMT

Rick and Allison Rodriguez decided to ask for donations in lieu of gifts for their recent wedding. MCV would like to thank Rick and Allison as well as their friends and family for their generosity. Below is a brief note from Rick and Allison regarding their decision to ask for contributions to MCV. If you’d like to add gifts to MCV to your wedding registry, we’d be delighted to help you set this up. Please let us know.

Rick and Allison Rodriguez

When my future wife and I started our wedding plans, we chose to create a day of love, joy and gratitude for our family and friends. As we are an older couple, with adult children and nearing the end of our working lives, our needs are few. Our decision to ask our guests to give to others in need was easy, but to choose what charity to direct them to was very difficult. In the end we chose two organizations, both involving close family friends. Dr Madeline Turner was our inspiration for choosing MCV. An orphan in today’s world has few options for survival and fewer yet in Malawi. We wish to express our deepest appreciation to the entire staff at MCV for all they do and hope our donations bring love, joy and make a difference.

Respectfully,

Rick and Allison Rodriguez

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Treasurer’s Report: Fiscal Year 2015

Wed, 20 Jan 2016 15:08:00 GMT

Missed the 2015 MCV Newsletter in the mail? Read it here on the blog. We’ll be sharing other articles from the newsletter on the blog in the coming weeks. Find more newsletter articles here .

A sincere thank you to our many supporters! You are keeping hope and resiliency alive at Malawi Children’s Village with the 2,363 orphans served. This Malawian run organization could not survive without your support. As we used to say at Wittenberg University: “Having Light We Pass it on to Others”. You are giving light by volunteering, sending encouraging letters and donating.

By your generous donations and continued support orphan houses have been built as have teacher houses. Volunteers have traveled to teach for a term at MCV Gracious Secondary School, desks were built, money for needed curriculum books was donated along with science supplies. We are now also able to provide education to more orphans and continue to keep malaria numbers in check with bed nets for children under five. The School-to-School program has assisted more primary schools in the villages. As mentioned, the heavy floods this spring ruined houses and devastated the maize crop. Your donations this year are helping MCV meet the immediate needs for food in the MCV catchment area.

If you are a new donor welcome! If sustaining, thank you again. Whatever and whenever you give is helpful to the orphans and other vulnerable children.

October 1, 2014 – September 30, 2015

Revenue

Direct Public Grants $28,204
Direct Public Support $152,240
Endowment $758

Total Revenue $181,202

Expenses
Supporting Services

Business License $50
Bookkeeper $5,200
Tax Preparation $600
Bank Fees and Wire Costs $1,120
Insurance $1,408
Newsletter & Thank You’s $3,489
PayPal Fees $559
Website Fees $25
PO Box Rental $342

Total Supporting Services $12,793

Program Services

Grants $51,500
Designated Funds $78,421
Orphan School Tuition $21,350

Total Program Services $151,271

Total Expenses $164,064

MCV Foundation has no paid staff and our board members pay all of their own expenses. As the activity statement above indicates, 92% of last year’s expenses were invested directly in programs and support in Malawi.

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Women’s Empowerment at Gracious

Thu, 14 Jan 2016 15:13:00 GMT

Missed the 2015 MCV Newsletter in the mail? Read it here on the blog. We’ll be sharing other articles from the newsletter on the blog in the coming weeks. Find more newsletter articles here .

Form One Female students at Gracious

The WE Club (Women’s Empowerment) was started June 13, 2013 at MCV’s Gracious Secondary School as one of the authorized clubs. Founders were Fransisca Chirombo, student, and Ruth Banda, a former teacher. The aim of the club is to empower young girls in school to succeed in their education and open them to other possibilities. Mangochi has been one of the districts in Malawi that encouraged early marriages; although the government is now trying to educate people so girls attain higher education before they marry, many still marry at a young age.

The club uses role models through singing, poems, quiz and travel to other schools to inspire girls. This year money was raised (per request of WE Club) for the club to provide extra support to the top 30 girls in the school, as they prepare for the MSCE Exams. The club is providing after school tutors and additional books. One teacher is assigned to follow their academic progress. It is hoped that these efforts will result in more girls qualifying for university.

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Special Needs Program Update

Fri, 08 Jan 2016 15:17:00 GMT

Missed the 2015 MCV Newsletter in the mail? Read it here on the blog. We’ll be sharing other articles from the newsletter on the blog in the coming weeks. Find more newsletter articles here .

Board Member Mary Pomeroy, a Physical Therapist, has been working to support those with special needs in the MCV villages. Below is a brief update from her trip to Malawi this past April.

Gift works with a young patient

My training with Gift, the physiotherapist from Mangochi Hospital (about 15 miles away from MCV), is ongoing. I spent a day at the hospital’s Cerebral Palsy Clinic, training and educating both Gift and the parents of over 40 children. When I began working with Gift three years ago, his training in pediatrics was limited; his experience was more with adults, although being the only “physio” at the hospital, he provided services to all ages. He is a quick and energetic learner and now is engaged in coming to the villages within the MCV area every month to help Catherine, the MCV Outreach provider, who follows these children throughout the year.

Many of the children need adaptive equipment for support in sitting or standing, or require wheelchairs for mobility. The prison in Zomba (three hours away) makes the wheelchairs; Gift measures and follows up on getting the wheelchairs to each child. The carpentry section of the vocational program at MCV makes adapted chairs, standing frames, and metal walkers with wooden wheels for the children in need.

A young boy in the village uses a walker provided by MCV

There are now over 50 children with special needs that are being followed by Catherine at MCV. Children get the equipment or services they need to enjoy being mobile or positioned well to play or eat. Many are now going to school since they are independently moving. Ramps are being made in the schools, as needed, to improve accessibility for them.

Mary Pomeroy examines a young girl in an MCV village

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New Year’s Thanks

Thu, 31 Dec 2015 17:05:00 GMT

As 2015 draws to a close we’d like to share a quote from one of our sponsored students (Felix Semu) writing to a donor shortly after his graduation from university:

As the year is drawing to fade out, I Just wanted to tell you that It has been a year full of appreciation. It has been a year that i have finally seen My future Through Your help, It’s something that i will never forget. Am a citizen who can contribute to my family, community and my country at large because of You. You really changed my Life.

Thanks to all of our donors and staff who continued to change many lives in 2015.

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Sewing Update 2015

Wed, 30 Dec 2015 17:06:00 GMT

Taking a break for the camera at the MCV Sewing Project

My work in Malawi is an adventure every day and I never tire of it. The program started in 2002 is ongoing and has become a model for vocational training in the developing world. So here is a bit of our story this year. Following is a note I received from Ayami, the 33 year old manager of our Sewing Project. As he always says, he was a poor village boy when he was chosen to join our program as a sewing teacher. I share this because it shows what an extraordinary person runs this program with me.

Hi Mum,

Mum, remember I was signed for the project on 3rd May 2005. Then I thought it wise to have some gift for the boys and girls that are with us right now. I told them that I did that in order for them to know that I have been with the project for ten years and what they can become at a certain place like ours. I went deeply with them into two points which are: being honest and working hard. Each and every time I enter in our work shop I ask myself why I am there not waiting for my boss to come and tell me what to do. I said that because sometimes there are some problems that when I go out of my work shop they slow down their work. But that is not James, James is always serious. It’s so difficult to promote a person who doesn’t show he is serious. In the parcels I put a bag of sugar, washing soap, bathing soap, lotion and 10 sweets that represents my 10 years with the project.

That was my good news, but in the same week on 7th May something happened that made me cry. I met one of our young boys, Mdala whom we let go last year due to his poor performance, looking desperate. I met him in Mangochi with cement all over his body. He is loading bags of cement in the big trucks to get money. Mum I cried looking that he is too young and his life is in hazard by doing that heavy work without protective clothing and no shoes. He was looking nice while he was with us, but now his future has been eradicated.

Mum even when I am writing this story tears are flowing from my eyes. I asked him “Are you ready to come back to MCV Sewing Project?’” Said “Yes am doing this because I don’t have anything to do in my village to support my family” I took a picture of him on the same spot, I showed the boys the picture and told them how their friend is doing and they agreed to call him back. Am expecting him to start tomorrow. He will again get a sewing machine to work at home as well.I don’t know if this will be good decision. Am doing that because our aim is to try to make my fellow brothers and sisters lives better, and plan for their bright future. Boys and girls are waiting to see you next month. And now Mdala is with us.

–Ayami

Working on patchwork quilts, made from the colorful Malawi zitenje , the sewing room is one sea of color when I arrive in June. These quilts have been ordered by Sandra our regular customer from the Makokola Retreat.

Sewing project workers and trainees at work while Ayami, (standing) supervises.

They are heavy and big and it is not an easy task to keep all the layers straight under the sewing machine. Ayami says that it was a challenge but our experienced sewers have figured out how to do it. We also have a big order for girls dresses, many sizes and styles. I start immediately on all the pattern work. We go to the local market and buy lots of different zitenje , the local colorful cotton prints, which come in two and four yard pieces. With James, who is now the full time sewing instructor, we make the initial samples, so he knows the best construction method for each style. Meanwhile, an order of 85 men’s trousers is being made. We have a large stock of our craft items, cosmetic cases, tablet covers, aprons etc. but after we have some visitors and a friend from America who will take a large suitcase of our items to sell, we have to replenish the stock. We are busy with layout, cutting and sewing all the time.

Read Nettie’s full PDF report here .

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Celebrating the Legacy of Jerry Turner

Mon, 28 Dec 2015 19:04:00 GMT

Missed the 2015 MCV Newsletter in the mail? Read it here on the blog. We’ll be sharing other articles from the newsletter on the blog in the coming weeks. Find more newsletter articles here .

Jerry Turner (right) at MCV

In late September we received the sad news that Jerry Turner had passed away. Jerry is still known in Malawi for the seminal work he did more than 30 years ago on the conservation of Lake Malawi and its fish populations. In his retirement he dedicated himself to helping with the irrigation and food sustainability component of MCV. The current 25 irrigation schemes in the MCV catchment area were built on his shoulders and are testimony to his hard work and perseverance.

His generosity and affability made being with Jerry good for one’s soul. His last gift to MCV is his mtsikulu (granddaughter) Madeline (below), who joined the MCV-USA Board this fall.

Madeline Turner, the newest member of the MCV USA Board

Madeline Turner joined the MCV board this fall. She first visited MCV with her grandparents in 2006 and again as a medical volunteer in 2012. Born and raised in Montana, she completed a Bachelor’s degree at Montana State University before completing medical school at the University of Washington. Madeline is a family medicine physician in Seattle. She holds a special interest in women’s health and medical education. She teaches both residents at the Swedish Family Medicine Residency and medical students through the University of Washington.

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Matawere Village Profile

Sat, 19 Dec 2015 19:10:00 GMT

Missed the 2015 MCV Newsletter in the mail? Read it here on the blog. We’ll be sharing other articles from the newsletter on the blog in the coming weeks. Find more newsletter articles here .

Children pose for the camera in Matawere

After bumping down a “road” for several kilometers, avoiding the dips that might suck up your car, one arrives at the bustling village of Matawere. Walk down the path that winds through maize fields and baobab trees, past goats, cows and chickens, and you’ll come to Lake Malawi, where the villagers make their livelihood from subsistence fishing. Children are running around; maize and fish nets are being dried on the dry, dusty ground. Women with pumpkins stacked on their heads are walking down to the main road where they’ll sell them. People are friendly and welcoming. There are over 1,200 people living in 331 homes.

Like most local villages in the area, Matawere was devastated by this year’s floods. Despite this fact, life in the village goes on. The local village store is full of basic goods: small bags of sugar portioned out, laundry soap, buckets, and packages of biscuits. Bicyclists bump by with other goods for sale on the back of their bikes.

A bicyclist with goods for sale travels through Matawere

There are 37 households that provide care for 68 orphans in Matawere. Twenty of these children have lost their mothers, 41 their fathers and seven have lost both parents. It is not easy, yet the households that care for the orphans provide them a family.

As in all MCV supported villages, two village volunteers provide a link between these households and MCV staff. They help coordinate care for the children when they are sick, let staff know which households are in need of school uniforms, blankets, and other resources, and encourage children to attend Semama Primary School down the road. There is a rhythm in this village that is always steady, and thanks to MCV, the care of orphans and vulnerable children have joined this steady rhythm.

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Meet our new Deputy Director

Thu, 17 Dec 2015 19:14:00 GMT

Missed the 2015 MCV Newsletter in the mail? Read it here on the blog. We’ll be sharing other articles from the newsletter on the blog in the coming weeks. Find more newsletter articles here .

Deputy Director Vincent Sisya

My name is Vincent Sisya. I joined the organization as Deputy Director in June. I am a holder of Bachelors of Science degree in Environmental Health from University of Malawi – Polytechnic.

I am glad, and honored to join the highly dedicated team of MCV in mitigating the plight and sufferings of orphans and vulnerable children. Together with the MCV team, the village volunteers, and the caregivers, we hope to alleviate their plight and

sufferings, and make them to be self reliant, and also turn them into productive citizens, who will help in the development of this beautiful country Malawi.

I would like to thank the Director Felix Chirombo, the entire staff, and Gracious Secondary School for the warm welcome accorded to me.

Lastly but not least, I would also like to thank the Director, and both Boards of Directors (Malawi and USA) for entrusting me with this post, and I promise to work to my full capacity, and with dedication.

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The Quick and the Slow

Sun, 06 Dec 2015 19:16:00 GMT

Missed the 2015 MCV Newsletter in the mail? Read it here on the blog. We’ll be sharing other articles from the newsletter on the blog in the coming weeks. Find more newsletter articles here .

For Malawians, catastrophes are often just around the corner. They come quickly, a child that dies overnight from Malaria, or they develop slowly to affecting large segments of the population. Both happened this year!

What started as a normal rainy season, increased in intensity accompanied by a relentless wind from the south that lasted for 18 days and nights. Catastrophic flooding struck the country. The estimates now are over 300,000 Malawians displaced.

The people of Malawi never seem to catch a break. This year’s floods displaced 300,000 Malawians. The floods also destroyed homes and crops in the villages  surrounding MCV.

Around the villages of MCV there was major flooding in the low areas, but it was the constant wind driven rain that devastated the village homes. Sun dried brick or mud smeared on both sides of bamboo frames work as walls if you have a decent thatched roof with long eaves to protect them. The eaves do not protect the mud walls when the rain is horizontal. As we drove south, along the highway there were scores of walls collapsed and houses destroyed. Further down the Shire River in the lowlands of southern Malawi, villages became lakes and homes simply dissolved. This was the overnight catastrophe.

But the most profound effect is slower to develop: the loss of the maize crop. The United Nations predicts that a majority of village households will be in food shortage crisis between October and December this year.

Most Malawians live in a rain dependent subsistence culture. You must grow food, catch it, or you don’t eat. Small maize fields are attended to just after sunrise by village women throughout the growing season. In most places there is no irrigation. Maize can be raised once a year if the rains come at the right time, are the right amount and last a sufficient length of time. This does not happen very often! In fact the period from December through mid-March is known as the Njala (hunger) season. Almost every year at this time there are greater or lesser amounts of hunger. This year’s Njala will be great.

The story has a human face. When we were in Malawi this May our neighbors were already short of food. Felix Chirombo, MCV’s director is a good farmer with a large farm. It is usual for him to harvest forty to fifty 50 kg (110 lb) bags of maize. This year he harvested five. Most of our neighbors harvested two bags or less. Dry maize, ground into a flour and cooked, is the staple in Malawi, eaten every day of the year. A family of eight will use two bags a month.
Like the catastrophes that strike, MCV responds both quickly and with slow developing solutions. In the long-term, irrigation programs help farmers be less dependent upon unpredictable rains. Educational programs such as School-to-School, Gracious, and university scholarships help orphan graduates and others find employment outside of subsistence farming.

MCV Director Felix Chirombo, Tom and Ruth Nighswander, and some of the 10,000 lbs of maize.

In the immediate term we’re preparing for this year’s food shortage. In response to skyrocketing prices (an approximate 50% increase by November) – an impossible price hike for any villager, MCV has stockpiled more than 10,000 lbs of maize.

Villages houses are also being built. In May, volunteers donated money for materials and got their hands dirty. A week’s worth of hauling bricks, digging foundations, and building walls and a house was built. Others from the US have simply contributed the dollars and the Malawian crews have done the job. Six houses have been built to date.

Do a few houses and a few thousand pounds of maize make a difference? It does not solve Malawi’s national disaster, but for the 37 villages that make up MCV, the difference is real. It is one village house, and one family at a time.

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MCV by the Numbers

Sat, 05 Dec 2015 19:24:00 GMT

Missed the 2015 MCV Newsletter in the mail? Read it here on the blog. We’ll be sharing other articles from the newsletter on the blog in the coming weeks.

38 villages served
12,000+ program “graduates” since 1996
2,363 orphans currently registered
6+ orphans per household on average in 1996*
2 orphans per household on average in 2015*
91% of school-age orphans attend school
80% reduction in malaria cases and deaths in young children since 2005
96% of MCV’s Gracious graduates passed the national exam

*Among households caring for orphans

An MCV study indicates that orphans under five are growing at  the same rate as non-orphans.

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2015 Newsletter – A Letter from our President

Sun, 29 Nov 2015 21:01:11 GMT

Missed the 2015 MCV Newsletter in the mail? Read it here on the blog. Below is the newsletter's opening address from MCV Board President Tom Vitaglione. You can find more articles from the 2015 newsletter here .

Dear Donors and Friends,

A physician, five nurses, two nutritionists, more than a dozen teachers, six agricultural specialists, two community activists, and numerous accountants and finance officers. These are young people from the Mangochi District of Malawi with one thing in common: all are orphan “graduates” of MCV!

One of the joys of an orphan care/community development program entering its twentieth year is to see so many little ones, whose very survival was in question, become productive members of a slowly growing middle-class. They are now making important contributions in one of the world’s poorest countries. There are now more than 12,000 MCV “graduates”, and they are beginning to make a difference in the villages, towns and government.

The longevity and vibrancy of MCV, is not happenstance. It would not be possible without the loyal donors whose contributions cover annual basic orphan care costs ($25) and school tuition ($255). These costs are small by our standards but are well beyond the reach of Malawian households that have taken in orphans.

MCV also benefits from its partners: Open Arms (UK) provides rehabilitative care for infant/toddlers; Engineers without Borders (Anchorage) has installed a safe water system; Rotary Clubs in Seneca Falls and Clifton Springs (NY) support 25 village-based irrigation systems; THREEafrica has begun providing tuition support for additional girls to attend secondary school; and a number of American primary schools provide both fiscal and moral support.

An underlying reason for MCV’s success is the innate resilience of Malawians. Twenty years ago, the country was overwhelmed by the AIDS epidemic, and only recently has that challenge been ameliorated by community health education and the introduction of critical drugs. Along the way there have been continued economic problems (currency devaluation and fuel shortages) as well as natural disasters (massive flooding earlier this year that will create food shortages in the coming months). Through all this, Malawian families with help from MCV – have remained willing to take in orphans and to do the best they can to assure their growth and development.

We are grateful to the hundreds of you who continue to help MCV to meet this challenge, and ask that you encourage others to join us in bringing hope to Malawi’s orphans.

Tsalani Bwino,

Tom Vitaglione, Board President

Stay tuned to the MCV Blog to read more articles from this year’s newsletter in the coming weeks.

The Nature Science Club

Wed, 07 Oct 2015 23:47:26 GMT

“It was one of the greatest trips which we have never had before!” Exclaimed Macfield Akimu. He had just returned, with 40 club members, from a day amongst elephants, impala, warthogs, and sable antelope in the Liwonde National Park along the Shire River.

Hippos in Liwonde Park. While seeing animals on safari is a common experience for tourists, it is rare for Malawians to be able to enjoy parks like Liwonde.

The students were thrilled at being so close to the animals, and further thrilled to be unexpectedly provided with Coke, Fanta and snacks!

Mr. Akimu, a science teacher at Gracious Secondary School at MCV, is the sponsoring teacher of the Nature Science Club, founded in 2011 during a visit from Frances and Tom Vitaglione. The Nature Science Club has been meeting faithfully for four years, looking at the interrelationships of living creatures in their environments. The club equipment consists of a pair of binoculars, a few plastic hand lenses, a couple of dog-eared field guides, and some wildlife videos. There is also a camera with which the attached blurry photos were made during the field trip.

The field trip had the effect of inspiring the students to consider a study of endangered fish in Lake Malawi, and to plan an effort to establish a breeding population.

Macfield Akimu, Science teacher at Gracious is in charge of the Nature Science Club.

Macfield Akimu is to be congratulated for his faithfulness and energy in keeping the club going in addition to his teaching duties.

Next on his list is adding field guides and binoculars and planning other local field trips.

Gracious students in Liwonde Park

Siyabu’s Story

Sun, 28 Jun 2015 00:18:26 GMT

My name is Ellaton Siyabu a total orphan. If one’s family background can be traced through mother lineage, then I would say am the last born in a family of three. But if we trace it through father lineage then I am first and last born. Logically, this is so because the three shares different father from me. I was born on June 15, 1991. Currently, I am an undergraduate at Mzuzu University where I am pursuing Bachelors in Arts (Education) under the assistance of MCV. Below is my account on how I came into contact with MCV, how MCV has benefited me, how it is helping me and also an outline of my future plans both to my Nation and MCV.

Ellaton Siyabu – a successful MCV graduate currently studying at Mzuzu University

HERE IS AN INSIGHT OF MY LIFE STORY.

I am a child who has grown up without knowing and feeling love and care of a father. I lost him when I was just few months old. Since then, life became so hard for us since he was the only bread winner of the family. My mother tried so hard to make ends meet but all proved futile. Worst of all, people from my father took away everything from us dad left behind as theirs. The dark cloud covered me when I lost my mum in 2001 when I was still at Primary School. This was the beginning of my total orphan hood. My old grandmother took me but she couldn’t make it at all because she was old as stated and jobless. I became more or less like the head of the family in the sense that my grand relied on me for food. You can imagine how hard life was like. I could go to school with empty stomach, come back finding nothing at home and to some extent, sleeping without eating anything. I used to go out for fishing; thereafter I could go to maize mills to collect some left over flours. Day in, day out we managed to survive through Gods grace. Considering how at stake my life and school was, some well wishers adopted me. I saw this as sign of relief but life in this new world was not as promising as I thought it would. I was maltreated and tortured and decided to go back to my root. All these developments delayed my progress at primary school. Final blow came when I lost her again. I had nowhere to go until one of my friends picked me up. Currently, I am staying in an extended family with my jobless step sister. Its survival of the fittest here I tell you. At times we spend day and night without eating. You can imagine how hard it is for the jobless woman with five kids.

Ellaton (right) with his friend Morris Katunga, (also currently in university), as Gracious form 1 students in 2007.

I lost hope and was at verge of dropping out school because the future was as dark as my eyes could imagine. This was the case because I knew I had none to support me for my secondary school education. As I was sinking in the pool of thought of how useless life is, I saw the light at the end of tunnel shinning. In this regard, the light was MCV. It was one of its volunteers (Mr. Njereza, may his soul rest in peace) who introduced me to this organization and registered me as an orphan. Following its motto of ‘maintaining children’s vitality’, and that of assisting orphans in education and other sectors, I thought it wise to refresh my mind and start working hard at school. I was selected to government secondary school after sitting for Primary School Leaving Certificate of Education. This was the same year MCV opened its private secondary school (Gracious) which accommodate orphans for free. I was admitted there. I worked ultimately harder to the satisfactory of the management. Above all, to the satisfaction of MCV Coordinator Mr. Conor Brady who happened to be my mathematics teacher. The best I ever had. He was impressed with my behaviors and hard working spirit so much that he promised to continue assisting me if I would make it to University.

This motivated me so much. I continued working harder to the extent that I managed to get better points in Secondary School Certificate final exams. I was therefore admitted to Mzuzu University, where I am now Majoring Geography (Both Human and Physical Geography) minoring English. As it stand am in third year of my Bachelors. Apart from financial assistance, currently MCV has managed to get me brand new Laptop a machine my mind never dreamed of having because it is expensive here. I am grateful.

I must admit that I owe MCV a lot. As a matter of fact, I should make it crystal clear here that without MCV my life would have been useless thus making me to be unproductive citizen for both my society and country at large. As one way of showing my gratitude I do assist in some areas of concern (for examples, cleaning library, watering garden among others) during holidays. The recent notable development undertaken is that of teaching as a volunteer at Gracious Academy and I intend to maintain this.

As for my future plans it will depend if MCV will still be there for me as a shoulder. Nonetheless, I plan to end my education career up to Masters (if only I will have chance to study in USA, will be delighted). I also plan to work with MCV not as a teacher but something else MCV will find proper for me within or outside the organization because my Masters will not tackle education but rather a field to do with organization management. I know with this at hand I will manage to assist others where my hands can manage to. It is my plan and wish to extend this help to other parts of Malawi.

Lastly but not least, my write up will be incomplete if I do not extend my sincere gratitude to Mr. F. Chirombo, the director of MCV here in Malawi, all board and staff members and greatly Conor Brady and Jim Daly for their support, advice and encouragement respectively. Surely you are my Guardian angels.

Finally, on behalf of myself and entire community, I would like to give a big appraisal to MCV for what it is doing to us. It is my wish to let you know that I am not the only one at university under the fund of MCV. Similarly, it is not only in education sector that MCV is touching, but it is also addressing issues of social, agricultural (food security) and health care sector.

Am always moved and inspired with his Excellence the President of United States Barrack Obama’s slogan “YES WE CAN” And I say very louder that with help: I CAN ACHIEVE WHAT SEEM TO BE UN ACHIEVABLE. I CAN REACH WHERE MY DREAMS CAN TAKE ME TO!!!!!

Senior Trip

Thu, 18 Jun 2015 00:38:12 GMT

Gracious Form 4 students took their annual “senior trip” this year to a new location: Chancellor College in Zomba . The students enjoyed touring different areas of the University of Malawi school, and getting a glimpse of higher education opportunities. Despite the highly competitive selection process to qualify for the University of Malawi, MCV has had several sponsored orphan graduates attend and graduate from university.

A New Reality

Sun, 07 Jun 2015 14:03:34 GMT

It is the new Airbus 300 series 600, fourteen hours in air, direct from New York to Johannesburg (Joburg) just in time to change planes at OR Tambo Intentional for the two our hop to Lilongwe. If feels quite familiar. We first landed here in October of 1964.

As always you enter a new reality.

Already there are concerns about the impending famine from the devastation: 18 days of unprecedented rain that devastated the lower half of the country. The day it stopped, it never returned. Over 200,000 were made homeless and several thousand plus were killed from the ensuing floods. Roads and bridges were washed away.

And it is not yet over. The once yearly planting of the maize crop was all in vain.

Outside of the cities, this is a subsistence culture. If you do not grow it, or catch it, you do not eat. There are no government subsidies. Our friend Felix who has a farm across the road from where we stay usually gets 40 to 50, fifty kilo bags of maize from his land. This season he got five. And what was left over from last years crop in the country is going fast and the prices are going up daily-way beyond the reach of subsistence farmers

And yet back in our thatched roof cottage next to the fishing village, folks are as warm and friendly as if nothing had happened. I think it comes from a resiliency that has been hone by tragedy. The have survived the HIV/AID epidemic that ransacked the county, but still is not completely under control, a measles epidemic several years ago that killed over 300 children, and malaria that especially takes away the lives of those under five years of age.

Even though we have been here less than 48 hours, we have a parade of folks stopping by for tea on our khonde (porch) to tell of their lives since our visit a year ago. Who has died? They talk of the status of their gardens; who had babies; how the fishing has been and what the historic monsoon rains did to them. (even in the higher country that the floods did not reach, it was the horizontal winds blowing the rain against the side of the sun dried brick house walls that made them collapse)

This annual “review of the year” is a ritual that begins soon after the 5:38 am sunrise each day as the country side is waking up. Since there is little electricity, your days are set by the sun. This close to the equator, on average the sun rises at 6 am and sets at 6pm with less than a half hour variation throughout the year. One soon enters the rhythm of life here. Last night we were sleeping by 8:30 pm and awaken by the first birds at 5:30 am and had our first visitor by 6:15.

People visit each other here. We live in a more rural area of the country on the southern shores of Lake Malawi. The electronic connected world that we are used to does not exist here. The internet as we know it is virtually non-existent and you have to move around our yard to get cell phone coverage. Because of the expense of cell phone airtime, conversations are very short and the preferred way to communicate is by text messages. Our closest “hotspot” is about 14 miles away.

As a consequence you take an electronic holiday. After about three days of withdrawal for me, I realize how much of my life is controlled by the instant connection and information. This holiday is highly recommended.

I don’t want to idealize life here. It is tough and non-forgiving. I just reviewed the contact list on my Malawi cell phone deleting those who have moved away or died. It was an impressive list. Jobs are scarce. There are loads of idle young adults with nothing to do, most with less than a high school education. Teenage pregnancies are common, life expectancy is under age 50, and 6-8 children per family lock subsistence farmers, especially the women, into a lifetime of poverty.

But somehow is still deserves the motto of the country, “The Warm Heart of Africa”

Teaching At Gracious

Thu, 19 Feb 2015 19:38:14 GMT

By Celia Haering

Having heard about Malawi and MCV through my elementary school (Chugach Optional, a part of MCV’s School-to-School program), my girl scout troop which also participated in fundraising, and my university (Alaska Pacific University, which periodically sends a class to Malawi), it seemed like time for me to make the trip. With an open future following my college graduation, I decided to come to Malawi to teach at Gracious (MCV’s secondary school) for a three month term.

My stay overlaps perfectly with the rainy season here in Malawi, and my first week here saw flooding which destroyed homes and roads, cut off much of the country’s power, and brought about hoards of mosquitoes carrying malaria. Now in the midst of the “hungry season”, the maize supplies from last year are running short (in some cases gone entirely), and the villages are watching the new crop growing each day, hoping there won’t be more flooding which might damage the maize before it is ready next month. In very short order, my eyes have been opened to many difficulties in this country.

Far more incredible than the challenges, though, are the people and their ability to not only survive, but be incredibly happy. I have been amazed to see just how strong the Malawian people are, and witness MCV and other incredible institutions here hard at work improving lives. Between the sewing project and vocational schools, the secondary school, the Open Arms orphanage next door, students participating in performances to educate villages about HIV, and work done to support orphans in the villages, the air of growth and improvement around the MCV area is tangible.

I’ve been welcomed at Gracious by friendly students, teachers, and staff. I’ve gotten to experience what it is like to try to teach a room of 90 students for whom English is a second language over the sound of a torrential downpour, watched students put on incredible performances of traditional drumming and dancing, and explained ice hockey to a room of very confused students for whom freezing temperatures are a theoretical. Some of the students walk more than an hour each way to school everyday, and talking to some of them about what their education means to them is inspiring.

I’ve found that when people here ask me how Alaska is different than Malawi, its almost shorter to just list the ways in which it is the same. Never in Alaska have I been late to school because I had to bike through a herd of cows on the road, been asked to hand a stranger’s child out the window of a minibus full of people and chickens packed in like sardines, or danced to drumming alongside hundreds of villagers honoring a visiting chief. But at their cores, both Malawi and my home state are beautiful lands, home to incredibly resourceful and resilient people eager to make the most out of each day.

Join the MCV Flood Relief Efforts

Sat, 24 Jan 2015 22:52:34 GMT

Please click here to contribute to MCV flood relief

Dear Friends of Malawi Childrens Village,

Many of you are aware of the torrential rains and devastating floods that have hit Malawi . The orphans and caregivers in the 37 villages supported by Malawi Childrens Village are unfortunately among the more than 200,000 people in the Warm Heart of Africa who have been affected by the floods.

Flooding along the main road near MCV

According to MCV Director Felix Chirombo , roads into the villages have been flooded and reaching the villages has been challenging to impossible. The homes of more than 152 orphans and their caregivers have been damaged beyond livability, or completely destroyed.

The basics of survival in the villages – food, water and shelter – have been swept away. Many villagers are now living in the village primary schools; others do not have even basic shelter from the rains, let alone blankets or dry clothing. They lack food and water. Pit latrines have been washed away in the floods, leaving behind unsanitary conditions and a high risk for cholera.

A home in one of the MCV’ area villages destroyed by the recent floods

International relief organizations are mobilizing to help the people of Malawi, and it may be weeks before the 37 MCV-supported villages receive aid. The MCV staff is making efforts to reach the villages with maize, blankets, plastic sheeting for temporary shelter, and food and blankets. It is hard to imagine that such simple items are lifesavers – yet for the people of our 37 villages, they are.

The MCV Board in the United States is painfully aware of the human toll of the floods. Many Board members have stepped up with personal contributions to these very early relief efforts, and we will no doubt continue to support efforts to repair and rebuild in the villages when the floods subside.

Those of you who support MCV share our love for the Warm Heart of Africa. For those of you who are able to join us in making a special contribution to these ongoing relief efforts, your contributions will be gratefully accepted and put to good use. Please click here to join us .

On behalf of the people and the orphans who call these 37 villages home, thank you for your support of MCV; thank you for being a lifesaver.

Nettie’s 2014 Sewing Project Report

Sun, 11 Jan 2015 20:16:26 GMT

Below is an excerpt from Nettie Graulich’s Annual Report on the MCV Sewing Project .

At the Blantyre bus station we wait until the minibus is filled with passengers to take us on the 4 hour trip to Malawi Children’s Village (MCV). The bus station is like a walking shopping mall, vendors coming around selling all kinds of items like pens, hard boiled eggs, blankets, sunglasses, and drinks. I love the scene. I am looking for a newspaper; since I have no radio or TV, I have no idea what is going on in the world. The paper is only a few pages long and half of it is sports. When I passed the paper on to Ayami, he asked me how I got it. I said, “I just bought it.” It was Friday and it was last Monday’s paper – well it was all news to me. OK, I am in Malawi and nothing is a surprise.

To get from my house to MCV I have an old Land Rover to use. The horn does not work, the seat belts are just laying across for make believe, the mirror keeps vibrating out of place, the left turn signal does not work – I am a real road hazard, but it gets me there.

The project has steady work all the time. When I arrive they have just finished a large order of patchwork bedcovers and place mats for Sandra, owner of The Makokola Resort, our biggest customer. Meanwhile Ayami (the manager), with his best workers, is finishing an order of uniforms for the employees of a large private school. Complicated patterns,
lots of piping and details. Another job well done. They are now working on school uniforms for the different schools we supply for September classes.

I am very pleased with the quality of the work. The new trainees who started last year are doing excellent work. Our standards are high; we have assessments every three months. The training is free, and then as they have enough experience to take part in production they start getting a daily stipend. The wages are based on experience. We discussed the importance of saving, but leaving them on their own, that did not work. Now we have a savings plan for all. Each decides how much to put away every 2 weeks and we keep it for them in the bank.

The setup in the program is really working well now. We have a core group of our best trainees, who are now on regular payroll. They have been with us for two or three years; they are the best workers and help with the training. They also are provided with a treadle sewing machine at their home, so they can do “freelance” work. Their example of work ethic and excellence is what has brought the whole workshop to a better standard. Ayami can totally trust his workers to carry on when he has to go out on sales calls. This year we bought Ayami a motorbike, which has made his job much easier.

Last year we promised James and Rajabu a house, which they now deserve. They have been busy making bricks. We hired a carpenter to make the framing for doors and windows and they started building. James burned his bricks, so he will have a more permanent house. James is assistant manager and has turned out to be the teacher that the new trainees prefer, so that will be his job. James (left) is on the permanent payroll and will stay indefinitely. He comes from very far on the bicycle, but is there every morning on time at 7am. We got him a good mountain bike to make the commute easier. James is the second born in a family of 7 kids, no father.

We asked how we can help him with anything and he said, “I am afraid we don’t have enough maize until the next harvest”. At the New Year we give all the kids a bonus, a bag of maize for their families. We already have bought the maize at the current lower prices and will have extra to help out during what they call in Malawi “the hunger season.”

Issa and Hassam came as young 16 year olds, but we knew immediately they were born to be tailors. At the time, Ayami said that it was nice to get good students while so young, so we would have them for a longer time. They are now 20 and joining their friends who have gone to South Africa. We know they will do very well, but we will miss them a lot.

Read the rest of Nettie’s Report here .

Treasurer’s Report: Fiscal Year 2014

Sun, 21 Dec 2014 23:21:17 GMT

Missed the 2014 MCV Newsletter in the mail? Read it here on the blog. Below is our annual treasurer’s report. You can find other stories from the newsletter on our blog here or access the complete newsletter in PDF form on our print media page .

The past year has been a year of growth, but also one in trying to uphold the high standards of Malawi Children’s Village. Gracious Secondary School now has 460 students. Florence, our outreach village coordinator and AIDS Educator is away getting her certificate in social work. The School-to-School project has built two teacher’s houses at Mauni and another is projected to be completed in spring 2015. Teachers have received computer training and village volunteers – the back bone of the MCV program – were able to get new bicycles through a Rotary donation. We have had numerous volunteers who have taught, assisted in the villages, and worked on water projects. We thank them for having given their time and talent.

Without donations there would be no village house repairs, food, secondary school and university tuition, health care, bicycles for volunteers, or improved education to name just a few of the benefits MCV has been able to provide. We have donors who give both monthly and annually and we so appreciate your continued support. If you are a new donor, welcome to Malawi Children’s Village. If you are sustaining again, thank you.

Whatever and whenever you give is helpful to the orphans and other vulnerable children!

October 1, 2013 – September 30, 2014

Revenue

Direct Public Grants $8,650
Direct Public Support $137,722
Endowment $682
Stock Dividend $81

Total Revenue $147,135

Expenses
Supporting Services

Business License $100
Bookkeeper $4,400
Tax Preparation $860
Bank Fees and Wire Costs $794
PayPal Fees $495
Newsletter & Thank You’s $3,213
Insurance $1,341
PO Box Rental $342

Total Supporting Services $11,545

Program Services

Grants $48,000
Designated Funds $50,778
Orphan School Tuition $15,200

Total Program Services $113,978

Total Expenses $125,523

MCV Foundation has no paid staff and our board members pay all of their own expenses. As the activity statement above indicates, 91% of last year’s expenses were invested directly in programs and support in Malawi.

A Good Sign

Wed, 17 Dec 2014 22:17:49 GMT

Missed the 2014 MCV Newsletter in the mail? Read it here on the blog.Below is a brief Sewing Program update. You can find other stories from the newsletter on our blog here or access the complete newsletter in PDF form on our print media page .

Nettie, Ayami, and the rest of the Sewing crew pose in front of the new road-side sign

Ayami, the MCV Sewing Project Supervisor, reports that Nettie Graulich’s program continues to thrive at MCV. The program continues to receive large orders from local businesses – such as a recent 340 piece order from the Makokola Retreat (a local resort). And thanks to the new “Nettie’s Sewing Workshop” sign alongside the Mangochi – Monkey Bay road, the project is beginning to get more drop in visits, including some tourists from abroad. The program maintains financial sustainability by selling the products that the tailors and trainees, mostly orphans, produce. Look for Nettie’s annual report on the blog early in 2015 for more updates on the Sewing Program at MCV.

The Villages of MCV’s  Village-Based Care: Chipoka I

Sun, 14 Dec 2014 14:28:00 GMT

Missed the 2014 MCV Newsletter in the mail? Read it here on the blog. Below is our village profile piece on Chipoka I. You can find other stories from the newsletter on our blog here or access the complete newsletter in PDF form on our print media page .

Chief Chipoka, one of only five female chiefs in the MCV area

Chipoka 1: The official story is that several decades ago, the village of Chipoka grew so big that it was decided to divide it in two. (There are several apocryphal stories regarding the split, but these will be left for another day. As will the profile of Chipoka 2.)

A distinctive feature of Chipoka 1 is that the village chief is just one of five female chiefs in the 38-village MCV catchment area. She is an imposing figure – five feet, eight inches and of “traditional build” – but with a warm and disarming smile. She watches over almost 2,000 villagers like a mother hen, and is particularly attentive to the care of orphans.

She wisely chose two excellent volunteers – Stanford Mangani and Beatrice Mwamadi – to facilitate the identification, placement and ongoing care of orphans within the village, all in coordination with the central staff of MCV. With support from the chief and MCV, the village volunteers oversee the care of 99 orphans in 51 households.

They make sure that 90% of school-age orphans attend school on a regular basis, one of the highest percentages among MCV’s 38 villages. They are also attentive to the needs of preschoolers (and pregnant women), all of whom receive and use insecticide-treated bed-nets, eliminating malaria as a cause of death in these groups for the past four years! And growth studies in preschoolers show not only that orphans are growing as well as non-orphans, but also that both groups in Chipoka 1 are in the top tenth percentile among all the villages.

Chipoka 1 is on Lake Malawi and surrounds Nkopola Lodge, a premier tourist destination on the lake. Thus, the villagers have traditionally had more contact with “Europeans” than most others. Many have employment at the Lodge, and others have pursued carving and other crafts to take advantage of the tourist trade. In fact, Stanford is not only an acclaimed carver, but has taken on numerous apprentices, many of them orphans, as part of his dedication to improving the village economy.

Poverty amid luxury – Chipoka 1 fishermen in the foreground. The tourist resort Nkopola Lodge can be seen in the distance.

Tourism has suffered in Malawi due to the troubles in Zimbabwe. Thus, even with its fortunate location, Chipoka 1 remains desperately poor. There would be no way for the village to care for 99 orphans without the assistance of MCV. And MCV could not help Chipoka 1 without continued assistance from generous donors. When we last saw Stanford, he said, “Please thank the donors for making life possible for our children. May God bless them as they bless us.”

Village Level Support:

Donations of any size go to the direct support of villages such as Chipoka 1. However, we have three levels of major support:

Ng’ona (crocodile) $1500 level would sustain a small village.
Mvuu (hippopotamus) $2000 level would sustain a mid-sized village.
Njobvu (elephant) $2500 level would sustain a larger village.

The post The Villages of MCV’s  Village-Based Care: Chipoka I appeared first on Malawi Children's Village .

A Farm Festival

Wed, 03 Dec 2014 14:30:00 GMT

Missed the 2014 MCV Newsletter in the mail? Read it here on the blog. Below is a brief update from MCV’s Irrigation efforts. You can find other stories from the newsletter on our blog here or access the complete newsletter in PDF form on our print media page .

Farmers and staff gather for a picture at the festival.

Seneca Falls and Clifton Springs Rotary Clubs continued their support by sponsoring the first ever MCV Farm Festival this summer – an idea of MCV graduate Dyson Magombo . Over 200 farmers attended to learn about irrigation techniques and test out new treadle pumps. There are now 19 productive irrigation sites in the MCV catchment area.

New foot powered Treadle Pumps were demonstrated at the festival

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This Is My Life Story

Mon, 01 Dec 2014 14:32:00 GMT

Missed the 2014 MCV Newsletter in the mail? Read it here on the blog. Below is Gerald Mulingo’s article on his amazing life story. You can find other stories from the newsletter on our blog here or access the complete newsletter in PDF form on our print media page .

My name is Gerald Mulingo. I am a third born child in a family of seven. I was born on March 12, 1982. I am a secondary school teacher by profession and I am currently teaching at Malowa Community Day Secondary School. I am also a graduate or one of the beneficiaries of MCV. Here is my account on how I came into contact with MCV and how MCV benefited me. Here is my life story.

Gerald Mulingo – a graduate of MCV

I lost my father in 1994 when I was still at primary school. Since then, life became so hard for us since he was the only bread winner. My mother tried so hard to fill his shoes but all was in vain. I was just too young to be an orphan.
Through thick and thin, the heritage of my father’s virtues of hard working saw me being selected to go to secondary school. Financial limitations due to poverty delayed my future a bit.

My single mom couldn’t make it. The next four years were a dark age in my life, wasting and rotting at home doing nothing but lamenting my father’s departure up until the “guardian angel” MCV through Ken Montgomery (one of the then MCV board members) picked me. I met Ken at a Presbyterian church in Mangochi. Coincidentally we chatted and upon hearing my story he introduced me to MCV. What a sigh of relief!

I revived my education dreams when I started form one under the auspices of MCV, after spending four solid years just staying home. Since all obstacles to my academic path were loosened, I managed to get a highest score in Secondary School Certificate exams. I was therefore selected to go to Domasi College, where I did my Diploma in Education, majoring in Physical Education and minoring in History.

I would like to confess here that without MCV I just don’t know what kind of a citizen I would be today. When I obtained my diploma, I saw it wise to dedicate myself and contribute something tangible to MCV. I therefore worked with MCV as a volunteer teacher at Gracious for a year before I joined the public service sector as a secondary school teacher.

Gerald in front of the   classroom as a teacher today.

As for my future plans, I first want to pursue my education especially in Physical Education up to Masters or even PhD level. Who knows? The sky is the limit. It is my sincere wish to commit help to others when I do well. As of now, I have a huge responsibility taking care of my family from the little I get from my earnings, especially my mom, because she is too old.

I would be deadly wrong if I don’t sincerely thank MCV, its staff, and its American supporters. In particular, I thank Ken Montgomery and Bob and Cindy Hunt for their relentless support and encouragement. I am very grateful for what MCV is doing in my community. A lot of people are benefiting socially, educationally as well as technically from the institution through various activities aimed at improving their livelihood. MCV provides health services, food relief to the needy, water and sanitation, distribution of free seeds to poor farmers, and other commendable works. Many lives are being saved in Mangochi. Students are going to school because their stomachs are full, and many more citizens are becoming productive. MCV offers free education to the many underprivileged children because it believes in maintaining children’s vitality. I am a living and precise example of this undertaking. As for the MCV graduates we are so many who are now responsible citizens. Some are working in NGOs while others, like myself, are in the public sector and still others are self employed.

As for my personal experience with MCV, I have benefited a lot apart from education. I obtained a Rotary Youth Leadership Award (RYLA) which shaped me for my future. RYLA training was offered to us by Bob and Cindy Hunt and I thank them very very much for equipping me with such wonderful leadership skills. Thus, wherever I go I do often hold a certain leadership position. I also learned how to produce a play/drama, and Chenjezi (my fellow patron) and I are now producing nice and wonderful dramas in the EDZI TOTO club.

How I wish!! Would someone please make my dream come true!! MCV is a hidden treasure, hammer and spanner for future developed and dynamic Malawi. How I wish this institution could spread to the other parts of Malawi. How I wish people of Salima could reap the same benefits people of Mangochi are abundantly yielding from MCV. How I wish! I will never, never give up until I succeed at last! Bravo MCV!!!

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2014 Newsletter – A Letter from our President

Sat, 29 Nov 2014 14:43:00 GMT

Missed the 2014 MCV Newsletter in the mail? Read it here on the blog. Below is the newsletter’s opening address from MCV Board President Tom Vitaglione. You can find other stories from the newsletter on our blog here or access the complete newsletter in PDF form on our print media page .

Dear Donors and Friends,

In the 1990s, Malawi was devastated by the AIDS epidemic, resulting in an estimated 900,000 orphans nationwide. The social structure was near collapse. But Malawi is known for its resilience, and this resilience spawned dreams of a brighter future. Among these dreams was Malawi Children’s Village, a dream that became a reality in 1996.

Now in its eighteenth year, MCV has continued to evolve in meeting the needs of 2,500-3,500 orphans annually in a 38 village area. The initial focus was on infant survival. With the introduction of drugs treating HIV/AIDS and in partnership with Open Arms, a British-sponsored infant-toddler care program, infant survival went from 50% to 80%. As we realized that malaria was an even greater threat to pre-school children, insecticide-treated bed-nets were introduced thanks to support from Kansas City area Rotary Clubs. The malaria case rate and death rate dropped by 80%.

Recognizing that education is critical, MCV began encouraging households to send all their children, orphans and non-orphans alike, to school. The overall school attendance rate increased from 45% to 85%. School-to-School projects strengthened the primary schools, and donations from all across the country provided stipends for secondary school tuition.

MCV found it would be better to actually operate a secondary school. With initial assistance from Solace International, Gracious Secondary School now serves more than 400 students annually, including 100 orphans. In addition, the Vocational School offers courses in carpentry, auto mechanics, and an acclaimed sewing program.

Individual donors and Rotary support made it possible for orphan graduates to receive post-secondary training. MCV now lists a physician, three nurses, several agriculture specialists, numerous teachers and even a few politicians among its “alumni.”

Along the way, community development projects have assisted the villages. With support from western NY Rotary clubs, 19 irrigation projects are going strong. Clean water now flows at the MCV campus and Open Arms, thanks to Engineers without Borders, S. C. Alaska Chapter.

During all this evolution, there has been one constant: the donors who have made the initial dream an on-going reality. We are in awe, because most donors will never visit MCV. Our donors truly exemplify selfless giving and for this MCV and its orphans are eternally grateful.

Tsalani Bwino,

Tom Vitaglione, Board President

Look out for the next article in the newsletter, a story of a successful MCV Graduate, on Monday.

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Gracious Does it Again

Fri, 31 Oct 2014 14:45:00 GMT

We are pleased to report that once again MCV’s Gracious Secondary School has far outperformed the national average on the national Malawi School Certificate of Education (MSCE) Exams, taken by Form 4 (12th grade) students. Gracious had 91 students write the exams out of which 85 passed. This 93% pass rate compares to a national passing rate of 55% .

Macdonald Gamela – a sponsored orphan had the highest score on the Malawi Shool Certicicate of Education Exams at Gracious

As is regularly the case, many of MCV’s sponsored orphans were among the most successful students at Gracious. Notably, Macdonald Gamela scored the highest marks in the school at 13 points. MCV Director Felix Chirombo reports that Macdonald is 19 years old and comes from Kela Village. He comes from a family of five children and is the third born. Macdonald’s father died a long time ago and the children are being taken care of by their mother who has no business or source of income aside from subsistence farming.

Please join us in congratulating Gracious students, teachers, and staff on another tremendous year of success!

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From the Archives – An Extraordinary Man

Mon, 20 Oct 2014 14:46:00 GMT

The MCV Annual Newsletter 2014 is off to the printer and should be arriving in mail boxes around Thanksgiving. We profile the village of Chipoka 1 in this year’s newsletter, reminding us of Nicki Kennedy’s excellent profile of one of Chipoka 1’s volunteers in our 2010 newsletter. In case you missed it, or would just enjoy reading it again, we’ve dug it out from our archives below:

An Extroardinary Man

By Nicki Kennedy

Stanford with board members Don Gray and Tom Nighswander

By American standards Stanford Mangoni is a small man. He’s shorter than me (I’m 5’6”) by several inches and walks with a pronounced limp that makes him seem even shorter than he is. He wears his hair shaved closely to his skin, both on his chin and on his pate. It’s difficult to tell for sure how old Stanford is. His face is fairly smooth, but his eyes tell you with a sparkle in their depths, that he’s been around for a while. If you were to see Stanford walking down the road, you would probably take no note of him; just a lame old man trundling along the way. If you were to see him walking down the road, you would have no idea how extraordinary a man he truly is.

Stanford is a village volunteer at MCV. As we sit together at my table, sipping cold water, Stanford tells me about his life and about his involvement with the Malawi Children’s Village. His English is quite good; spoken in warm tones, with a clipped, precise pronunciation. Stanford is a carver, and I imagine that he works much the way he speaks: precisely, and with thought and heart. He is quick to laugh, and equally quick to become sober as the need arises. He thinks before he speaks and you can see his brain working all the time.

When asked about himself, Stanford is unassuming and brief. He lives in Chipoka village, about four kilometers from MCV, with his wife (a farmer) and five children. If it were up to him, he would stop right there. He would not tell you that he currently has five additional children living with him.

While he may be concise when speaking about himself and his family, he becomes very animated when I ask him about MCV. He has been working for MCV since it began in 1997. He saw Mr. Sibale and other staff visiting the villages and was curious what they were about. Shortly thereafter, the village chief approached him about working for the Malawi Children’s Village. Mr. Sibale had asked the chiefs to choose people in their villages who showed great strength of character, morals, and dedication. Stanford jumped at the opportunity, and thirteen years later he is still as passionate as when he began.

Stanford, a skillful carver,  works on a Bao game board

A village volunteer for MCV has many responsibilities. They are each a part of the human net, linked hand to hand, that covers our 37 village catchment area. They are responsible for all the orphans, from birth to secondary school age, in their villages. They speak with guardians and encourage them to “accept total care” for the orphans: send them to school, take them to the clinic when they are ill, and ensure that they are well fed. Volunteers provide food, mosquito nets, uniforms, and arrange for scholarships to Gracious Secondary School. Monthly they report to MCV, bringing with them birth and death reports from their villages, as well as “social reports” from the youth regarding their general well-being. Volunteers raise awareness about HIV/AIDS and emphasize the importance of attending school and taking advantage of all educational opportunities.

Stanford does all these things and more. “I see being a village volunteer as a way to support the future. To be a volunteer is like evangelism, it is our job to be so kind to everyone. We try to encourage the youth.” At first people were resistant to the ideas that MCV brought to their villages. They ignored Stanford’s messages and disregarded his information and invitations. Over time, though, the chief and village elders became strong advocates and began to work together. Stanford smiles over his cup as he talks about this time “Cooperation is key. If you want to teach an old dog new tricks you must be very strong. You must be persistent to tell them the goodness of schooling.” These days Stanford says that he has seen the value of education increase in the villages. “Now when people see me coming, they try to hide if they haven’t been sending their children to school. They are ashamed. I tell them that everything in our society depends on schools, so please encourage your children to go to school.” As he speaks I can envision him catching out people as they try to slip quietly behind their huts, and earnestly and vehemently reminding them of their duty as guardians. There can be no doubt of his effectiveness, and the 150 orphans under his care are receiving the best that he can give them.

When asked what he feels is the best thing that MCV has done or is currently doing, he takes a big breath. I get my pen ready, and prepare to quickly scrawl the lengthy dissertation that I’m sure is coming. To my surprise, he is succinct. “The best thing about MCV is that it does so much. There is the school, the HIV/AIDS support, the clinic, the technical college, the crops and fish that they raise. MCV fills many needs. It has brought people together. Now, when you go around Mangochi district you see people, and chat. You know each other because of MCV.”

As our time comes to a pleasant end, I find myself filled with as many questions as when I began. I want to know more about his life, his history, and his dreams. Smiling, I put those questions aside for another day. We finish our water, and make promises to visit one another. As he walks away I lean my head on the doorframe and watch his diminutive form make his way out the circle drive. It isn’t long before he is stopped by one of an ensuing parade of people who know him: an extraordinary man, indeed.

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Welcome Karan Savjani

Sun, 05 Oct 2014 14:48:00 GMT

The MCV Board of Directors in Malawi officially welcomed new board member Karan Savjani at their September meeting.

Karan grew up in Malawi until he was 11 and then went to England for school and university. He practiced as a Criminal Barrister for eight years before returning to Malawi in 2008. Karan now works in the insurance business and has various other interests. He is actively involved in Rotary and also serves on the board of Samaritan Trust and a school and club in Limbe. He is married with one son.

Karan joins the board following the recent departure of Sam Tembenu who left the MCV board after recently being appointed Minister of Justice by Malawian President Peter Mutharika . We’d like to thank Samuel Tembenu for his service and congratulate him on his recent appointment as Minister of Justice.

MCV, a Malawian Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) is financially supported by Malawi Children’s Village Foundation Inc. a USA 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. The MCV NGO in Malawi is overseen by a local board of directors .

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Support MCV when you shop

Thu, 04 Sep 2014 14:49:00 GMT

Did you know you can support MCV when you shop at Amazon? Amazon will donate 0.5% of the price of your eligible AmazonSmile purchases to MCV whenever you shop on AmazonSmile . AmazonSmile is the same Amazon you know. Same products, same prices, same service. To support MCV when you shop at Amazon simply click on the image below.

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More Teacher Housing at Mauni

Sat, 30 Aug 2014 14:52:00 GMT

Thanks to Chugach Optional School in Anchorage, Alaska work continues on Teacher housing at Mauni Primary School. As shared last October when the first house was completed, the school is a long – and in the rainy season difficult – journey from the main road. MCV Director Felix Chirombo shared the photo above with our board last week. As you can see more teacher housing is nearing completion.

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New members join the MCV Board

Fri, 08 Aug 2014 15:20:00 GMT

We happily elected two new members to the Malawi Children’s Village Foundation, Inc. Board of Directors during our July 2014 meeting: Jesse Kwiek and James Miller.

Jesse Kwiek

Jesse Kwiek was born and raised in western New York. After completing his degree in Biochemistry, he joined the Peace Corps, where he taught biology in rural Malawi (Kalaluma CDSS). He has a PhD in pharmacology, postdoctoral training in molecular epidemiology, and he is currently an Associate Professor of Microbiology at Ohio State University. His academic interests include HIV, low cost diagnostics, and service learning.

James Miller

James Miller spent the formative years of his life in Malawi, as the son of missionaries, from 1978 to 1988. He developed a strong understanding and appreciation of the culture and challenges involved with daily life during this time. He obtained a degree in business administration from Illinois College, and a MBA from the Rockhurst University. James works at the Pembroke Hill School in Kansas City, Missouri where he is the CFO. He has returned to Africa on student trips where he enjoys sharing his insights and passion for Africa with students.

James reflected on his connections to Malawi and his recent decision to join the MCV Board:

Malawi was my home from the age of six to roughly 16. During these formative years of my life, I shared many unique experiences with my friends that has forever molded my perspective on life. Experiences such as traveling into the bush in a Combi with my father, learning Chichewa from my many friends, playing daily soccer games, harvesting sugarcane to sell by the roadside, making and firing bricks, narrowly escaping a black mamba, and struggling to survive malaria have given me a great appreciation for the fun and challenges of daily life in Malawi.

If you have a ball of any sort, including plastic bags tied with strings, a game of soccer is easy to organize in Africa. The fun that results, and pulls children together, provides distraction and builds friendships. In the same way, much good can occur from people pooling their resorces, that might seem individually insignificant, for a positive purpose.

In joining the MCV Board, I am excited at the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of children in Malawi. To give them hope, better healthcare, nutrition and an opportunity to go to school will make a lasting impact on their lives.

Malawi is referred to as, “The Warm Heart of Africa,” which matches my experience of the people I encountered growing up. I hope that your heart is warmed by the great work being done by MCV, and the opportunities that lie ahead. – James Miller

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Points of Light

Sat, 26 Apr 2014 15:23:00 GMT

It started 50 years ago this year. In 1964 two 22 year old Peace Corp Volunteers, (PCV’s) married for less that 24 hours found themselves in PC training for a TB/Public Health project in Nyasaland. This was not their idea. Although they had wanted to go to Africa, they thought they would be placed, a married couple, as teachers in a secondary school. This would be an easy placement and common for married PVC’s.

Tom and Ruth Nighswander as Malawi Peace Corps Volunteers in 1964

But a placement clerk had another idea. How about a public health project in an old British Colonial Protectorate that was soon to become Malawi? The decision changed their lives. He became a Doctor which he never even thought about in college and his wife who graduated with the elementary education German degree would become a nurse.

Yes it was I and my wife, Ruth. Now 50 year later this country continues to impact our lives. We have been back annually for the last 15 years and had an opportunity to live and work here for a year in the mid 80’s with our daughter attending standard four in her school uniform and our two year old son playing with our cook’s children in the back yard.

How much has changed in Malawi in all those years? You get a clue at 35,000 feet as you fly over this part of the world coming from the north. The flight takes one over the East African counties of Kenya, and Tanzania, and included a quick passenger stop in Lusaka, Zambia. What you notice from the ground are these points of light, which first appear as small mirrors reflecting the sun, but on closer inspection are in fact metal roofs on traditional village homes. They are still made of sun dried bricks in many places, but more and more often soft fired village-made more substantial bricks, and on the higher end homes, covered with stucco with a fine layer of Portland cement.

But when you get to Malawi air space, the point of light disappears. Yes a few more than years before, but a marked decrease from the nearby countries. Iron sheets for roofs have yet to reach the grass roof village houses that were the standard all over Africa years ago.

We work in a rural area in Malawi, and a visit to some of the more distant off the road villages is a trip back to the Malawi we first got to know in 1964. Much appears the same as it did then. In fact 50 years ago the population was much smaller, the fish and firewood for cooking more plentiful.

The main roads are well paved, Cell phones are everywhere (but reliable internet is iffy). Infant and under five mortality rates are half of what they use to be. But having adequate year around food and easily available drinking water are challenges. We are usually here in the January to March time period. In Chichewa it is known as the Njala (hunger time)

This is a subsistence culture, completely dependent of the once a year rains to raise maize.

Ground fine and cooked to a thick paste, the maize ( nsima ) is eaten with your fingers twice a day, 365 days a year. Dipped in a sauce of chicken or beans, Ruth and I find it quite tasty once in a while.

But harvesting a year’s supply of maize, with increasingly unreliable rains with in the first three months of the year, is becoming a national crisis. And we have been here when our village neighbors are out of food.

Yet today as I write this I am on the shore of the 10th largest fresh water lake in the world. Lake Malawi, one of the three great lakes of Africa, is a third of the country. But there is no irrigation. It is beyond the means of the villagers living in generally what is ranked as the 5th from the bottom poorest county in the world.

Board member Tom Nighswander visits the Open Arms Infant Care Home during the Nighswanders recent annual trip to MCV.

And then there is HIV/AIDS. It ransacked the country. At the height of the epidemic, the police and military were down 40% from their full strength manpower. HIV/AIDS does not discriminate. It affects all ages, but is especially devastating to the 18-38 year old- the future of the country. Anti Retro Viral’s (ARV’s) , the mainstay of treatment, first appeared in the northern hemisphere in the last part of the 80’s, but did not start showing up in this country until 2005.

The by-product of the epidemic has been thousand of orphans. With one or both parents gone, the task of rearing these kids has gone to the grandparent or other caregivers in the village.—another child to feed, provide clothes for and send to school.

Can you make a difference? The epidemic developed for a complex reason. It is a result of poverty, woman empowerment, literacy, easy access to adequate health care, a government that denied HIV existence until the mid 90’s and I am sure there are others.

But when you break the epidemic down to the village level, then there are many interventions that make sense. This was the approach which a group of Malawians and one former PCV from the late 60’s conceived in 1997 – the Malawi Children’s Village.

For 37 villages surrounding a core campus of a vocational training and secondary school, the focus was the plight of HIV/AIDS orphans. At the crest of the epidemic there were 3000 out of a total population of 30,000.

With the program in place, if you were an orphan caregiver you received assistance with food, clothes, improved houses, and school fees. Added to the program over the years was a bed net program for children under five (reducing the malaria rate by 70%) . The Engineers without Boarders, Alaska Chapter, installed a safe water program on the core campus with plans to connect to the nearby villages. Six Anchorage primary schools formed partnerships with primary schools in the catchment area and provided resources for pit latrines, teacher housing, desks and supplies.

The results – orphans who would have never had a chance are now teachers, clinical officers, agriculture and social serviced workers.

It does not get much better than this.

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Nettie’s 2013 Sewing Project Report

Tue, 28 Jan 2014 15:25:00 GMT

The MCV sewing project had another successful year in 2013 with many inspiring stories. Read all about it in Nettie’s 2013 report.

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A Message of Thanks

Thu, 28 Nov 2013 15:27:00 GMT

As always we’re thankful for many things here at MCV. This Thanksgiving we’re thankful as always to our many donors that make the work of the MCV Malawi staff and volunteers possible. In particular today we’d like to thank the recently wedded couple, Madeline Turner and Calvin Schlepp who generously asked their wedding guests to donate to MCV in lieu of gifts. Their generosity has resulted in 65 donations for a total of over $5,300 to date. Thank you so much to Madeline, Calvin, and their generous family and friends! A short note and from the happy couple is included below.

Photo by Carlie Breen Photography

In lieu of gifts, Calvin and I decided to ask our wedding guests to donate to Malawi Children’s Village. Initially, we were nervous that people would forgo the extra steps it took to donate and just give us the usual blender, but we were amazed at the huge amount of support and generosity from our family and friends.

Malawi and MCV hold a special place in our hearts, so it was easy to select this as our wedding charity. We have seen previous donations put to use in effective and sustainable practices so knew the money would be in good hands. Plus, it was fun and interesting for our guests to go to the MCV website and see exactly where their money was going.

Thanks for all that you do, MCV.

Madeline and Calvin

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Gracious Test Results Are In

Sun, 24 Nov 2013 15:29:00 GMT

The results of the Malawi School Certificate of Education Exams (the national exams taken by graduating students) were recently released and once again MCV’s Gracious Secondary School bettered the national average. Gracious had 65 students write the exam this year and 50 passed representing a 77% passing rate. The national passing rate this year was 52% .

Gracious students also did exceptionally well on the Junior Certificate of Education Exams (taken by 10th grade students). 58 wrote the JCE and 51 passed representing an 88% passing rate compared to the national passing rate of 50%.

We extend our congratulations to the teachers and students of Gracious on this notable accomplishment.

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Full Circle – a School-to-School story

Sun, 10 Nov 2013 15:30:00 GMT

By Kaylin Zimmer

The first time I heard about Malawi was while I was at Chugach Optional Elementary when Madelyn, the nurse, gave a presentation on a recent trip she had taken. From that point on, Malawi had a special place in my heart. Chugach built a relationship with a school in rural Malawi, and my girl scout troop #461, began what was known as “art night”, when students and parents would make art to auction as a fundraiser for our sister school. When I graduated from the school in sixth grade, I never expected to get to visit Malawi, not to mention the school that I had helped raise donations for.

Kaylin Zimmer, a former student of Chugach Optional Elementary in Alaska poses with the Headmaster of Mauni Primary in front of a classroom block that her school raised funds for as part of MCV’s School-to-School program.

Six years later, I did have that opportunity. While I was in the Early Honors program at Alaska Pacific University, I learned of a trip that was happening through the psychology department that was going to Malawi for the month of January. I was immediately interested. After years of thinking of Malawi as some distant country that I had only ever heard about, I was finally going!
When I arrived some things were just as I had imagined, while others were very different. Malawi lives up to its nickname: The warm heart of Africa. It’s a beautifully lush country with amazingly happy people.

Upon our arrival to the village near where we stayed, the local children chased our truck, yelling “Azungu, Azungu” the Chichewa word meaning “white person”. They followed after us, waving as we passed through the gates of our inn. Our day trips into the town of Mangochi were very enlightening. We were exposed to the extreme poverty of the country. Even in the town, the roads were unpaved and most of the people were clothed in raged cloths. We took matolas from place to place, at times 25-30 people crammed into the back of a pick up truck, along with an assortment of produce, livestock, and the occasional bed frame. As a group of 10 students, we enjoyed the daily adventure of fitting into a truck bed that looked as though it had room for two.

When we didn’t take trips into town, we went to MCV and Open Arms next door. At MCV’s Gracious Secondary School, we got to sit in on some of the classes, and interact with students through a dance class that one of our students taught, and a women’s empowerment group that another led. We got to talk to the girls at the school about how they felt growing up in Malawi, and what they wanted to do with their futures versus what was expected of them. It was both inspiring and saddening to hear what their goals were, as we knew from the information we had gathered that few of them would have the chance to leave Malawi to further their education.

My trip to Malawi brought my education full circle when I had the opportunity to visit Chugach’s sister school, Mauni Primary. The principal showed me the building that our funds had built and the classrooms that had replaced the classes which had previously been taught under the tree in the school yard. My trip was both interesting and rewarding, and I am unendingly grateful to have had the opportunity to visit.

The work continues:

While Kaylin Zimmer’s class has long since left, Chugach Optional Elementary and other schools in MCV’s School-to-School program continue to raise funds for primary schools that the children supported by MCV attend. Just last month, Teacher Housing was completed at Mauni Primary .

More schools are in need of support. Is your school interested in starting a new partnership? Contact us .

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Njereza Village Profile

Sun, 20 Oct 2013 15:31:00 GMT

Njereza Village is located further from the shore of Lake Malawi than many of the other villages in the MCV catchment area. It is 12 kilometers from the road, over near the hills. Instead of crops being damaged by hippos coming out of the water, here the crops have been damaged by elephants from the hills. (Recently the WWF paid to have the elephants gently removed to a large nature reserve elsewhere.) Most of the people are subsistence farmers, far away from fishing opportunities and far from the commerce available near the main road. (Njereza Village is the first village in our village profile series. Miss the intro piece? Read it here .)

Level eight teachers, students, & MCV Village Volunteer (far right) from Njereza, one of the 37 villages supported by MCV, and the first village in our profile series

The small primary school had three teachers for 300 students in three grades and two classrooms until 2005. Now they have six classrooms, a principals’ office, seven teachers, boys and girls latrines, and 594 students in eight grades. All of this improvement was made possible by US donors.

In spite of the long, hot walk from the village to the main road, several of our high school age orphans have made the trek to MCV to attend summer school classes and do volunteer work at MCV.

Graduates have gone on first to secondary school, then to agriculture college, teacher training, medical school and other post high school education, all with the help of donor funds. Health and education are the only tickets to a better life in Malawi and everyone knows it.

Three years ago high winds peeled up and destroyed the corrugated metal roof of a two classroom block. And even in spite of the rain pouring into the classroom during rainy season, the students determinedly squeezed into a dry corner to get the benefit of schooling. Money has now been raised to repair the roof.

In the villages the rain and wind regularly dissolve and blow apart some of the humble mud walled homes. At MCV we are always trying to develop a real rainy day fund.

In Njereza Village MCV supports 89 orphans in 36 households. Of these orphans 81 are school age, seven receiving MCV scholarships to attend Gracious Secondary School and the remaining 74 primary school students receiving school uniforms. Also 22 households received treated bednets and 15 houeholds needed other MCV support such as blankets, infant nutritional supplement, etc.

Njereza Village’s Chief and his wife. MCV works collaboratively with village headmen to support orphans.

Two village coordinators, appointed by the chief, serve as liaisons between the village and MCV, to assist with mediating MCV programs to the villagers. They provide small sick orphans with bike transportation to a clinic, report on their health and school data, assist with malaria and AIDS education, come monthly to MCV for training, and most of all keep an eye on the general well-being of the orphans at Njereza.

Village Sponsorship

We are doing everything we can at Malawi Children’s Village to give village orphans a chance at a decent life and in so doing to have a positive ripple effect in each village. We expend between $1500 and $2500 annually to support each of the 37 villages of varying sizes.

Donations of any size are most welcome and go to the direct support of villages such as Njereza. However, if you or your group are in a position to sustain a village for an entire year, we have three levels of major support:

Ng’ona (crocodile) $1500 level would sustain a small village

Mvuu (hippopotamus) $2000 level would sustain a mid-sized village

Njobvu (elephant) $2500 level would sustain a larger village

If you are able and willing to give a major level of support to sustain a village such as Njereza, in addition to our heartfelt thanks, you will receive an animal themed certificate acknowledging your gift.

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Village Based Orphan Care

Sun, 13 Oct 2013 15:34:00 GMT

A typical village composed of mud-hut homes

MCV tried to revitalize the extended family fostering approach by providing important support to families willing to take in an orphan in their village. An orphan who remains in his or her own village has a sense of family, of home, of who his or her people are, and is raised within his or her own cultural milieu.

This approach has worked well for 15 years in our 37 village catchment area. Now grandmothers previously dealing with four to six orphaned grandchildren have only one or two, and orphan care is spread out more evenly in the villages.

An orphan fostering family receives blankets for the cold season, infant nutritional supplement, school uniforms for primary school students, seeds for planting in times of impending famine, treated bednets for pregnant women and young children, AIDS and health counseling, and most valued of all – free access to the Koche Health Clinic for the whole family.

Village volunteers make village-based-care possible.

MCV has the full cooperation of the village chiefs who appoint two village volunteer liaisons with MCV whose job it is to identify orphans as they occur, place them with foster families, monitor their progress, and link the orphan and family to assistance as needed.

In order to give our donors a bit of the flavor of each village we will be offering profiles of each village in our new series “Village Profiles” on the MCV blog. Read the first installment in our series, Njereza Village Profile here .

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Mauni Teacher Housing Completed

Sun, 06 Oct 2013 15:37:00 GMT

Chugach Optional School in Anchorage, Alaska has raised enough money to build a teacher’s house for Mauni Primary staff. The school is a looooong walk from the road. Even for teachers that have a bike the mud can make the trip nearly impossible at times during the rainy season. In the picture above Boniface, the Mauni Primary School Headmaster, poses in front of the nearly completed structure. Thanks to Felix and vocational staff for assisting with this project!

Chugach Optional’s support of Mauni Primary School is just one example of the successful partnerships that have been established through MCV’s School-to-School Program . Look out for a personal story from the Chugach Optional – Mauni partnership in MCV’s Annual Newsletter 2013, coming this November.

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Kumwa Madzi – Water Treatment at MCV

Mon, 22 Jul 2013 14:03:00 GMT

Thanks to Engineers Without Borders, South Central Alaska Professional Chapter , MCV now has a water filtration system providing drinkable water to the staff and students at MCV, and to the infants at Open Arms Infant Home . Watch the project video here:

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Sewing Program called best of its kind

Tue, 04 Jun 2013 14:24:00 GMT

here

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Music With Purpose – A Benefit Concert for MCV

Wed, 27 Mar 2013 14:35:00 GMT

f you’re in the Kansas City area, save the date for Music with Purpose – a benefit concert for MCV. Singer and Songwriter Darryl Purpose will be joined by Soundz of Africa a group featuring traditional drums of Mali and Senegal. A silent auction and Silpada jewelry sale will precede the show.

Purchase Tickets

Music with Purpose – A Benefit Concert for Malawi Children’s Village
Friday, April 19, 2013 Doors 6:00pm Concert 7:00pm
Community Christian Church
4601 Main St. Kansas City, MO

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MCV’s Annual Newsletter 2012

Wed, 12 Dec 2012 15:14:00 GMT

The new Annual Newsletter is here. Click on the image above to read about more successful graduates, the completed EWB water project, our new director and more.

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Boy Who Harnessed The Wind

Tue, 13 Mar 2012 15:34:00 GMT

William Kamkwamba will speak this Friday, March 16, at the Z.J. Loussac Library in Anchorage. MCV is a sponsor of the talk. See the full flyer here .

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Sewing Project graduates enter the workforce

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 15:36:00 GMT

Click on the image above to read Nettie’s 2011 Sewing Project Report.

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MCV’s Annual Newsletter 2011

Sun, 11 Dec 2011 15:38:00 GMT

The 2011 Annual newsletter is here. Click on the image above to read about some of MCV’s success stories, meet the newly strengthened Malawian board and more.

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No success better than this

Sun, 27 Mar 2011 15:39:00 GMT

Dyson with the pump

No success better than this. #4

A Friend of the Hoe

Dyson Mulongo, age 23 is a successful graduate of the Malawi Children’s Village (MCV). Out here one stops being an orphan at age 18. His father, a subsistence farmer hoeing the fields with his mother every day in the rainy season, died when he was 8 years old. “My father went to the hospital and came home still sick and died at home”. To this day he does not know why. His mother had to care for his three brothers and one sister. It was a struggle to send them to primary school and impossible to send them to secondary school because in Malawi one must pay school fees. He was a bright student, smart enough to be selected by the government to go to Melosa Secondary School in Zomba.

He appealed to his grandparents. Although they lived by subsistence also, they took his appeal to the village headman who said he and his brothers and sister would be eligible for support from MCV. In this part of the world, if either parent dies, you are considered an orphan. As a single parent, the difficult life here becomes almost impossible.

MCV responded by paying for his school fees and after secondary school graduation to the Natural Resource college in Lilongwe where he specialized in irrigation technology. His three brothers are in school, two sponsored at MCV’s Gracious Secondary School, and one in primary school. Unfortunately as is often the case out here, his sister dropped out of school at age 15 and got married.

Dyson is an impressive successful young adult and the go-to person for all the irrigation schemes in the MCV catchments area. But more of that later.

The plight of orphans in Malawi, most often as a result of HIV/AIDS, is legendary. Orphans in any part of the world are dealt a tough set of cards in the game of life. Out here being an orphan can be and is life threatening. In a subsistence culture that struggles with adequate rain to raise a yearly supply of maize, an orphan is another mouth to feed. For the very young, when you look at these children’s growth charts, you can identify when their parent died. They stop growing! It is dramatic!

In 1997 Chakunja Sibale, a clinical officer, together with his friend Kevin Denny and several other 1964 Peace Corp volunteers, had a vision of how to help and solve the possibilities. They had no funding, only a story to tell. With the help of many returned Peace Corps Volunteers from Malawi, Friends of Malawi, several churches and Rotary Clubs mainly in New York state, Kansas and Anchorage, the Malawi Children’s village was begun. The rest is history. Over 8000 orphans have been assisted my MCV.

The vision was not an orphanage. It was a village based orphan program whereby the orphans would stay in their home village with a guardian or grandparent. MCV would help them. With the village chief, MCV would identify and train two village volunteers, supply them with a bicycle, a uniform, a small monthly stipend. The volunteers would monitor the care the orphans would receive. MCV would provide additional clothes, repair and build village houses, and when necessary because of poor rains, supply additional maize. The target area was the 37 villages that surround what has become the core campus. As the program matured it became obvious that “it takes a village to raise a child”. Consequently MCV has been able to assist the village primary schools (through the adopt a school program) with additional classrooms, desks, and books. It has been developing irrigation schemes such that villagers could raise more that one crop a year. . It has provided secondary school fees. Several USA based churches have helped with primary school construction and also provided cement, and benches to the village’s churches.

Now on the core campus, a technical school and secondary school has been built, both for sponsored orphans and private pay students providing income for the school. A nursery was built for infants and under twos whose mothers had died. The original nursery was transferred to a British NGO, Open Arms, who built a magnificent facility and now have 40 under 3s in residence who will remain there until they are healthy enough to return to their village.

Over 8000 orphans have been assisted since the beginning which brings us back to Dyson Mulongo. After graduation from the Natural Resources College in 2007 he returned as a volunteer at MCV. He walked or biked because he felt an obligation “I am what I am because of MCV” To show appreciation he worked at MCV on a volunteer basis from 07-08.

In 2009 after the rainy season, Dyson, with the support of a New York Rotary, designed an irrigation project for Mutaka village. It involved building a brick water tank, using a petrol pump to pump water from the river to the tank and water the gardens by a gravity feed system. They did their first planning of maize in Oct 7, 2009 and had a very successful harvest 3 months later.

In the meantime he was submitting written reports and sending pictures to Rotary every two weeks…They promised continued support and asked him to design a project for another village, but this time for $2000.

For the 2010 growing season he chose Mitawa Village. His design was based upon using treadle pumps. He had none.

Unknown to Dyson, Jerry Turner, the early instigator of treadle pumps for the irrigation program was coming mid June with a plan to buy 50 treadle pumps. The new pumps were manufactured in Tanzania and had three improved features: sturdier, increased output volume and came with simple spare parts.

Jerry and Dyson traveled to Mitawa, met with the village garden committee and said that if the village would clear land for gardens over the next week, they would receive one treadle pump. In one week the land was cleared.

Then they challenged the group to prepare growing beds and furrows in a week, and if they did they would receive two treadle pumps. They did!

It was now late July. Seeds were purchased by Jerry, and by August 3, the Maize was knee high. One third of a Hector was under cultivation. No fertilizer was used. The village had an excellent harvest.

The first village, Mutaka, after the rainy season in 2010 planted almost 3 hectors of tomatoes and by May were selling tomatoes on the market.

It is hard to convey what this means to a village. Every February when we usually come, it is at the end of what everyone hopes has been a good rainy season. It is before the maize is ready to be picked and dried. It what is known as the Njala time. Njala translates from Chichewa as hunger. There is always a greater or lesser amount of Njala when we come. Food security is a constant issue in every villager’s mind. Irrigation and good farming practices are the answer.

Dyson spoke of MCV. “I can not imagine what my life would be like. How I would live in this world? I have friends from the village my age. They are married, have 6 kids and are selling charcoal. They have no future, they have no hope”.

“I have a vision. I have hope” “I am the first sponsored orphan form my village who has been successful.”

“I felt that I owed MCV to serve the people. In America you all have very nice homes, enough food, and yet you come all this way to help us, why can’t we do the same?”

“MCV is like my mother and father. This is what I am. If it were not for MCV, I would be a friend of the hoe, hoeing in the garden everyday.”

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When plans go awry.

Tue, 08 Mar 2011 15:40:00 GMT

You can never anticipate how many ways your plans can be thwarted. Today it is deaths in the village and student riots in Blantyre, yesterday it was petrol.

Yesterday when I awoke and told my lovely wife I loved her, her affectionate reply was “I want petrol”. So while I met with the District Medical Officer in the morning, Ruth, accompanied by Victor, one of the villagers who serves as our handyman out here, were on the search for petrol. They found it! When you ask her where she got it? “ If I tell you, I’ll have to shoot you” Translation…. from the Black Market well away from Mangochi. Petrol is again absent from the country. But we had a full tank! So off to work! It was not to be.

Today Florence, the HIV/AIDS outreach worker was to travel to the villages with Ruth to hand out school uniforms. She called this AM to say that her Uncle had died in Dedza about 2 hours from here and she would be going to the funeral. This was shortly after our night guard, Patrick, came back from his nearby village to let is know that his 24 year old niece also died last night. He needed extra money for the funeral arrangements.

To understand the impact of death, beyond the emotional trauma to the family, you need to understand the ceremony that surrounds the death and burial of your family member or coworker. I think it impacts the gross national product of this country.

If your coworker dies, it is your employer along with the family who makes the arrangements for the burial. The whole office or business shuts down. Large numbers of friends and coworkers gather at the deceased’s home, women are inside, men are outside. From inside the house continuous wailing can usually be heard (some from professional wailers). The men sitting outside are in small groups usually silent only speaking greetings when another arrives. Food is served to all. In the Muslim community here, this is traditionally a 24 hour to a several day process . The Christians are a bit faster. But funerals are a big part of daily life and they take a lot of time.

So if there would be abbreviated village visits this day, at least my friend in Blantyre would be able to secure some additional car parts for the 1996 Subaru. We had it on consignment and were considering buying it from a good friend. We need a shock absorber, Subaru spark plugs, and some rubber boot covers for the drive shaft and steering column. At exorbitant costs (about 30-50% more expensive than in the States) they were available from the dealer in Limbe, the town contiguous to Blantyre. It was not to be.

The College Students were rioting and the road between Blantyre and Limbe was closed. They should have been rioting because of the Inspector General of the Police had visited and questioned one of the political science faculty on why he was discussing in class the recent events in Egypt. (The faculty took this one on in a protest). The students were upset by the way the government was changing the requirements and payback for student loans.

Our friend never made it to Subaru before having to return to Mangochi. So much for this plan! You always have to have a plan B and C and for safety D also and be prepared that none of them will work.

It is hard to explain the difficulty of getting anything done in this country. Everyone complains about it, especially middle class Malawians. We see the humor in it….government bureaucracy gone wild. There are many examples. Petrol and lack of foreign exchange is just one. Upsetting a bunch of folks was the governments decision to invalidate all passports, and issue new ones. Felix, the deputy at MCV, had a passport good to 2015. . ..now no longer valid. They opened the offices from 6 am to midnight. People started lining up a 4 am. It has been a mess.
The reason for this Felix suspects was the government needed the money Who knows?? It has never been explained to anyone’s satisfaction. And everyone who owns a vehicle talks about the two day process to get it registered .only in the two major cities…and so it goes.

These and other stories make the success of the Malawi Children’s Village even more remarkable. Started by Malawians in 1997 with the help of a former Peace Corps Volunteer from the Mangochi area, it has assisted over 8000 orphans in the 37 villages that surround the Center. The earliest orphans are now returning as teachers, clinical officer, agriculture extension workers, physical therapists and nurses.

They would never have had a chance. We personally know a dozen or more of the graduates. They are wonderful young adults, making significant contributions to their country. It is a testimony to the vision, tenacity and perseverance of the Malawians who run MCV and the many individual contributors and USA Rotary clubs who have made this happen.

Success does not get any better that this.

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MCV Sewing Project Annual Report 2010

Fri, 04 Mar 2011 15:41:00 GMT

Nettie’s 2010 Report on the MCV Sewing program is here. Click on the image above to read about Nettie’s visit and the challenges and successes of trying to turn a profit in Malawi. You can also read past reports here .

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Welcome Home

Sat, 26 Feb 2011 15:43:00 GMT

Tom and Ruth share tea with old friends at their Palm Beach home (2008)

Two of our Malawian neighbors were already sitting on our Khonde (porch) waiting for us when we arrived at our thatched roof cottage at Palm Beach at noon last Saturday. Over the next 6 hours until nightfall, we (mainly Ruth) held court for total of 15 visitors

A blown tire from jumping off the road to miss a truck was the only eventful event from our trip from Blantyre to our cottage at Palm Beach. Before we arrived, we stopped in Mangochi to buy another tire (you never travel without a spare).

Most of our visitors came to greet us on our return and tell of their family happenings since our last visit. Usually it is about the status of their gardens, comments about the dry January (which does not bode well for quality of maize that will be produced) and their family’s health. Always they ask us about our life this past year, inquire about our family and how was our travel. Interspersed are the sickness and death stories.

One of our favorite night watchman who had early tea on our khonde every day, probably in his fifties, died last October. English 28, a coal black, tall, striking visitor from the next door village, lost his newborn son two weeks ago. Dolores, in her late 20’s, a favorite of Ruth’s , who she found a job for, is in the hospital and not doing well with TB associated with HIV. Death is accepted here as a very real and frequent part of life. When Ruth told English how sorry she was about the death of his son. His comment was “It happens”. There is the same sadness, but death is strikingly more a part of daily life here.

And then there was the gossip, complaints about the government, and the requests! The gossip is much the same as in the states. Who is cheating on their spouses! What friendships have fallen apart in the last year and why? Who lost their jobs and what they did to lose it. As is at home, there sometimes is a kernel of truth, but there is always another side.

The government complaints don’t come from the villagers (because what the government does or does not do has very little impact on them). The complaints come from what I would describe as the Malawian middle class—working as civil servants, clinical officers, leaders of non government organizations (NGO’s). The fuel shortages are driving everyone “crazy” (it is a foreign exchange issue); the incredibly cumbersome bureaucracy (our friend Henry Kangunga spent three days in queues in Blantyre registering his car). There are rotating blackouts of
electricity almost every night because of lack of generating capacity. (Our new LED headlamps are very useful). For us, it is a great source of stories and humor. We are here for a month. It you ask a Malawian about how they deal with this, the universal response “It is terrible…” But they have no alternative.

The requests are unique to this part of the world. In the first 24 hours they included chimanga (maize), tennis shoes, milk powder, school fees, bicycle, tubes and tires for a bicycle, electricity for a house, soap and something for his
daughter “who had no blood”.

Malawians are very polite and these requests are from villagers whom we know. The requests are genuine. The soap and food requests we can usually honor with the extra soap we always bring and the small packets of rice and sugar that Ruth always buys when she arrives. For the more substantial requests we let them know that most all of our extra money goes to the Malawi Children’s Village but we will see how much of our money is left at the “end of the day”. When we leave, most of our clothes and especially tennis shoes stay here. One year when we left our cottage, I drove out in bare feet because I had an extra pair of shoes at the Malawi Children’s Office down the road. I must admit there is a certain satisfaction in giving your stuff away…especially to the folks from the village whom you know.

After a few days, it is easy to get into the rhythm of life here, very much set by the sunrise and sunset (almost equal in this part of the world 6 am to 6 pm). At 5am (to beat the sun, we are in bed by 8 pm)) on our first morning at Palm Beach, we took off on our morning run up the mile of dirt road to the main highway. On our return, there was this great commotion behind us. It was the running club with matching Alaska Pacific University Fun Run Tee shirts who were trying to get our attention. The running group had been established by the 15 faculty and students
on a work/study program from APU a few weeks earlier. We had heard rumors that they existed and might surprise us. They did. With much fanfare, we struggled to keep up with them back to our cottage. We have been running with them every morning. More truthfully, trying to keep up.

Yesterday, I was running ahead with one of the 14 y/o boys, Ruth and the others were behind us. I thought I understood his question, but had to repeat it,”Where did you find her?” I was tempted to say, the local Kandodo store, but realizing that English is a second language for him told him the truth (secondary school). His response: “she is a wonderful woman”. It does not get much better than this, and I could not agree more.

As I write this it is 7 am at the cottage we are waiting for petrol (gas) to arrive. We had a several day respite, and then nothing. The rumors are it should arrive today…and we have cell phone connections up and down the highway watching for the fuel truck. We have just enough to make it into Mangochi to refuel, perhaps a bit more. In the meantime, you change your plans for the day and drink Chombe Tea. As the locals say with a smile, “This is Malawi”!!

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Nighswanders’ 2011 Visit day 1

Fri, 11 Feb 2011 16:27:00 GMT

You have to love a country when in the midst of a national fuel shortage; the parliament is debating legislation making flatulence a crime. “Since the country embraced multiparty politics 16 years ago, people have felt free to fart anywhere” said Constitutional Affairs Minister George Chaponda. “Public farting has been encouraged by democracy”

We arrived two days ago. The first challenge -getting from the airport. We had warning. We received a brief email missive in JoBurg from old Malawian friends from Peace Corps days. Dr Dick Chilemba and his wife Leona were with us at Nhkata Bay 45 years ago.. ”Severe fuel shortages……working on getting you from the airport to our home”. As I write this we are grounded at their home. The search for petrol is on.

We are in Blantyre- the commercial capital of Malawi. It was named for the birthplace of Dr David Livingstone (Blantyre, Scotland) the first non African to see the “Lake of Stars” (Lake Malawi) so named by the sparkling reflections of the noonday sun..

We are on our annual trip to Malawi Children’s Village-up country, 4 hours from here. It is also our annual trip to the have-not part of the world.

As a good Anglican friend, one of our MCV Board member colleague from North Carolina says “It is good for the soul”. Once you settle in and get into the rhythm of life here, new insights take on many dimensions. There are new lessons each day.

You don’t realize how dependent we are on oil-world over.…that is until you don’t have it. Buses don’t run, private vehicles sit idle. Workers stay home. Normal activities of each day are put on hold.

At times like these here, those living in subsistence fare much better. They hardly notice. They don’t use petrol nor do they have electricity. One’s daily food almost exclusively is from what they raise and have stored form last year. A cash economy does not exist. Put away any idealized notion of what this life is like. Subsistence has a great price: lack of clean drinking water; pit latrines or the bush for a bathroom; a thatched room , even good ones, that will leak in the blinding rain that frequents this time of year; lack of access to medical care especially Malaria a frequent killer in the lakeshore area where we live when we are here. This all equals high infant morality, and a shortened lifespan. When we arrive soon at our cottage we will hear of those whom we know have died in the last year. There will be many.

Malawi is not a place for the impatient. Those who live by a well planned day would not do well here.

This was yesterday. Petrol was found; we were packed and planned on leaving a 1 pm. Shuqar,the driver, had arrived at 6:30 am, early enough so the car could get an updated registration from the Motor Borough. We were well ahead of the curve!!! Or so I thought.

We sent Shuqar (who works forDr Dick Chilemba) off for the registration but had not heard from him by 12. I called on his cell phone (a useful innovation widely used here). The registration had not happened today, but maybe tomorrow. Confused, I called Dick who had the real story. When Shuqar arrived, they first asked to see
his license which had expired. The car was impounded!!

Fortunately Shuqar called Dick (who is well known and one of the senior physicians in the country) who went to the police station, paid a fine, got the car, and started the registration process. It involved a lot of queues: one for the initial paperwork, another to pay the fee at a bank, a third for issuing the certificate…..and the queues are long and the bureaucrats are slow. As our Malawi friends say with a smile, “This is Malawi”.

Long story short, we were in Blantyre for 2 ½ days before we left for our cottage.

As I have noted in the past, at home when I am taking a shower in the morning, I go through my plan for the day. It usually happens. Here I use to do the same, however here no day goes as planned. Each day is a new adventure and there are always plenty of them.

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MCV’s Annual Newsletter 2010

Mon, 29 Nov 2010 16:28:00 GMT

The 2010 Annual Newsletter is here. Click on the image above to read about Village Volunteer Stanford Mangoni, get the latest on MCV’s irrigation projects, and more.

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The Composition Allstars, Group Two

Mon, 18 Oct 2010 16:33:00 GMT

Esme Makhaza
I am Esme Makhaza. I come from Lilongwe where I used to live with my parents. Now I live in Mangochi with my grandparents. I have three brothers and four sisters. I am 16 years old and I am in Form 4 at Gracious Secondary School. My hobby is singing gospel songs. I have a good friend named Elinear who likes to sing gospel songs with me. After I finish my schooling I want to become an accountant.

John Gondwe
My name is John E. Gondwe. I am aged 19 years, and the first born in my family of four. I am originally from Lilongwe, but now I live in Mangochi district. I am attending my Form 4 at Gracious Private Secondary School. I enjoy reading, writing, and also listening to music. Currently I write poems and plays which are sometimes displayed at my school. I am also an actor in the “ Together! ACT Now ” project. My favourite subjects at school are English, biology, mathematics, and physical science I wish that one day I should step my foot in the college of medicine to complete my dream of becoming a doctor.

Pemphero Mpaso
Hello! My name is Pemphero P. Mpaso. I am in Form 2 and I come from Mangochi district. I was born on 13th August, 1993 at Namitete hospital in Lilongwe. I was born in the family of two boys and one girl, and I am the first born son.
As the first born son I have a very big responsibility of taking care of my brother and sisters by providing them with necessary basic needs.
As most young men in Malawi, my favourite sport is soccer, and I support the Red Devils (Manchester United).
I have always dreamt of being a professional lawyer. I am proud to say that I am about to achieve my goal.

Martha Chikapa
Martha Chikapa is my name. I live in Mangochi at MCV. I was born in 1996 on 23rd July and Queens Hospital in Blantyre. I live with both of my parents and there are two children. I am the first born. My original home is Ntcheu district. We are from the Ngoni tribe. My ambition is to become a lawyer.

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Good and Bad Things About Gracious – Student composition

Mon, 18 Oct 2010 16:31:00 GMT

Below is a short composition by one of Gracious Secondary School’s All-Star composition groups:

Gracious Private Secondary School is one of the most popular private schools in Malawi. The school is located to the south of Lake Malawi in a district called Mangochi. The school consists of many students both male and female from various districts in Malawi. It should be known that the school has both good things and bad things about it.

To begin with, Gracious provides a conducive learning environment. It is located on the lake shore which brings fresh air. It is a very quiet place free from disturbances like pubs which can bring a lot of noise and attract the attention of students. Furthermore the school has good infrastructures compared to other schools in Malawi. The buildings are well roofed and ventilated, and surrounded by lawns, fish ponds, trees and flowers which beautify the campus. The school also has good teaching facilities, and well equipped laboratories for physical science, biology, and computers. As a result, many students are able to pass their examinations with flying colours because of the good facilities.

Apart from the good things about Gracious, there are also some bad things. One of the bad things is that it has inadequate equipment for entertainment. There is not much for the students to do when they are not studying. Although this is true, the students at the school do not consider this to be a really big problem because they are always busy with their education. They know that time is money.

Entertainment aside, the school has good, professional teachers who are very knowledgeable, skilled, and friendly. They are professionals in terms of the way they dress, teach, handle issues concerning students, and also the way they communicate with students. These skilled teachers know their roles as educators. This seen in the way the students look at them as their parents, judges, role models, and advisors. The students really appreciate the knowledge that teachers impart to them.

While the teachers are good, Gracious School has another academic issue that is not so good. Out of nineteen teachers at the school, only two are women. The female teachers play a big role in the way that they act as role models to the girls. However, since there are few of them the female students lack good role models of women in education.
In conclusion, the points listed above are some of the good and bad things about Gracious Private Secondary School. As they say, every rose has its thorns. Although the school has some bad things about it, students really like it because it helps them to perform well.

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My Unforgettable Day – Francis Chabukar (Gracious Student Composition)

Sun, 10 Oct 2010 16:36:00 GMT

By: Francis Chabukar, Form 2B

I was very surprised that I was a J. C. candidate. I am very happy with secondary school. The day I started secondary school is my most unforgettable day
This day is so memorable to me because it was my first time to go to secondary school. It was very exciting for me. When I arrived at school I felt happy to see that the teachers were ready and waiting to teach us.
Secondary school is my chance to learn geography, biology, history, and do experiments in the laboratory; therefore, I was very happy to start school. In primary school we did not have these things. “Fantastic” I said when I saw these wonderful things.
In class Miss Kennedy taught us English. She taught us about traits of good writing. After that I went for lunch and had some delicious food. When I finished eating, I came back to school again. At that time Mr. Maliki, the French man, came to teach agriculture in the class. He left and another teacher came and taught us biology and geography. After all that I went home.
The day I went to secondary school for the first time is my most unforgettable day. On that day I started learning geography, biology, English, and agriculture. It was so memorable to me to do experiments in laboratory! I felt happy when I started secondary school.

Francis Chabukar is a quiet, serious 16 year old student in 2B. He lives in Mbapi village with his father, stepmother and six brothers and sisters spread out with aunts, uncles, and grandparents in their area. His father, Mr. Phiri, teaches English at Gracious school. Francis commutes to school twice each day, either by walking or by bicycle, for class and evening study hall. It was as a result of this composition that Francis was chosen to participate in our after school composition group.

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The Allstar Composition Group!

Sun, 10 Oct 2010 16:36:00 GMT

It seems that I have become the composition maven around here. As soon as it became clear that writing is a strength of mine I was commissioned to teach almost exclusively that. (Stop. I need to take a moment to offer up appreciations, respect, and probably humble apologies to those skilled and patient English teachers I had during my own secondary schooling. It is only as a result of your excellent teaching that I write as well as I do, and that I remember the process well enough to teach it to others with some degree of fluency. I also offer my apologies, because I’m sure that I moaned, groaned, whined, and looked at you like you were crazy when you began the process. I assume this because these are the reactions I get every day in class. I don’t remember doing this myself, but I’m sure it probably happened.) I began teaching only the Form 2s, but soon the Form 4s heard about what we were doing and started coming to me in twos, threes, or alone to have extra help. I have never worked with students who were so willing to do extra work outside of class. It seems that every day I am marking compositions that students (particularly the Form 4s) are writing on their own time. It’s incredibly motivating and inspiring to me!

With all this good material coming in I got to thinking….I could dutifully write a weekly article or so (which I will continue to do) about what I’m teaching and how it’s going, or I could SHOW you what we’re doing by having the students do some of the work themselves. To that end I told the students in my Form 2 classes that I would publish the best two compositions, one from each class, from each of the types they must learn for their exams (narrative, argumentative, descriptive, etc…) on this blog, along with their names, basic information, and a picture (when the camera situation is resolved).
In addition, one of the other language teachers (Eunice Dzikiti…the only other girl teacher) and I brought together a group of the most promising writers in Forms 2 and 4 for an after school composition group. The students are divided into two groups containing three Form 2s and three Form 4s each. Their job is to write one composition per month (per group) relating in some way to Gracious, MCV, Mangochi, Malawi, etc. so that they may update you, our fine readers, on the goings on in this part of the world. They are currently working on their first compositions, and it’s very exciting! They are learning to ask questions, add details, and work together creatively.

Also, keep in mind when reading their work that English is not their first language. Additionally, they have a very different way of teaching composition here. I’m still trying to convince my students that this way will be successful. As a result, dear English professors reading this out there, these are a long way from perfect. However, I think they’re a good start, eh? Last thing, and then I promise I’ll let you read their words and not mine, I often choose students (and their work) not based so much on their writing conventions, but on what they see. Regularly when I assign a composition I get many back that say the same general thing. Sometimes I will choose the best of these to publish, but I will also be choosing students who can tell a good story, are creative, and see the world in an interesting way.

I’m really excited to see the work the students turn out, and to share it with you. These are some pretty amazing kids. Enjoy!

Zikomo kwambili!

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My Unforgettable Day – Treza Sakonda (Gracious Student Composition)

Sun, 10 Oct 2010 16:35:00 GMT

By: Treza Sakonda, Form 2A

I will never forget about this day. I was confused about my life and I did not know what to do anymore. I was like someone else. I did not believe that this horrible thing was happening to me. They told me my mother had died. It was unbelievable to me to hear such a thing. The day my mother died is my most unforgettable day.
My mother died on a Monday morning. It was 12th March, 2008. When I woke up that morning I was very tired. I felt like I had come from the farm. When I looked at the time it was 10o’clock in the morning. I took my bath and I ate my breakfast. I did not do any work that day because my body felt sick like I had malaria.
My uncle came that morning and told me to be ready because we had to go to the village immediately. He said that my mother wanted to see me. I told him that my mother lived in Lilongwe. I asked why he was saying that we must go to the village, and that my mother wanted to see me. He did not answer, he just walked away. In my mind I knew that something was wrong and I tried to hold myself together, but some tears came out from my eyes. When my friend asked me what I was crying about I did not answer her, I just went inside the house.
The day I lost my mother is the most memorable day of my life. I will never forget about it and I still cannot believe that my mother is gone.

Treza Sakonda is a shy, perceptive 15 year old girl from Madelco village. Since the death of her mother, she and her siblings (2 brothers and 2 sisters) live with their aunt. She commutes about 2 kilometers to school each day, either walking or by bicycle. Her father lives about an hour and a half north up in the hills in Ndeza and sends money home to support the kids. It is as a result of this composition that Treza was chosen to participate in the after school composition group.

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Out and About with ‘Together! ACT now!’

Sat, 18 Sep 2010 17:41:00 GMT

Last Saturday I went on tour with MCV/Gracious’ touring HIV/AIDS awareness theater troupe…

We were ‘supposed’ to leave at 1:30pm, but sat and waited around until finally our transportation huffed its way into the driveway an hour late (which is really pretty prompt by Malawi standards). At the same time as the truck chugged to a halt in front of us, I received a phone call from the director, David Mtemang’ombe, telling me, essentially, that I was in charge until the truck could pick him up at his house. Uh, ok? This would have been all well and good except that I had no (nine, zip, zero, zilch) idea what was going on. No idea who was supposed to be there, when we were leaving, or where we were going. Sure, no problem!

Eventually all the performers and groupies were loaded into the back of the truck (I’m still not 100% sure which was which). To my surprise, we stopped at the gate to pick up another director. Seriously. She was sitting right around the corner (maybe 100 yards) from where I had just been trying to ‘herd cats’. I could only sigh and smile.
With all the students piled into the truck, it heaved to a start and we trundled slowly in search of our most esteemed director. David (or Davie) is an energetic man with a sharp wit, a clever mind, and a snarky sense of humor. He is the head of our language department at Gracious and speaks fabulous English. In addition to his responsibilities at Gracious, he also teaches English to the staff at Open Arms (the orphan nursery program next door), and directs the Together! ACT Now productions. On this day he squished himself into the back of the truck with the rest of us and we were finally on our way. Whew!

The students performed in a dusty open space on the outskirts of a small village. There were 100+ people in attendance, which evidently is fairly poor. Nonetheless, there was enough work for everyone to do. Each production is staffed by Davie (director), Florence (community organizer), a doctor (from a rotating cast), several trained volunteers (Dixon Malakula, another teacher from Gracious is one), and a cast of youth currently attending and recently exited from Gracious. Additionally they always “…try to have a white person along. It makes us look serious.”

The program begins with singing and dancing by the students (in Chichewa of course). The songs are usually written by the students (often on the spot), and cover a variety of topics from HIV/AIDS to the anticipated success of their production. From here they launch into the actual play “The Three Spirits”. It was written by Alaskan college student, Together! Act Now Founder & Director, Kyle Horne and translated into Chichewa by Davie. The plot is based on the classic “A Christmas Carol”. In this case a young couple has decided they’re ready to ‘sleep’ together. They are not planning to use a condom. Enter the Spirit of the Past who tells the boy (Kenny) that he has HIV, given to him by his mother at birth. The next spirit, that of the Near Future, shows Kenny that he will soon become ill with full-blown AIDS. The last spirit, the Spirit of the Distant Future, flashes them forward three years. Kenny is still suffering, and the girl (Shakira) has died from the disease after having been infected by Kenny. In the end, naturally, Kenny and Shakira make the right decision.

Following the performance the volunteers pull people from the audience to participate in small discussion groups. The groups talk about prevention, treatment, and making safe choices for yourself and your family. When the groups return there is more singing and dancing by the students. Each group takes the stage to present their findings. Between groups, the cast entertains with songs, short plays, poems, etc of their own composition. Much clapping and cheering is done, and each village volunteer is rewarded for their participation with a bar of nice laundry detergent (bestowed in a slightly bumbling fashion by the resident white person). More singing and dancing brings the ‘curtain’ down.

During the performances, discussions, etc. the doctor privately tests all those interested to see if they are positive for HIV/AIDS. On this particular day 34 people (of 100+ in attendance) agreed to be tested. Of that number, one was infected with HIV/AIDS. Anyone interested (whether positive or negative for the virus) receives counseling on the spread of the virus, and everyone is given free condoms as party favors.
As there are almost no props (just a drum, some sarongs, and a banner) clean-up is a breeze. The hooligan performers and groupies, flush and buzzing with their performance high, piled into the back of the truck; whooping and singing all the while. The staff walked home, with less whooping, but equally pleased.
I was blown away by the skill, motivation, and conviction expressed by the youthful performers and tag-alongs. Their performance was honest because they believe in what they’re teaching. It was truly a pleasure to see such talented kids in action, and I wasn’t the only one impressed. As the cast and band-aides drove away, I handed the remains of my soda to a group of young children who had seen the performance. They took the bottle with smiles, and promptly turned big eyes to watch the departing figure of a matola loaded down with a new batch of heroes.

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A newly arrived volunteer’s First Impressions

Thu, 16 Sep 2010 17:43:00 GMT

It is not an exaggeration to say that I have wanted to come to Malawi almost as long as I can remember. My mother lived in and around Blantyre (the largest city) while her father taught at the university there. I grew up hearing stories about the ‘Warm Heart of Africa’: of the good people, the delicious mangoes, bananas, and fish, and of the monkeys playing in the branches whilst she and her siblings played around the tree trunks. Through these stories my mom inspired my brothers and I to travel the world, and also planted in us (certainly me) a deep desire to see the place that had so captured her heart.

For several years I put my curiosity about Malawi aside and focused on learning my trade. I grew up (at least in theory) and became a teacher. More specifically I became a teacher of the deaf and hard of hearing. I spent the early part of my twenties going to college (Hastings College, Hastings, Nebraska) and graduate school (The University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota), and teaching in schools from Watertown, Massachusetts to Gainesville, Florida to Faribault, Minnesota to Pinole, California.

During these years I also devoted a great deal of time to traveling (primarily in the U.S. and Europe). I saw many wonderful places, met many extraordinary people, and was privileged to teach many truly amazing and inspiring students. Always, though, Malawi was singing in the back of my mind and calling me to Africa.
I heard it, but I kept saying “One day, Malawi, one day” until finally I realized that ‘one day’ could be right now! However, it seemed not only a great folly, but also incredibly selfish to go on vacation when I have a skill that others could benefit from… With that thought in mind I set out to find a way to move to Malawi and teach. Lucky for me, my grandparents were friends with several Peace Corps. volunteers that were in Malawi at the same time as they were. One of these volunteers knew Bill Schmidt (who is a member of the MCV board of directors). Bill put me in touch with Conor Brady (another board member) who offered me the opportunity to combine my love for my profession, my curiosity about Malawi, and my desire to help others into one grand adventure. I could move to Africa and work as a volunteer teacher at the Malawi Children’s Village in Mangochi District, Malawi. In an instant the decision was made.

In order to afford to volunteer for a year I had to do a lot of fundraising. I contacted (almost literally) everyone I knew, and gave presentations to schools and Rotary Clubs in my area. (Thank you so much to all the donors!) Repeatedly people asked me if I was nervous, scared, excited, etc. The answer was always no. While I was sometimes a bit overwhelmed by the mania of preparations, my strongest feeling on the subject was always one of readiness. To be honest, I can’t even say that I was ever really excited, just very anxious to get there and get started! I had thought about it, talked about it, and prepared to go long enough; it was time to be on with it! So it was that approximately one year after my phone call to Conor, to my great joy, I found myself stepping off a plane and into the bright warmth of the Malawi sun.

When the sun and African heat (along with a cadre of well dressed, serious faced Malawians lining the entrance to the airport… Huh?) greeted me my first thought was ‘Wow!’ “Wow! I finally made it! I live in Malawi now”. I thought that maybe I was afraid or nervous and just hadn’t noticed yet, so I checked in with myself a bit… Nope. I felt only relief at having arrived. It felt right. It felt, I realized, like coming home.

Upon disembarking the airplane I learned that the former president from Malawi was onboard and required the vast majority of the luggage space. (Ahhhh, well that explains the stern, official looking people.) This was interesting news to me, made even more so because it meant that my luggage had been removed from the plane to make room for his many boxes and bags. Sigh… No worries, in a rare moment of thinking ahead I had packed my toothbrush, hairbrush, a few clean clothes, some snacks, and lots of clean underwear in my carry-on. I waited in line (a long time) to fill out a lost baggage form and went out to meet a cheerful, if slightly worried by now, Felix. What a grand, warm human being he is!

It was my intention to take many pictures on the way home from the airport, but I forgot. I was simply too excited; talking to Felix, looking around, and seeing all the things. I’d always thought that the quality of light in my grandparents’ photographs was a function of their fading with time. Not so, my friends! The sky is truly that brush of russet as the sun prepares to set (at a classically equatorial 6:00pm). The earth beneath is a palette of dusty reds, oranges, and browns. Small circular or square huts seem to have sprung up from the soil alongside the road. Each house is thatched with long, stiff river grass; sometimes over a tin roof, sometimes not. There are children of sundry sizes, goats, and chickens milling about in the yards. Alongside the road a seemingly endless stream of people walking and riding bicycles parade along both sides: men and women confidently and delicately balancing enormous loads upon their heads, bicycles so creatively packed and weighted down that the tires looked flat. And, given the generally manic approach to driving here, it is no small miracle that goats, pedestrians, cyclists, and those driving cars all live to try again tomorrow. Beyond the traffic insanity trees and plants of various flavors compete with maize, cassava, and village gardens. The landscape is dusky and hazy, a wash of sepia with bursts of color, but feels lit from within. Everything: earth, sky, trees, people, seems to glow just a little.

Roughly 28 hours of traveling (train, airports, planes, and a car) after leaving Anna’s house in Kampen (maybe 40 if you count from Colorado to Anna’s and back to Schipol airport) I arrived at MCV. As soon as I got out of the car I met James, the caretaker of the grounds. With a smile and a “Muli bwanji?” (How are you?), he handed me a papaya (popo) and welcomed me to my new home. It turns out that he would be the first of many Jameses that I would meet in the next 24 hours. I had in my possession my backpack with odds and ends and laptop, another bag with some books and my hiking boots, and a grocery bag containing a bottle of water, a jar of peanut butter, honey, a loaf of bread, shampoo and conditioner, some canned fruit, and a set of sheets.
My house (one of the guest houses) is cozy and appropriate: brick walls, thatch over a tin roof, a number of screened and barred windows, and a smooth cement floor. In one room there is a small fridge, stove, table with three chairs, and a cabinet with an odd assortment of dishes. In the other room the bed (with blessed bednet, and new bright pink and orange floral print sheets) dominates, but there is also another small table, another cabinet, and some shelves. Tucked behind the bedroom is a tight bathroom containing a sink, a standing shower (sans curtain), a toilet, and a bathtub. It was to this room that my travel-dirty body was pulled as if by magnet. Ahh, to be clean! I ran myself a very skinny, shallow bath after finding that only the cold water worked in the shower. With a cup I sloshed water over my hair and body and felt much better. I got out, unpacked, and ate a peanut butter sandwich. With a note of amazement at the early darkness, I put myself to bed (in my clothes) at probably 8:30pm. This may be my earliest bedtime to date. Katie, you should be proud!

Before dawn I awoke to a cacophony of birdsong. There was no going back to sleep, and I’d done dueling with the Houdini mosquitoes who’d teleported their way inside my bednet anyway, so up I got. I had no idea what time it was. In short order I learned that my nearest neighbors are a flock of laying hens, and made a new friend called James (of course). I spent the bulk of Sunday trailing after him as he worked around the school. He’s a clever lad who, despite being the ripe old age of 31, has been working at MCV since he was 15. He speaks Chichewa, English with decent proficiency, but also some Arabic, Yao, Afrikaans, and something else that I forgot. James took me on a grand tour, introduced me to many new friendly faces, and began a zealous offensive move to teach me Chichewa.

And I leave you with that. There are more pictures and impressions of the grand tour (and other things) to follow shortly.
Tiwonona! (See you later!)

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Measles Outbreak at Open Arms Nursery

Tue, 24 Aug 2010 17:45:00 GMT

A measles epidemic has hit Central and South Africa; Malawi and the children at Malawi Children’s Village did not escape.

Unfortunately eight of the reported 197 deaths since the first of the year were children from the nursery associated with MCV and operated by a British nonprofit Open Arms . The staff is devastated. All died in the Mangochi District Hospital.

One of the earliest children was sent to the hospital because the Open Arms staff had suspected measles, but the child was sent home to Open Arms, cleared by the hospital as not having measles.

The Ministry of Health said that this year, as many as 77,000 more have been infected with measles. The last epidemic occurred in 2000 when 54 people died. (Read the Reuters article here .)

By this last May the country with the help of Medicine Sans Frontier MS F had begun a vigorous campaign to provide vaccinations throughout the country. This effort suffered a serious setback at the end of June when a fire at Central Poultry, a renowned poultry company, in the capital, destroyed about $280,000 worth of vaccine that was to be used by MSF.

Malawi’s current measles immunization rate is close to 60%, the goal is 90%.

Current reports from MCV are that people are lining up in the villages for their immunizations. One of our Board members Mary Palmory is currently in Malawi helping with a community orphan survey. She wrote of August 18, “When going to Kela village today there were over 50 (probably 100) people waiting under a tree. We all got excited to think that many people were waiting for our survey. The most that had been waiting was probably 30. At any rate, today was first day for beginning immunization campaign; targeting 6 million children aged 6 months to 15 yrs”

Measles is a devastating disease for unimmunized children. I have never seen a case until working at the Kamusu Central Hospital in Lilongwe in 1985. We had an isolation ward of measles, probably 30 kids all miserable with high fevers, weeping eyes and nose, skin rashes and many with pneumonia. Of course this was frequently complicated by malaria and malnutrition. They did not have a chance. The youngest were the most at risk.

I wonder if the country has been so overwhelmed with HIV/AIDS that it let down its guard on other preventable diseases of childhood.

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Welcome to the new MCV Website.

Sun, 08 Aug 2010 17:48:00 GMT

Welcome to the new MCV website: www.malawichildrensvillage.org The new site uses a variety of media to make more information available to our friends and donors than ever before. We hope that you’ll find the navigation easier to use than the old site, and that you’ll be able to find out everything you want to know about Malawi, our organization’s work there, and ways that you can donate and become involved with the program.

This site has a couple of exciting features that we think you’ll enjoy.

The new media section gives you access to radio stories, videos, photos, and print media from Malawi.
The MCV blog, will keep you up to date on the latest information from Malawi. You can subscribe to the blog via email to receive MCV updates from a variety of contributors, including MCV staff, board members, and other volunteers and donors. We will keep you up to date on the latest news from Malawi, and we invite you to contribute your own thoughts by leaving comments.

We plan to make lots of improvements to this new site. While we are now live, we are not finished with our site, and we will continue to make improvements until both we and our donors our satisfied with the new site. As we continue to build out the content of our new site, please keep in mind that we are a small organization with no paid US staff, and inconsistent internet access in Malawi. We appreciate your patience with us as we improve our site and make more information available to all of you. If you have feedback about the new site, or would like to help us improve it in anyway, please contact me at conor@malawichildrensvillage.org

Thanks for visiting www.malawichildrensvillage.org. We hope you enjoy it!

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Test Results are in

Sun, 28 Mar 2010 17:49:00 GMT

The first graduation class of Gracious Secondary school have just received the results of the National Graduation exam. The scores determine who will go to college and maybe even receive sponsorship from the government. The results are excellent.

Ninety six percent of the students passed. This was the second highest pass rate in the school district which consists of 10 secondary schools. Also one of the students had the second highest score for the whole district. Once the national scores are ranked, a number of our students will have passed with distinction which means they will receive government assistance for college.

Ten of the top students in the current senior class are sponsored orphans who will do well on the national exams.

We now have orphan graduates who have had post secondary education working as teachers, clinical officers, agricultural specialists. All would not have had this opportunity if Malawi Children’s Village had not been in existence.

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