November Malawi Update

REBIRTH OF ENTHUSIASM!

​Edwin's surname is Witness and his wife's name Chimwemwe means Joy ... and this picture shows that joy! They have been faithful volunteers (and witnesses!) with FVM since the beginning of the work in Taulo more than 10 years ago. Pictured above is Edwin and his wife in the cassava communal garden- a community project to help with food security for many families. Cassava is a starchy root and a major source of carbohydrates which is drought tolerant and grows in marginal soil such as Taulo's.  It is a "backup" food source after maize (corn). 
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After a seven month break due to COVID-19, schools and early childhood programs have resumed with great relief.  Early childhood development and education are a nucleus of sustainable and lasting transformation within a community, thus FVM has renewed focus on these areas.  Two initiatives of great importance are...

• The preschool feeding program, which before COVID-19 hit the area was serving over 600 children.  In the last few weeks, 503 children have been fed with nutritious food in the two child care centres while following COVID-19 prevention guidelines (physical body distancing and masking). The numbers increase every passing day. (Pictured left: children helping to unload a delivery of likuni phala)

• Education and youth development - 5 (out of 62) students dropped out from secondary school due to early marriages and lack of interest in education. This represents 8% of the young people who get assistance from FVM Education Support Program. We are planning to engage the boys and girls in sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) initiatives.

ALSO GOING ON...

• Community members produced their own face masks through the trained community women tailoring group.
• 4 evangelism open air sessions were conducted in four communities, while 13 Bible Study sessions were conducted at the Child Care Centres (Pictured below left)
• FVM distributed hand-washing plastic pails to 10 schools in the city to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. (Pictured below right)

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PRAYER POINTS:

• God’s care during the pandemic
• Schools will continue to stay open amidst the pandemic
• Recovery of Malawi’s economy
• Possible coordination of sporting activities amidst Covid-19