Malawi Association for Christian Support
Newsletter Summer 2013 www.malawimacs.org ! !
Charity No. 1025616
IN PERSPECTIVE BY RICHARD BARTON In my alphabet of MACS, P is for Projects. It is also for Planning and sometimes, when things don’t seem to be going quite right, P is fo r P h r u s t rat i o n f ro m a fa r. However, on arrival in Malawi one’s viewpoint melts. Breaking waves of blue and white wash around us as the Mothers’ Union blare their brassy joy, time slowly releases its tensions and the pace of life takes on a steady, purposeful swing, a rhythmic, dynamic shuffle. I am dazzled by Esther’s smile. Her days of fetching dirty water from a scoop-hole shared with cattle are in the past. In Msalawatha from the new borehole the water of life flows clear, abundantly. Talking with pupils receiving MACS bursaries the heart of an old schoolmaster quickens at their ambitions: nurse Bridget, accountant Stella, French-speaking journalist Lindsey and Linda - mechanical engineer. Will she go to a college in Malawi? No, Cambridge.
I marvel at 12 year-old Mariam’s elegant fingers skipping over new Maths and English resources at Nkope’s Blind Unit. What about her future? “I want to be a t e a c h e r,” s h e s a y s w i t h d e e p determination. Zainabu’s ear-to ear smile is imprinted on my memory as she walks with a frame towards the new sewing machine that, together with her new mobility, will open up unimagined opportunities. Continued on page 2
Richard has just returned from Malawi after accompanying Eileen Eggington on her annual projects visit
Samuel is closer to God’s creation than anyone I’ve ever met; his lovingly tended garden seems to hold so many answers to Africa’s nutritional and medicinal problems. Even his washed-up cooking pots drip dry onto seedlings. His vision for an eco-village at Mkwande is breathtaking.
An old lady brings Eileen a gift of two lemons in gratitude for her church’s new roof. At the Malawi end of MACS, P is for Partnership. P is for People. I return home reinvigorated, refreshed.
UNUSUAL STORMS AND FLOODS BY JANE ARDEN Not once, but twice this year, in January and April, Mangochi District has been hit by unusually violent storms. Hundreds of houses were damaged, some destroyed and many people were made homeless. Government and different agencies provided relief funds. Bishop Brighton Malasa and the staff of the Diocese of Upper Shire played an active role in supporting those who had been affected. For the first time ever there were flash floods at Namaso Bay, which affected a number of houses and damaged Kaphiridzinja, the Diocesan cottage. The cottage is used for meetings and for people to stay. Two t re e s c a m e d ow n , o n e damaging the end of the building and the flood waters gouged out two gulleys, a very large one at the back and eastern end of the house and down to the lake, and a smaller one at the western end down past the water-pump. Bishop Malasa visited the site and arranged for a working-party to assess the damage and make recommendations. Short-term and
long-term preventive measures and repairs were proposed. MACS has been able to help with the first stages of work required and has also provided for the upgrading of the cook's accommodation. Long-term preventive work is still needed.
BREAKING NEWS!
Following the appointment of Dunia Construction in May work has started on the Girls’ Hostel at Nkope Blind Unit
THE DRUM AND TRUMPET SOUND FOR MACS BY TONY COX A feast of music was served up in late April to a delighted audience in the parish church of Willoughby on the Wolds on the borders of Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire.
to pay the fees for four MACS bursars for a year at Malindi and Malosa Secondary Schools. For these four girls, all of whom faced the prospect of giving up their education for lack of the £70-a-term fees, this money will make all the difference. Now they will have the opportunity to complete their education and to contribute to the future of Malawi.
The centrepiece of the evening was a performance of ‘The Making of the Drum’ by Bob Chilcott. This piece was inspired by a visit to Africa and, using words by a Caribbean poet, it provided a vivid soundscape of how the making of a drum depends on the natural environment. Its c o m p l e x r h y t h m s we re a wonderful showcase for the very talented Cantamici choir from Leicester. The choir rounded off their programme with a trio of joyous songs from southern Africa, all adding to the flavour of the continent which had filled the evening. Richard Barton in Malosa with MACS bursars Linda and Kingsley Over £850 was raised, sufficient
TRUSTEE PROFILE: Dr Susannah Woodd I moved to Malawi in September 2006, sent by USPG (now Us.) to St Luke’s Hospital, Malosa, and in January 2007 took over as the Senior Medical Officer. These were by far the most challenging years of my life. Faced with an overwhelming amount of HIV, lack of good diagnostic facilities and my own lack of experience I had to rapidly learn local guidelines, improve my x-ray reading skills and become competent at performing caesarean sections. As a manager I walked into a situation of chronic mistrust between clinical and administrative teams that was affecting motivation and performance on all sides. Throughout my stay I dealt with the hospital’s daily financial struggle.
much-needed laboratory renovations, sending of junior staff to train as nurses and recruiting a new Principal Nursing Officer who has improved quality and motivation of the nursing team. Building on the work of my predecessors I was pleased to leave St Luke’s and all five health centres with Service Level Agreements for government funding of free maternal health services. Returning in summer 2011 I spent last year studying for an MSc in Public Health in Developing Countries – a very positive way to return to the UK. Since then I have been working on a research trial of nutrition supplements for HIV patients in Zambia and Tanzania.
These were also my most fulfilling years; watching incredibly sick patients recover, seeing relationships between staff improve a little and welcoming the generous support of so many friends and donors. I was involved in improving living conditions at rural health centres, accompanied by increased staff at these facilities,
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SEEDS OF HOPE FOR CHILEMA ECUMENICAL TRAINING CENTRE BY SALLY HUBAND The United Benefice of Iford, Kingston, Rodmell and Southease These four churches have been supporting MACS since 2008, following a visit by the Rt Rev Donald Arden and Jane Arden. The parishioners have chosen different projects to support over the years, initially raising funds for mosquito nets. Last year they raised over ÂŁ2000 for bunk beds for the new hostel for blind children at Nkope. This year they have chosen to support the Chilema Ecumenical Centre which trains women from rural villages in a variety of practical skills. They have called the initiative Seeds of Hope and have already raised money through their Lent collection. The money will go towards equipment for the training centre. The course is varied so there are many needs
such as gardening supplies, sewing machines, material, wool and knitting needles. MACS has been supporting women on the course for some years and currently pays 80% of the fees for ten women on the six-month course. At the end of the first semester, all these women had passed, six with credit and two with distinction.
Did you know? ..that for every ÂŁ1 donated to MACS, 97p goes directly to Malawi to fund and support projects
PADDLE MOULDS BY ANNIE BARTON HODGES In December ten women from Msalawatha Village had an exciting three days in Balaka learning to make low energy stoves. Thanks to good contacts at Concern Universal, MACS ensured that they received free training. MACS also Elizabeth & Daughter provided funds for six paddle moulds for the group to share. Agnes Mkoko writes: “May I take this opportunity to thank you on behalf of the women from our village Msalawatha, for all you have done to the women from our very rural village. The women from our village who attended that training has never travelled before, I was afraid they may get lost. The training, the traveling, the sharing has been an eye opener to them, they came back very excited about the whole trip, how they were welcomed by the trainers and also the sharing with the others who were sharing with them about their experiences about the stoves, they came back changed people. Traveling is an education on its own, our women are not the same now, they have completely changed. They are now very busy looking for the clay to start making their own stoves for sale, now they
are using the stoves they brought, no more using the three stones for cooking. They have been telling others about what they have learnt, it is like the Samaritan woman who met Jesus at the well, they are p r e a c h i n g everywhere, which has made other women from within the village to join them, who are also willing to learn how to make the stoves. Which means when they start making and selling the p ro d u c t s , t h e se women will never be the same, their living conditions and those of their families will be improved for the better.� Elizabeth has already sold eleven stoves and has purchased two ducks and five guinea fowl. This small investment is transforming a family’s life.
Paddle Moulds
IN BRIEF MONACO CHARITY BALL Trustee Annie Barton Hodges and her husband Paul attended the White Feather Foundation’s Inaugural Charity Ball on May 10th in Monaco. The event was presented by Julian Lennon, hosted by Whoopi Goldberg and attended by Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene of Monaco. In 2013 the White Feather Foundation is putting its focus on CLEAN WATER and will be collaborating with a number of organisations implementing water projects. MACS is happily one of those organisations and some of the funds raised from the Ball in Monaco will go towards the water project in Nkope. The primary school, blind unit, medical centre and local community will see the upgrading of the water supply system, construction of an additional storage tank and a water filtration system.
NEW PROJECTS The following projects have been approved since the last Newsletter: • grant to complete the flooring and pointing of St Matthews Church, Chisoti • a second orthopaedic programme in Mangochi • construction of a double classroom block at Mkanda Primary school, in Likhubula Parish in the Zomba archdeaconry • paddle moulds for ten mothers to help with the production of energy efficient stoves • emergency repairs to the cottage and staff quarters at Kaphiridzinja
FROM OIL TO GOATS MACOBO Volunteers using MACS funded machinery make peanut oil. Last year they made over 1000 Henry Chikakuda, leader of the litres of oil. MACOBO volunteers, explains Proceeds the workings of a peanut press provided by MACS bought a goat each for ten families. Offspring will be sold to raise funds for school fees and to raise living standards.
• improved security at Chilema sewing rooms • the purchase of sewing machines for Chilema to replace some previously stolen • construction of a double classroom block at M’Manga in Balaka archdeaconry • training fifty volunteer teachers based at sixteen community nurseries in nutrition, health and sanitation • N ko p e G i r l s ’ MACS Representative: Hostel Grafiud Tione
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2013 Saturday 21st September 10.30 – 3.30 St Saviour’s Hall St George’s Square Pimlico, SW1V 3QW
ALL WELCOME Morning programme: Annual general meeting: including approval of changes to constitution* communion service, introductions of all present. Lunch: Drinks are provided but please bring your own lunch. Afternoon programme: A variety of presentations on recent MACS activities *NB agenda and proposed changes to constitution can be found on our website in the Download Library. If you wish a hard copy, please contact the secretary
WHO’S WHO Patron:
Bishop Donald Arden CBE
Chairman: ı ı ı ı ı ı ı ı ı
Richard Barton, Sweech Cottage, Preston Lane, Preston, Canterbury, CT3 1EY Tel: 01227 728 310 email: richardgbarton@yahoo.co.uk
Secretary:ı ı ı ı ı ı ı
Julie Lupton, The Cottage, 72 North Street, Biddenden, Kent, TN27 8AS Tel: 01580 291 658 email: tandjlupton@btinternet.com
Treasurer: ı ı ı ı ı ı ı
Colin Gardner, 217 Main Road, Hawkwell, Essex, SS5 4EQ Tel: 01268 920 052 email: colin@cjgardner.co.uk
General ı Projects: ı ı ı ı ı ı ı
Eileen Eggington, 43 High Street, Northwood, Middlesex, HA6 1EB Tel: 01923 822 501; Mob: 07771 870 424 email: eeggington@uwclub.net
Medical ı Projects:ı ı ı ı ı
Susannah Woodd, 75 Pinter House, Rhodesia Road, London, SW9 9DX Tel: 07826 515 726 email: swoodd@live.co.uk
Trustees:ı ı ı ı ı
Jane Arden, Annie Barton Hodges, Tony Cox, Richard Davies, Anthea Griggs, Sally Huband
Thank You! MACS shoppers have raised £282.02 so far this year.
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