He is head of a relatively bigger area of about 16km2. He leads 26 chiefs (village heads) and the whole community has about 9,000 people of which 52% are females. Taulo is very instrumental in providing leadership for the social and economic development of his area. From his own resources, he raised tree seedlings and shared to his community for agroforestry.  Chinangwa Nursery School (the one FVM supports) has also benefitted from his initiatives.

Teaching Volunteers (left to right): Richard, Rozina, Raphael, Chrissy and Liston
​
These teaching volunteers have been the engine of FVM’s operations in the community of Chief Taulo for more than 11 years. They are all dedicated to service and keeping the facility safe since it was constructed 10 years ago. Male volunteers watch over the facility without pay. Apart from caring and teaching more than 300 children (aged 3-6 years old), they also are fully involved in producing crops to supplement the food that FVM provides for the children. All of them are trained in taking care of the children. Missing in this group are Edwin and Adolla.

The circumstances of the last couple of years have definitely been challenging, and as this report shares, continue to be, but we know that in the midst of these challenges we can rejoice, pray and give thanks.  We are thankful for our supporters who lift up the work of FVM in prayer each month and we ask that you continue to do so in light of recent events in Malawi.  In the period between mid-February and mid-March 2022, the people of Malawi have been hit by four disasters: Cyclone Anna, Cyclone Gombe, the resurfacing of polio, and the trickle-down effects of the on-going Russia-Ukraine war crisis. 
​
Malawi is a country with 75% of its population living below the poverty line (less than $1 per day) and depends on peasant farming for its survival.  The damage done by the two storms that have destroyed crops, animals, houses and taken some lives has been devastating for the people of Malawi. 

Most of the farm land has been destroyed causing perpetual hunger until next year when hopefully the situation will be favourable in the next growing season.  Of high concern is the rise of Cholera cases, which often results from stagnant water in flash flood areas.  There are as many as 10 cases of Cholera in Nsanje, and as Cholera transmits like fire in the bush we ask for your prayers.
​
We can be thankful that in times like these, our preschool feeding program continues to operate.  Upwards of 400 children continue to receive nutritious food in the two child-care centres. 

​Also to report, a three-year-old girl has been diagnosed with polio in Lilongwe, the country's capital.  Polio is a viral infection that invades the nervous system and can cause paralysis that leads to permanent disability. There is no cure for polio.  Malawi was declared polio-free 22 years ago, but this case is quite concerning, especially in a country with an already fragile health care system.  The Malawi government called the outbreak a public health emergency and a massive Polio vaccination was commenced March 21, 2022 for all children under five-years-old.  

Finally, as in many other areas of the world, the effects of the Russia-Ukraine war have already started manifesting in Malawi with scarcity of bread which has forced increase in prices. Prices of oil (gas) and fertilizer are most likely to escalate beyond imagination soon.  Please continue to pray for this situation.

The last couple of months have been full of preparations for moving ahead in the year 2022.  The major challenge has been the storm that was caused by Cyclone Ana in Southern Africa, including Southern Malawi.  More than 60 houses were demolished by the storm in the two communities that FVM works, and sadly the life of a five-year girl was lost when the walls of a house fell on her.  Please continue to pray for the rebuilding and clean-up that will take place over the next little while. 
​
What has been happening in Malawi...

More than 60 students have been assisted with tuition fees in secondary schools and colleges through FVM's education and bursary program. (Pictured above: 60% of these youth are assisted by FVM in their education)
​
Among them is Grace Likome (pictured below), who is disabled from birth. She is doing her third year in secondary school and has been so grateful with the opportunity to be assisted with the financial needs associated with her education. 

108 children (aged 6) graduated from FVM’s preschools to formal primary school.

More than 1,190 children from Chifundo (Mercy) nursery school in Nandolo and Chinangwa nursery school in Taulo have graduated since FVM began working here in 2010. The first group is now in the 3rd year of secondary school.

TROPICAL CYCLONE ANA HIT MALAWI ON JANUARY 24TH WITH DEVASTATING RESULTS ACROSS THE SOUTHERN REGION. HERE ARE REPORTS FROM FVM’S 2 AREAS OF PARTNERSHIP.

TAULO:
Due to its flat low-lying geography, Taulo is subject to flash flooding.
​

• Number of households affected:   1,788
• 17 people were injured and treated as outpatients.
• 1 little girl died when her house collapsed on her.
  ​

Newton Sindo reports, “ More than 20 houses were completely destroyed, while more than 35 house were partly demolished. Three quarters of the crops were destroyed and a lot of livestock (especially chickens) were carried away in the resulting floods."

Pictured Above: (Left) Villages flooded. (Right) A house partly destroyed.

NANDOLO:
Nandolo is situated on higher ground on the side of Mt. Mulanje consequently was spared flooding but was hit hard with extremely high winds due to the cyclone.
​

• 34 houses were destroyed.
• 677 households (2,708 people) are experiencing food shortages.
• There were no deaths but one child suffered minor injuries and is now recovered.

Pictured Above: Houses destroyed in Nandolo.

EMERGENCY NEEDS include food, mats and blankets, sanitation essentials, mosquito nets, notebooks and clothes for children especially.

During the last few months you have received updates highlighting success stories from young people completing post – secondary education in Malawi.
​
FOUR GRADUATING RECIPIENTS OF FVM UNIVERSITY SCHOLARSHIPS

                  ENGAGING YOUTH IN IMPORTANT DISCUSSIONS

Young people make up the largest and fastest growing proportion of the general population in Malawi.  According to most recent census data, 51% of the population is below 18 years.(1)  Although many areas of life are found very challenging for a young person in Malawi, one of the major issues affecting young people is their sexual and reproductive health (SRH).  Many of these young people are at risk or already struggling with the consequences of an unplanned pregnancy or a sexually transmitted infection (STI), including HIV/AIDS.

As of January 2021, Malawi has one of the highest maternal mortality ratios globally– currently estimated at 439 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births (in Canada, the ratio is 10 per 100,000).  Approximately one in four teenage girls under the age of 18 is a mother. Becoming pregnant at this young age leads to complications during deliveries and puts them at greater risk for losing their babies, losing their own lives, or developing an obstetric fistula– a condition where a rupture in the birth canal leaves women suffering from incontinence and ostracized from their society. Adolescent pregnancies comprise 29% of all births and 15% of maternal deaths in Malawi.(2)  As well, adolescent pregnancies are a hindrance to further education for many females, which leads to overall lower quality of life.

Instructing on sexual and reproductive health issues has become increasingly a priority for communities and FVM has partnered with instructors to initiate discussions aimed at engaging the youth in this area.  This past month, 44 young people were brought together twice to instruct them in sexual and reproductive health issues, the goal being to provide community-based information so that adolescents have access to family planning and other reproductive services, as well as information on abstinence and sexually transmitted infections.  For some insight, the following is some of the information shared with the youth:

SRHR services available in their nearest public health facilities

• Family planning
• HIV testing
• Antiretroviral therapy (ART)
• Antenatal clinic
• Labor and delivery
• Sexually transmitted infection (STI) clinic
  
  

Barriers to accessing SRHR Services

• Long distances to facilities
• Shortage of drugs and other commodities
• Attitude of health workers
• Shame of being seen by parent’s friends
  
  

Possible solutions to the barriers

• Utilize the Health Services in the communities
• Utilize the youth friendly services available in the facilities

                               Educating Young Women in Malawi
​
In Malawi, nearly four in 10 girls marry before the age of 18, and three in 10 girls have their first child before the age of 18. In part as a result, the completion rate for secondary school for Malawian girls remains very low.  Another reason girls are less likely to be educated, or allowed to further their education is due to widespread poverty in Malawi.  Educating children is a heavy burden for many families, thus when faced with a choice, parents will often choose to invest in education for their sons instead of daughters. Therefore, there is a dire need to promote the education of women and children in Malawi in order to improve their quality of life.  

FVM has been proactive in providing funds for education for secondary school, college and university.  For years, FVM has assisted both men and women in reaching their educational goals.  Please read this testimony from Grace, one of the women FVM has financially assisted so that she can reach her goal of becoming a doctor.

Praise God for what He has been able to do in the life of Grace!  Your support through prayers and financial means have allowed FVM to assist many students with their tuition fees and allowed them to meet educational goals that will change the course of their lives.  ​

                                               A TIME TO CELEBRATE!
​
There has been some celebration and fun this past month for our communities- a much needed distraction from the heaviness of the past year dealing with COVID.  We can rejoice that the 3 boreholes that FVM drilled in January 2021 were officially handed over to the community.  These wells provide essential safe and clean water to hundreds of community members and will assist in sanitation needs.
 
"Please render our inner-most heartfelt thanks to our friends who have given us        this precious gift of water”, said Chief Taulo to all the community members.
​
As well, over 4,000 people were entertained with football and netball matches where trophies and cash awards were given to the participating teams.

What has been happening...

Lots of activities related to the physical well-being of community members have been undertaken in the last month.  

•  80 households (about 320 people) have been granted a business start-up fund of MK30,000 (about $38 USD) to be given back in 12 months’ time (without interest). The idea is to alleviate economic status of community members as we contribute to the sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) challenges that girl children are facing in Malawi.  

 

• The sports tournament mentioned earlier was a great opportunity to reach more than 5,000 people with messages of child protection (from early marriages and teenage pregnancies, sexual harassment, gender-based violence), Covid-19 prevention, importance of sending children to school, and appeal for modification of some cultural practices that make a girl child more vulnerable.  As well, the audience was reached with discussions of HIV prevention methods.  69 people underwent HIV tests and no one was diagnosed positive. This is worthy celebrating as it shows that the messages, we have been disseminating for the past 11 years, are bearing fruits.

 

• 19 women underwent cervical cancer screening and 1 was diagnosed positive and she was immediately referred for further treatment.

 

• 74 people had their eyes screened. 26 of them got treated, and 6 are to undergo cataract surgery.

Pictured above: Eye screening ​

​Prayer Points:

• Third wave of Covid-19 has hit Malawi and other African countries.  Please pray for the safety of our community members.
• Sexual and reproductive health activities will be conducted and effective.

Thank you again for your ongoing interest and support of FVM in Malawi.

"Education is the cornerstone of life in Malawi" -Newton Sindo

What has been happening...

We are steadily moving forward in our work as more community visits have taken place and plans for future activities are being made.

• 350 children continue attending preschool and feeding program as volunteers continue to provide these important services.

 

• There was a visitor from Tanzania (Eliya Mahende), who after reading about the work FVM does in Malawi travelled all the way from Dodoma to witness it for himself.  Chiefs Taulo and Nandolo shared exciting details of FVM's work in Malawi which Eliyah admired and appreciated.

 

• Second phase Covid-19 vaccination (AstraZeneca) is resuming.  Our prayer is that transmission should end.  

 

• 4 Community-based Bible Study sessions and 2 evangelism outreaches were conducted.