Introduction
 
In May, the major activities were the usual ones: preschool and feeding programme, Bible Study and Gospel Outreaches, Radio broadcasts and purchase of sewing machines. Sadly, we lost one of the students under FVM Education Assistance programme, Esther who was doing her final year at University of Malawi, Chancellor College, Bachelor of Social Science – Development. The report also highlights the plight of people with albinism in Malawi.
 
Preschool & Feeding Programme: Tremendous work of Volunteers
One of the unique and consistent intervention towards the development of the communities FVM is carrying out its activities in is child development through the provision of education and nutritious food. Total of 700 children are provided with nutritious Likuni Phala (soybeans fortified with maize) five days in a week throughout the year. The community members freely prepare the meals for their children thereby promoting community participation in and community ownership of programme. To supplement this provision of the meals by FVM, the people voluntarily work in the field to produce maize (corn), unfortunately the rain has not been good enough over the past two years.

Three new sewing machines have been acquired in order to enhance women skill development that is intended to lead to self-reliance of households through women empowerment. It is expected that after the people involved in the training get enough skills, they will be to replicate into business and eventually acquire their own machines through the proceedings from their products. The machines are provided as a starter up capital. The machines still remains to be the property of the community.

Innocent Mtegha – Involvement in Voluntary Work
Innocent is a young man in his second year at the University of Malawi - Chancellor College doing Bachelor of Social Science and is yet to specialise.  He requested to do volunteer work in the communities FVM is currently working in Malawi. He has been  involved in several activities in Taulo. He enjoys doing all kinds of community work including spending time with the children at the child care centre. He also does all kinds of work with the community based volunteers.

Update on Pastor Falinya
Pastor Justin Falinya is slowly but steadily recovering from the stroke. Newton had a considerable good time talking to Justin on telephone two days ago. He is regaining speech quite quickly.

Plight of People with Albinism in Malawi
As you might have read in papers or watched on televisions, Malawi has all of a sudden become a haven of evil killings of people with albinism as there is a superstition that their body parts when combined with some concoction bring about financial fortune.
 
This kind of belief has spread from Tanzania and Kenya. It is also believed that having sexual encounter with a person with healed one from HIV/AIDS. These beliefs have put our colleagues with albinism at risk. Currently, about 18 of them have so far been killed nationwide. Such being the case, Government of Malawi and all NGOs have mainstreamed the fight against such practices through advocacy. FVM has also joined the fight against such evil beliefs.
On the right hand side is Pastor Harold Mateyu, a charismatic pastor. He was initially pastoring in Ntaja Machinga district. One day, he went for prayers into the mountains, and unknowing the murders came to his house and found him not. The damaged his house and property. After getting the news on his way down mountain, he had to sneak out of the community and settled in his home, Taulo with nothing. I had a long discussion with him, he has a very touching story. Harold is married and has a girl child named Shalom. He has been quite instrumental in FVM’s gospel outreach programmes to the communities as a preacher and Conveinor of the actual preaching activities. On the left is Bertha and her girl children, Akuzike and Chigonjetso. Bertha is married to Justin for six years now and has been quite instrumental in reaching out to the youth in holistic development through Student Christian Organisation of Malawi (SCOM). She is a primary school teacher and a very responsible citizen. Newton had conversation with her through telephone of Sunday 12th June, 2016 where she lamented on the witch-hunting of her life in her locality. She even reported the matter to police to provide security to her. She narrated that for a week without actually sleeping.
 
FVM has now engaged itself with other organisations to intensify awareness and advocacy within their means in addressing the problem by reaching out to the communities to be involved in protecting their fellow community members with albinism.

The Passing on of Esther Kachikuni
On a sad note, Esther Kachikuni, a finale student at Chancellor College went to be with the LORD on the wee hours of Thursday, 19th May, 2016 in her dormitory at the college. She was one the FVM Education Assistance beneficiaries. She was a devout Christian and was doing Bachelor of Social Science Development. She was a twin sister to Esme, both were daughters of Bishop and Mrs. Kachikuni of Living Waters Church in Blantyre. Like her surviving twin sister, she was born with physical challenges.

FVM Involvement in Stakeholder’ Meetings
FVM does not work in isolation. It works with other stakeholders in various forums. At a district level, FVM has been participating in forums like: Civil Society Networks, Child Protection Network, District Executive Committee (DEC), and Civil Society Organisation Nutrition Alliance (CSONA). At community level, FVM has been participating in several meetings to enhance the ownership by the community. These meetings are purposed to monitor, evaluate and possibly modify our general activities so they remain relevant to both beneficiaries and benefactors.
 
What lies ahead

• Eye screening exercise (21 June, 2016)

National Child and Albinos Protection Awareness in Mwanza

The period between mid April and mid May was a mixed bag. There were good moments and challenges ones. The usual activities like preschool and feeding, community based Bible Study and radio broadcasts were carried out. Training in tailoring also took place aimed at empowering women to impart sewing skills. However, it has been a challenging time as well due sickness and loss of some friends.
The following is a summary of the happenings within the period:

• Community members have taking care of the facilities provided to them indicating full ownership on the projects taking place in their community
• The bridge at Nandolo Community is verypoor state and can crumble anytime. Discussions are underway with the community members on what to do with it
• Abijah Ngulinga, a nurse and former beneficiary of FVM education assistance programme, had a beautiful wedding on 30 April, 2016
• About 700 children continued benefiting from preschool and feeding programme in both Taulo and Nandolo communities. The community based volunteers have remained so committed in rendering services to their communities.
• Pastor Justin Falinya who leads the Weekly Community based Bible Studies is unwell. He was diagnosed with high blood pressure which resulted into stroke that paralysed him the right side of his body affecting speech and movement. For seven days he had lost memory and speech partially. We thank God he is now able to walk at least 10 metres and can afford to speak a few words. He is currently receiving treatment at Kamuzu Central Hospital and is on physiotherapy
• Newton Sindo and local pastors lead the Bible Study in the community as Pastor Falinya gets treatment at the hospital
• One Gospel Outreach took place on 6th May, 2016 at Taulo Village where more than 60 people attended and more than 70% indicated giving their lives to God for the first time
• Weekly radio broadcast of the Gospel in two major local languages (Tumbuka and Chichewa) continues on Trans World Radio (TWR). Very encouraging feedback from listeners is being received from time to time.
• Three more sewing machines have been purchased to enhance the ‘Women Empowerment Programme’.
• Training women in tailoring took place for two days and about 40% of the 24 participants are able to make basic clothes which can be sold. More training are lined up to refine their skill and make the remaining trainees also able to make clothing
  

With great sorrow, I inform you all that Esther Kachikuni (Left in the picture) who was in fourth year at University of Malawi Chancellor College passed on yesterday morning (Thursday, 19 May, 2016) at the college after few hours of headache. Postmortem is being done at College of medicine to know what has caused the death. Esther and her twin sister Esme have been getting education assistance from FVM since 2011. Eshter was finishing four year Bachellor of Social Science by September this year. Very bad indeed.