Heavily reliant on foreign aid, which was recently suspended due to political upheavals, have further exacerbated the shaky economy of one of Africa’s least developed nations, resulting in severe cuts to the already meager social spending. Children made parentless due to the HIV/AIDS and malaria pandemics sweeping across the country have become further impoverished by these cuts to social and welfare programs, upon which their survival is vital. Where the government skirts their social responsibility, Christian and Jewish missionaries are addressing the aid vacuum, while also converting Malawians from Islam. “These people are starving and neglected, then they see an impressive and beautiful church or synagogue with friendly people clothing and feeding them. Who can blame them, people go where the food is, where the beauty is, and they end up converting. But glaringly absent is the lack of aid arriving from Islamic countries save Kuwait, the only Gulf country with a donor presence in Malawi,” - Attar explained. For a time, Malawi became synonymous with Madonna’s adoption woes, as networks aired her continual legal battles in the adoption of baby David. We may not all be willing to go and adopt a child, but we can do the next best thing, sponsor one, and give a child a new lease on life that every child so deserves.
“There was a 6 month-old orphan, baby Adam, that was constantly crying, because he didn’t know how to suckle and wasn’t able to drink milk. It was just shocking, this baby never had a chance to feed from his mother, so the usually natural inclination to suckle, was nonexistent,” shared an emotional Attar. Relying entirely on donations to help fund the orphanage, when in Jeddah, Malecki and Alhmarani host charity dinners, auctions, and have launched an abaya label, ZarAn.
“There are many ways to contribute. Fatima Centre is recruiting volunteers for short trips that can help with the construction, organization or administration of objectives such as: Digging deep-water wells, installing solar panels, building dormitories, staff quarters, a running track, a sewing centre, a library, and a dispensary,” - emanates Iman Attar with contagious enthusiasm. The Centre has future plans to run an on-site bakery, manage a farm, and at later stage, offer after school activities for the children. The next getaway you plan, consider taking an altruistic adventure of a lifetime… consider Malawi and consider the hope you can spread throughout the “Warm heart of Africa.” “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the things you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover,” - Mark Twain. For more information on how to become a volunteer or a sponsor call Iman Attar: Tel: +966-2-505626459 Email: iman.attar@hotmail.com / Zarina Malcki Tel: +966-2-501617706 Web: www.fatimacentremalawi.org, donate, volunteer, sponsor a child, buy an abaya, but just do something! DESTINATION JEDDAH 73