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 Mtsiliza Village Partnership Program live just down the road from COTN’s Njewa Ministry Center outside Lilongwe, Malawi’s capital. Many of the 10,000 people in this 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 brick homes with iron sheet roofs. Most of the heads of households are women who are widowed or divorced. Most families earn a 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 washing, carrying water from the community tap, sweeping around the house, cooking, and watching younger siblings. They speak Chichewa and learn English in school.
Since 2001, sponsors like you have partnered with our staff to establish a feeding center, a microenterprise program for widows, sports programs, and trauma services. They’ve also provided children with things like daily meals, 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.
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