Here is the most recent report from Chifundo Kids Director Pastor Moses Mtambo in Kaliyeka Township, Malawi!
This girl is Tayini Usi. She was born in 1999 in Mangochi District south north of Malawi, in a family of five children. Her original tribe is Yao and religion is Islam. Tayini is doing her standard five at Kaliyeka primary school. Her mother is a housewife and her father works selling fish for a business man at Lilongwe main market, earning k1000 per day, which is equivalent to $3.70. From this amount, he expects to support his family of five children – paying house rentals, buying food, clothes, school fees etc.
A few days ago, Tayini told me that her parents plan to send her home so that she can get married. Here in Malawi, it is common to see parents force their daughters into early marriages, if they cannot support them.
Tayini and I I had a wonderful discussion where she was free to express how she feels about being forced into marriage at the age of 13. I have no choice but to obey my parent’s opinions, and this is our culture, she said. If someone can talk to my parents and convince them about the importance of education and someone can help support me, I will praise the Lord for this.
As for now, although it is a very sensitive issue especially to Yao tribe who are coming from Mangochi district, I am trying to discuss with her parents on this matter and believing for God’s intervention.
Attendance
It is my joy to inform you that the attendance of the children in the program is so great! We have divided them into two classes, from 1-6 years and 7-14. Wednesdays and Saturdays, children can gather up to 100-115 those who are registered; and sometimes we can have other children who are not registered numbering up to 20-30 children.
Activities
We are still emphasizing on the Bible stories and art. For example: On Saturdays, we teach them how to recite Bible verses, tell a story from the Bible using flannelgraph materials, teach short English choruses and prayer. On Wednesdays, we teach them how to dance and draw, play freely with toys and join in playing games together such as baseball and bakha, bakha nkhuku! (The English version of this game is Duck Duck Goose – our version is Duck Duck Chicken!)
Visitation
At least three children are being visited in their home every month. The past two months, I have visited Tisunge, Takondwa, Mercy, Angela, Cecilia, and Towera to check with their guardians on the development of their children. The guardians all tell me that their children are transforming every day! They have also asked me to send great appreciation to the entire team of Ancient Path for introducing this program at Kaliyeka.
Challenges
The major challenge which we are facing right now is to find our own land where we can develop standard structures and introduce new activities for the betterment of the children. The other challenge is finding more volunteers that will be committed to the children and the work here.
Touching Stories
This little girl, Careen, was found abandoned in the grave yard at Chinsapo in Lilongwe early this year when she was just two months old. Her mother left her and escaped to Salima were she is working as a bar girl. Currently, Careen is staying with her grandmother in Likuni where I visited her recently. Her grandmother told me that Careen is lacking basic needs such as clothes, food, and medical attention. So far the Chifundo team has donated soap, a blanket, winter clothes and money for medication.
These two little boys are street kids who do not have parents or guardians. They survive on bad things has you can see in the photo. We have discovered that in Malawi we have few ministries working with street kids. It is our prayer that more people should come forward and join hands with us to help these children!