This report intends to give updates about some few developments so far in Malawi. The major activities that have taken place so, since the previous report, are SCOM Conferences and Radio Evangelism.
Student Christian Organisation of Malawi (SCOM)
SCOM is an interdenominational Christian organisation that targets students in secondary schools and universities and colleges. It started in 1961 and is a registered organisation with the government of Malawi. Newton Sindo has been a product of SCOM and is fully involved in fostering the work of SCOM. FVM partnered with SCOM since 2007 when it started contributing towards SCOM functions especially annual conferences.
2014 SCOM Conferences
SCOM holds annual zonal conferences throughout Malawi within the same period. Since FVM works in Zomba and Mulanje, it is partnered with Mulanje and Zomba SCOM zones. Since 2009, FVM has been awarding SCOM members who do exceptionally well in their academics. The awards include cash contribution to their education, a trophy and education assistance in form of tuition fees. The aim is to encourage Christian students to excel in their education which is an integral catalyst of every development. There are 7 beneficiaries to this initiative.
This year, SCOM Conferences started on 4th and ended on 7th April, 2014. In Mulanje it took place at Wincar Pvt Secondary School, just at the foot of Mulanje Mountain, the third largest mountain in Southern Africa; while in Zomba it was held at Mulunguzi Secondary School. There were about 300 participants in Mulanje and 632 in Zomba. FVM distributed calendars to all participants, and also contributed cash of MK100,000 (about US$254) to each conference. In other words, more than 932 students benefited from the contribution FVM made towards SCOM Conferences. This is marvelous!!
Jacqueline Dzidzi and Truder Kawaza are the 2014 Academic Excellence awardees. Jacqueline got 12 points on her Secondary School final exams and is already enrolled at a newly established public university, Malawi University of Science and Technology studying one of the Bachelor of Engineering in Biomedical Engineering. It is a five year course and pretty expensive. Truder is in her third year at Providence Secondary School. Truder’s vision is to do medicine. They received MK30,000 and MK15,000 cash, respectively and a trophy each from FVM.
Newton Sindo was one of the facilitators at both conferences. Detailed report which will include financial report will be provided by Conference organizers soon.
Radio Evangelism
It is of great pleasure to inform all stakeholders that radio broadcasting of God’s message started on Monday, 7th April, 2014. It is a weekly programme. After further consultation, Monday was settled to be the day for this weekly broadcasting. Rev. Yassin Gama’s message is the first to be aired for the next two months.