Wash & Pray
~This is what we do during the crisis according to Patrick and Violet Nabwera as quoted by Scott and Lorilee MacLean from Malawi~
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*Demonstration on hand washing and distribution of sanitation items to community members.
THE EMERGING PICTURE
COVID-19 has arrived in Malawi and the president has declared a state of national disaster mandating a 21 day lockdown which has been challenged by the courts.
Some apolitical NGOs have so far been allowed to continue limited activities as essential services. FVM, through Newton Sindo, is working towards validation of this through the District Commissioner’s Office. Malawi is not positioned to withstand a pandemic due to a weak healthcare system with extremely limited resources. Some nurses and staff have already stopped work to protest a lack of protective equipment and demand higher pay.
The economy is already fragile with 80% of the population surviving on less than $2/day. Those who depend on remittances from family members working abroad have seen that money reduced by almost 90% in the last three weeks. If a single mother of 6 supports the family through tailoring and is forced to close down while her husband who works in a restaurant in North America has lost his job … what is she to do? Under a lockdown she cannot even go to the local market to barter for food.
Social distancing is impossible in village life in Malawi as large families live in small quarters. Hot water and soap are not readily available … you can’t just turn on the tap! 80% of Malawians do not have piped water in their homes. That’s more than 15 million people! Thus quarantine is also impossible. The majority of Malawians do not understand the nature of the invisible virus which can infect and kill you. As Newton reports, “ Everyone is full of fear which derails personal and community development in all areas of life.”
Our two preschools have been forced to stop daily feeding of hundreds of children which will eventually result in “malnutrition affecting the children,“ according to Newton Sindo. FVM’s regular community visiting and monitoring has been severely curtailed.
Some apolitical NGOs have so far been allowed to continue limited activities as essential services. FVM, through Newton Sindo, is working towards validation of this through the District Commissioner’s Office. Malawi is not positioned to withstand a pandemic due to a weak healthcare system with extremely limited resources. Some nurses and staff have already stopped work to protest a lack of protective equipment and demand higher pay.
The economy is already fragile with 80% of the population surviving on less than $2/day. Those who depend on remittances from family members working abroad have seen that money reduced by almost 90% in the last three weeks. If a single mother of 6 supports the family through tailoring and is forced to close down while her husband who works in a restaurant in North America has lost his job … what is she to do? Under a lockdown she cannot even go to the local market to barter for food.
Social distancing is impossible in village life in Malawi as large families live in small quarters. Hot water and soap are not readily available … you can’t just turn on the tap! 80% of Malawians do not have piped water in their homes. That’s more than 15 million people! Thus quarantine is also impossible. The majority of Malawians do not understand the nature of the invisible virus which can infect and kill you. As Newton reports, “ Everyone is full of fear which derails personal and community development in all areas of life.”
Our two preschools have been forced to stop daily feeding of hundreds of children which will eventually result in “malnutrition affecting the children,“ according to Newton Sindo. FVM’s regular community visiting and monitoring has been severely curtailed.
WHAT IS FVM DOING?
- We keep doing the things we always have! (See photos below)
- Education and demonstration of handwashing and hygiene at our two centres along with distribution of buckets and soap to households
- Awareness campaigns have been held with village chiefs and leaders.
- Emergency food relief through maize flour and other essentials to 8,000 people through our two centres at Taulo and Nandolo to supplement their meagre resources over the next few weeks.
- Radio broadcasting continues weekly in Chichewa and Tumbuka with a message of hope and practical encouragement throughout the crisis.
 Mercy, born with a physical disability, is thrilled to receive a new wheelchair from friends in America. |  Newton visiting with Mercy. |
THANKS TO OUR DEDICATED STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS: They are FVM’s lifeline to our “family” there. Rabson, whose picture appears here is an example of these.
 | I am Rabson Chapomoka. I am 69 years and married. I have and live with a family of 8 people. I am a security guard working here with Future Vision Ministries Canada. I, my wife and children are so grateful for the timely gift of a bucket and soap that we use for washing hands frequently in preventing Coronavirus. |
In addition, we were amazed with joy when we were given a pack of food items which included 20kg corn flour, 20 packets soya pieces, 4 packets sugar, 2 litres cooking oil, and 5 litres orange squash. This is a very huge assistance to us this time as we strive to prevent ourselves from Coronavirus since no one is allowed to walk around anyhow. Zikomo kwambiri! I & my wife are humbled with your love and care. Stay blessed.
A SPECIAL THANKS TO NEWTON SINDO: FVM’s Country Manager for Malawi who continues to work tirelessly and selflessly to lobby government for the right to continue FVM’s essential work, while he also sources food and materials and manages logistics for delivery. He also organises and participates in training sessions and produces one of the weekly radio broadcasts. He continues to put his own life and health on the line along with those of his family. He is a true “ Front Line Worker”.
We are the Sindo family. We are a young family. I and Idah will have our 21st Anniversary on 26 June 2020. Praise is 19 years, Shalom will turn 10 on 17th May while Ebenezer is 8 years old. Praise is third year in College, Shalom is in primary school in grade 6 and Ebenezer in primary grade 4. They are all doing fine.
We are so grateful to be in FVM-C family. We are convinced this is what we were called to do. It provides the whole opportunity of ministering to humanity in body, soul and spirit. We appreciate the support FVM-C and all partners render to us as a family since 2009 when we were laying foundations of the ministry in the Southern Malawi. We have witnessed so much development in the lives of the people we have served together. Being a medium that links the Malawian communities and FVM-C family in USA and Canada, is the privilege we never take for granted.
Thank you for the assistance rendered to us in cash and kind. The time we were joining FVM-C, none of us had an education degree. Now both of us (Idah and Newton) hold degrees and Idah is doing Masters Degree while Praise is pursuing his first degree. This is because of your help.
Future Vision Ministries is probably the only organisation that has really maintained its vision and mandate: reaching humanity in body, soul and spirit. We are happy to be part of this. Stay blessed.
We are so grateful to be in FVM-C family. We are convinced this is what we were called to do. It provides the whole opportunity of ministering to humanity in body, soul and spirit. We appreciate the support FVM-C and all partners render to us as a family since 2009 when we were laying foundations of the ministry in the Southern Malawi. We have witnessed so much development in the lives of the people we have served together. Being a medium that links the Malawian communities and FVM-C family in USA and Canada, is the privilege we never take for granted.
Thank you for the assistance rendered to us in cash and kind. The time we were joining FVM-C, none of us had an education degree. Now both of us (Idah and Newton) hold degrees and Idah is doing Masters Degree while Praise is pursuing his first degree. This is because of your help.
Future Vision Ministries is probably the only organisation that has really maintained its vision and mandate: reaching humanity in body, soul and spirit. We are happy to be part of this. Stay blessed.
Thank you for standing together with us during this crisis!
Newton Sindo and Dan & Chris Hayhoe
Newton Sindo and Dan & Chris Hayhoe
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