Population: 17,215,000
Life Expectancy: 61 years
Orphaned Children: 1.3 million
Attendance in early childhood education: 39%
Children sleeping under mosquito nets: 45%
Children in the Chilombo Village Partnership Program live about a one-hour drive from the COTN ministry center in Lilongwe, Malawi. The 8,000 people in this rural community are struggling to survive both environmental challenges, which cause low crop yields, and a nationwide HIV/AIDS pandemic, which has left many children orphaned.
Children here live with their families in mud huts with thatched roofs or in brick houses, which sometimes have iron sheet roofs. There is no electricity. There are now several clean water wells, thanks to COTN partners. Most of the heads of households are women who are widowed or divorced. Most families earn a meager living through farming or small businesses. They struggle to afford things like food and medical care. Typical meals consist of nsima (ground maize) with vegetables and occasionally fish or other meats. The children do chores like collecting firewood, washing clothes, and carrying water from the village well. They speak Chichewa and learn English in school.
Since 2007, sponsors like you have partnered with our staff to build a children’s center and provide these children with food, school fees, medical care, spiritual guidance, HIV/AIDS awareness and testing, hygiene supplies, and school supplies. By continuing to equip these children with tools for success, we believe they will grow up to create positive change in their community and, ultimately, their nation.