About the project

Cherish believes in life and fulfilment for the people of Malawi.  We now have a link with Step to Jesus Ministries which has many social programmes addressing the needs of orphans, widows, the elderly, chronically sick people and poorest of the poor.  Many of these people are affected by HIV/ AIDS.  Activities include a nursery and feeding programme for 78 orphans and winter cropping to provide food and to raise funds for school fees.

Cherish actively encouraged the setting up of Malawi YMCA at Chikwawa (see the photo below), which is working to fight the ignorance that surrounds AIDS, using their Tipewe Eidze Programme (meaning Avoid AIDS).  A band of 10 volunteers plays in five villages and schools in the Chikwawa district, encouraging parents to send their children to school, children to stay in school and have ambitions, warning people of the dangers of AIDS and promoting women's rights.  There is also a drama group and sports for young people.  The YMCA provides an opportunity for young people to make the most of their lives and make bring benefits to their community.

The people involved

This part of our work was established through direct contacts made by our founder, Irene Moses.

Pastor Stanley Phiri is the founder of Step to Jesus Church and Ministries in Malawi.  This ministry operates through their network of 41 churches to support orphans, widows and those who are poor and vulnerable .

Malawi YMCA works with young people and communities and has up to 450 members.  It has been pioneered by its Executive Director Byson Kachala.  John Sungitsa and Nottinghamshire YMCA have played a key role in helping to bring Malawi YMCA into being. 

Our secretary, Ruth Webster, visited Malawi in October 2007.  This allowed her to visit projects of Step to Jesus Ministries in Blantyre and of Malawi YMCA in Chikwawa and Blantyre.

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How you can help

There is no limit to the needs or potential for improvement.  Any support is gratefully received and will bring encouragement, hope and health to the people receiving it. 

Specific needs include:

• Food and clothes for orphans, widows and those who have lost homes to floods. 
• Money to pay school fees for children to attend secondary school - around £30 per term
• Irrigation to grow crops in the dry season
• Building a proper building for a school in Chikwawa which children cannot attend in the rainy season (right)
  

Donations to Cherish for its work in Malawi will help us to combat ignorance and build faith in a better future for the people of this beautiful corner of Africa.  Interested?  Please contact us or make a donation!  Thank you.

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Latest news from the project

March 2008
Floods - Between November and April is the rainy season in Malawi.  This is when people can cultivate crops to provide food for the year.  However, across Southern Africa there is often flooding as a result of heavy rains.  So far in 2008 this has affected at least 180,000 people in Malawi (32,000 households).  See here for a map of areas affected by flooding.  In Malawi this includes the Chikwawa district where the YMCA is active.  In mid-February Pastor Stanley reported:

"Keep on praying for us here as we are in rain season, the rain has caused several damages because of the floods in our country. Many people have lost their lives, food, relatives and buildings and are lacking assistance like:- food, blankets, shelters, plastic papers, clothes etc. And now the Government of Malawi is encouraging the NGOs, Churches and well wishers to assist these brothers and sisters who are suffering very heavily due to the floods."

January 2008

Food and schooling - Following the visit from one of our trustees in October 2007 Cherish made a donation to the work of Step to Jesus Ministries, near Limbe.  This made it possible for one needy student to go to secondary school, covering the cost of school fees, boarding fees, books, clothes etc. It also paid for 10 bags of maize to needy households and for food supplies for the orphans attending the nursery school.

Earlier

In Blantyre the school which Cherish in the past supported has now separated from Jerusalem Baptist Church. Recently we have not been able to locate the school, hence supporting other projects.

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Context

Malawi is one of the poorest countries in the world, but, up to now, one of the most peaceful. This provides aid agencies with exciting opportunities to work with the local population in a variety of ways.

Malawi, however, is suffering badly from Aids.  Many of its population are exploited by overseas investors - particularly through tobacco, a major cash crop in the country, the addiction to which spreads cancer and shortened lives wherever it goes.

• 14% of 15-49 year olds have AIDS or HIV
• 65% of the population live below the poverty line, 20% of the population are very poor.
• 30% of the population go hungry for at least three months of the year.
• Education – since 1994 primary education has been free, but it is of poor quality, often classes have more than 100 students, and only 50% of students have classrooms.

(Source: Dept. for International Development)

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Quote

“He [the Lord] upholds the cause of the oppressed and gives food to the hungry.”  Psalm 146:7