The sports tournament in Mulanje (Nandolo Village) was attended by over 2,000 spectators who viewed netball and football games. The winners took home cash prizes and trophies from FVM. This is always a great opportunity to share messages related to child protection and of course the good news of the love of God.

There is currently a cholera outbreak with 600 new cases and 16 deaths daily. The cumulative total of cases to date has surpassed 50,000. The high prevalence of the disease is attributed to the scarcity of clean, safe water and poor sanitation practices.

FVM has responded quickly through the generosity of you, our partners in North America, by drilling 3 new boreholes (150 foot deep wells with heavy duty pumps) in the Taulo area where FVM has been working for 12 years.

Pictured below: Borehole drilling in progress and community watching and celebrating by dancing and singing.

Cholera (and many other health issues) can be dealt with extremely effectively through the proposed Taulo Healthcare Centre.

Cholera is preventable through clean water provision as well as community health awareness around issues of hygiene, food preparation etc. It can be treated with oral rehydration therapy (ORT) to prevent dehydration due to diarrhea, and also with oral antibiotics which are readily available here in North America. This is an example of one disease which the new Taulo Healthcare Centre can treat effectively.

The land has been acquired through the Ministry of Lands and architectural drawings are under development with input from both North America and most importantly, from existing facilities and management teams in Malawi.

As you know, a central focus of the Centre will be an entire wing devoted to maternity care.

A few facts:  Infant mortality in Canada is 3.9 per 1,000 live births
                          Infant mortality rate in Malawi is 29 per 1,000 live births                 

                          Maternal mortality rate in Canada is 10 per 100,000
                          Maternal mortality rate in Malawi is 300 per 100,000

These statistics in Malawi become more stark as the number of pregnancies for a woman and the distance from a clinic increase, compounded by preexisting health and nutrition factors.

… and they are not just statistics! The people are real and the suffering is real.

                       TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE
 
PLEASE CONSIDER SUPPORTING THE TAULO HEALTHCARE CENTRE IN MALAWI… AND TO THOSE WHO HAVE ALREADY DONE SO, THANK YOU!

The Future Vision Ministries family with Newton Sindo in Malawi

THANK YOU! You have been a vital part of the FVM family in Malawi even though separated by thousands of miles. Many of you have contributed financially and all of you have received FVM’s monthly email updates from Africa.

We are excited to share with you an opportunity to partner with the people of Malawi and Future Vision Ministries to bring dramatic and positive change to more than 30,000 lives. Since its inception over 25 years ago, FVM has partnered with you, our faithful donors, to provide resources and programs identified and initiated by our Malawian partners to make a difference in spirit, soul and body.

Please watch this short clip to catch our vision and hope for this year:

Yes!! Yet, we believe wholeheartedly that we are called to move forward. With the generosity already shown by you, our donors, extremely low overhead costs, and careful management of resources, we have been able to take the first steps in designing a healthcare centre that will help to meet the desperate need for medical services. The design is being carefully planned for current needs and possible future expansion.

Through community-led initiatives, supported by donors like you, children, youth and adults are given opportunities to thrive through nutritional initiatives, educational resources, eyecare, water and sanitation improvements, empowerment of women through microfinance, and spiritual teaching and guidance.

You have seen the video and heard their voices, their deep concern and their hopes and dreams for this new healthcare facility.

Will you partner with FVM in making this healthcare centre a reality both in the development phase and for its future sustainability?

FVM is deeply grateful for your partnership over the years and for your consideration of this request.

The Future Vision Ministries family (North America and Malawi)

                            "GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD"

This instantly recognizable line from The Lord’s Prayer has been repeated countless times over hundreds of years.

For most of us living in North America it rolls off our tongues with little thought and certainly no urgent reality of actual and immediate need. We are startled and annoyed by “rapidly rising food costs” but most of us still line up to fill our carts at the supermarket with no more than a few rueful exchanges with others in the checkout line about the price of ice cream.

But consider hundreds of millions for whom this is a desperate plea with life and death consequences.

    IN MALAWI WHERE FUTURE VISION MINISTRIES IS WORKING                                   ALONGSIDE OUR LOCAL PARTNERS:

Malawi is the fourth poorest country in the world with 70% of the population (that’s 12+million people) living on less than $1.90 /day (the International Poverty Line).

Within the last two years Malawi has been hit by two back-to-back cyclones with a devastating impact on food security.

The war in Ukraine has almost totally cut off the supply of wheat.

The price of fuel has skyrocketed making all commodities more expensive.
Covid 19 restrictions made it almost impossible in 2021 to trade in the local markets in order to obtain food or supplement a meager income.

We target annual inflation at around 2%. In Malawi annual inflation is currently at 25+%

The local currency was devalued overnight by 25% this year.

THE RESULT IN 2022:

• The cost of a bag of maize (corn), the staple daily food, has increased by 75%.
• The cost of a bag of fertilizer increased by 125%.
• Likuni Phala, the protein fortified maize meal FVM prepares for daily feeding of 700 children, has increased in cost by 100% in 2022.

An exciting community event occurred last month when 110 children, aged 6 years, graduated to formal primary schools from the Community-based Childcare Centres (CBCCs).  In 2010, FVM constructed their first nursery school facility with the purpose of providing early-childhood education, as well as a feeding program for children to access nutritional food.  Since then, hundreds of children have had access to nutritious food, along with strong preschool education through these Community-based child care centres.  We celebrate this accomplishment for these 110 children and give thanks for the many wonderful volunteers who have worked diligently with these children.
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Pictured Below: (Left) Chief Nandolo and other chiefs present gifts to teaching volunteers. (Right) Parents dance in celebrating the graduation of their children.

​ALSO...

• Three community-based Bible Study Sessions were conducted and 31 people attended.
• Four open-air gospel outreach activities were held. 
• Radio broadcasts on Trans World Radio (TWR) continue to reach out to many people with the Good News. TWR has expanded its signal to eastern Zambia, Mzimba, Rumphi, and Chitipa. We get encouraging feedback from time to time through telephone calls and texting

NEWTON IN THE NEWS!
A newspaper article was included in the local paper with Newton (red shirt in photo) advocating for child protection from gender-based violence.  

​More than 3,500 people attended the yearly sports tournaments held for youth in the community.  Sunuzi School won both the football and netball tournament and they went away with trophies and cash prizes.  Female teachers from Zomba Urban Secondary School played with women in Taulo as curtain-raisers (even Idah joined in on the teacher's netball team!) . The teachers were included to inspire the youth, especially girls, on the importance of education.  Not only is this event to share some fun and physical activity, but the sports tournament event is an opportunity to share with youth important health messages in regards to HIV & AIDS, education, non-communicable diseases (NCDs), family planning, harmful cultural practices that spread sexually transmitted diseases/infections, and Covid-19 prevention.!

          ---- Personal stories from our friends in Malawi ----

Last month, Newton Sunday Sindo, FVM's Director in Malawi, informed supporters of the economic woes that are making everyday life in Malawi very difficult at this time.  Several factors such as Covid-19, the Russia-Ukraine war, and natural disasters have caused inflation, destruction, disease, and food scarcity.  At this time, FVM has been assisting as we are able, including emergency food supplies and shelter at our Chinangwa School.  However, the needs are great as we continue to pray for and support in practical ways our friends in Malawi.  Please read these personal stories of how some of our friends are struggling and surviving in the midst of such hard times.

Let's remind ourselves that the context for these real life stories is that 70% of the population of Malawi live on less than $1.90 / day, the International Poverty Line. That's 12+ million people including everyone pictured below. 

​FANNY
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Fanny Damiano, aged 40 years, lives 50 meters away from FVM's Nursery School in Taulo Community. She has 8 children, four from the first husband and four from the second husband.

​                                            ECONOMIC WOES IN MALAWI
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Newton Sunday Sindo has written a special interest piece to give our supporters an idea of what is going on in the larger Malawian nation and economy, which has had major trickle down effects within the communities and for the people that FVM serves.

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Dear Friends,
The whole world is going through economic turmoil due to a number of factors such as COVID-19, the Russia-Ukraine war, population boom, and natural disasters. The continent of Africa, especially the Sub-Saharan region where Malawi is situated, has been particularly hit hard.  According to Global Finance Magazine of the United States,  Malawi has been ranked the fourth poorest country in the world and the Malawian citizens are experiencing unprecedented poverty and struggle.  The following outlines some global and local conditions which are having a great impact on the country and people of Malawi:

​The restrictions escalated famine, food deficiency diseases, and promiscuity (which has led to the higher rates of STIs and unwanted pregnancies because people started engaging themselves in unprotected sex).
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Russia-Ukraine War
Malawi imports wheat for bread from Russia ($15M), Argentina ($1.27M), and Ukraine ($222k). The war between Ukraine and Russia has left Malawi with low supply of quality wheat which has raised the prices of commodities from the crop. For example, a loaf of bread was costing MK600 ($0.75US then), but it is now MK1,200 ($1.17US now).  The conflict has also disrupted food supplies such as vegetable oils, cereals and fertilizers pushing already-high prices even higher in Malawi.  For example, UREA fertilizer has had its price raised by 100% the past 6 months. The agro-based peasant farmer cannot afford even a bag of 50kg.  Like all nations of the world, the war has also has pushed the prices of petroleum products higher than ever (Malawi gets most of its petroleum products from Ukraine and Russia). For example, it was cost MK850 (US$1.06) per litre of diesel 6 months ago. Now it is MK2,000 (US$1.95) per litre. The rise in transportation costs has affected prices of everything on the market and made it very difficult for citizens to purchase even basic necessities.
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Natural Disasters: Cyclones, Cholera, and Electricity disruptions
Over this past year, Malawi experienced frequent cyclones that caused torrential rains that resulted in flash floods which destroyed crop fields, domestic animals, homes and other infrastructure. In an already fragile economy, this was disastrous. Malawi is a country that depends on agriculture for 80% of its economic funds, however the majority of farming is done by peasants using no machinery.  Most of the crops grown are mainly for life sustenance and not for export.  Food scarcity, normally a national concern, has risen to extreme levels.

The floods caused by the storms led to water contamination from runoff or sewage, which in turn also escalated water borne diseases, such as Cholera (794 people contacted Cholera, with 35 deaths).  In Malawi, access to safe drinking water and sanitation facilities is scarce, and in the aftermath of the cyclones many of these facilities were damaged or destroyed, and thus, communities were at risk of widespread disease outbreaks including cholera.  As well, already scarce medical resources being strained by COVID had to be shared with the rise of Cholera in areas. 

Another effect of the cyclones was a huge hydro-electricity generation station was damaged at Nkula thereby causing persistent power outages (an average of 8hrs in a day). This meant even smallest industries (like welding, restaurants, barber shops) were at a halt rendering those few players idle and without income. Therefore, unemployment rates have increased as many people had their services terminated as many small manufacturing industries closed down.   All this is crippling the already dying economy.

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
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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. 
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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. 
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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)
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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.