July Malawi Update

COVID-19 UPDATE

​The period between mid-May and mid-July 2020 has been one of the most challenging in Malawi due to increased spread of Coronavirus that causes COVID-19. As well, Malawi just went through fresh Presidential Elections after the courts nullified last year’s (2019) elections. So the nation had two challenges: COVID-19 and presidential elections. This made the fight against the disease a challenge as people chose to patronize political rallies and campaigns. The effects are now evident as there has been a large rise in COVID-19 cases.

FVM has been involved in the fight with other stakeholders (government and NGO's) in planning and responding to Coronavirus. As of the end of July, over 4,000 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed.  Only 0.1% (24,192 out of 18,000,000) have ever been tested and yet 12.4% are tested positive, and 2% deaths. ​

This is a great threat to a country like Malawi. Economic activities have been badly affected which translate into poor livelihood to citizens.

WATER IS LIFE!
~Providing water to villages in Malawi~

Water is a commodity that needs to be provided as much as possible to the people in the villages of Malawi.  FVM has provided 4 boreholes during June and July.  We are so thankful! The need is still huge for more clean water.  More than 80% of Malawians do not have piped water into their homes.  This makes it very difficult to uphold quarantine as a measure of fighting the pandemic as people must leave their homes to obtain clean water.  Please continue to pray for God's protection upon the people.

OTHER UPDATES:

• 300 children daily have been given food while observing social distancing the past two months.

• Electricity has been connected at Chifundo Nursery School in Nadolo Community in Mulanje. We are all so excited!
• Community based gatherings have been suspended until further notice due to COVID-19.
• Radio broadcasts of the Good News continues without interruptions. Radio use has proven more effective in the current COVID-19 pandemic as many people opt to listen to Trans World Radio.

THANKS TO OUR DEDICATED STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS:  Please take time to "meet" Godfrey:

I am Godfrey M’mwala. I am a member of the committee of the volunteers who provide support to the education and feeding of the children in GVH Taulo area, in Zomba. I have witnessed the great work FVM is doing in this community for the past 10 years now. I have seen a great transformation of this community since FVM started working in this area.

Before, we never knew much about God. Now we are able to read and understand the Bible. No children were going through early childhood development interventions as the children these days are doing. And the difference is huge. The nutrition status of the children that benefit from the feeding programme look much healthier than those not benefiting from the programme.
 
We are involved in a communal farming to supplement the food that FVM is providing. Our participation has given us sense of ownership and we do not wait for others to tell us about need of feeding our own children.

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Thank you for your prayers and support!

Newton Sindo