by admin | Apr 9, 2021 | BLOG
It started and has been this way since the creation of man. Even the Bible, in Galatians 6 says, “A man reaps what he sows.” It is a law of nature and of man. But what if you cannot sow? What if you only get rain during a few months of the year? Imagine it, how could you plant crops and reap any harvest without rain? For much of the world, the ability to grow food and therefore to eat is totally dependent upon the rain that is given from heaven.
Until now. During 2020 with the help of some generous donors, Y-Malawi has started implementing solar powered water pumps that can irrigate crops without rain. These pumps bring water from ponds, streams and lakes to the fields. They are making an incredible difference.
Until now, it has been impossible to grow more than one crop per year. These pumps are allowing people to grow 3 or in some cases more. For centuries people have died during “The Hunger Season.” Now they have options. Now they have hope. Now they can change their own future. In the photos below people have just harvested a crop of maize. Now they are planting sweet potatoes cassava and various other vegetables. Some have planted 4 crops just this year!
People are no longer hungry, they are encouraged, and they are praising God for what He is doing in their lives. Along with planting crops, they are planting new Bible studies. They are sharing with others how the love of Jesus has changed their lives through people in another country, on the other side of the world, that they have never met.
That’s what love does. It changes everything.
by admin | Mar 12, 2021 | sponsorship for women
She is worth more than rubies, that’s how King Solomon described a noble woman (Proverbs 31:10). As the world celebrates women this month, we want to especially celebrate the women of Malawi. In particular, the women of Malawi who live in the village.
We are so proud of the women of Malawi. They face so many challenges in life.
- Cultural stigmas, in some areas 30% of women believe they are inferior, and it is acceptable for them to be abused.
- Early marriages, 46% married before age 18, 9% before age 15.
- Lack of education, 30% of women cannot read.
- Poor sexual and reproductive health resources, resulting in heighten vulnerability in childbirth, sexually transmitted disease, and associated deaths and disabilities.
Yet, the women of Malawi are strong. They are courageous, determined and beautiful. They are making great strides of progress in all of the areas above. Thanks in part to Y-Malawi programs designed to empower women, the pace of progress is picking up.
- Women are starting new businesses.
- Girls staying in school, graduating high school, even attending universities.
- Early marriages prohibited and or disrupted.
- Adult literacy classes are heavily attended by women.
- Women are forming groups to help, encourage and support each other.
- Older women forming Mother Groups to educate, encourage and support younger girls.
She is indeed worth more than rubies. We honor this month the women of Malawi. We thank God for them and for what He is doing to bring hope. Solomon ends his tribute to a noble woman with these words, “Honor her for all that she hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.”
We simply say Amen.
Click to learn how to help a woman start her own business
Click here to learn how to sponsor a woman or girl
by admin | Mar 12, 2021 | BLOG
There is an African saying, “Those who visit the lake have the opportunity to see the Hippo.” The western world might say, “You don’t know, what you don’t know.”
At 16 years old Chisomo had never left the village. Her parents died when she was young. This left the children alone to fend for themselves. The older children had to take care of the younger, but with a little help here and there from others, they were able to remain together as a family. Chisomo grew up knowing long days of work that started before sunrise and ended deep into the night. She learned how to plant Maize and how to pound that Maize into flour. She learned how to repair a thatched roof to keep out the water during rains. She learned the meaning of poverty and hunger.
Somehow, through all of this, she was able to graduate from primary school. Then, not long after she entered high school she was sponsored in Y-Malawi’s program to empower women and girls. Through this sponsorship, Y-Malawi provided the required school fees and school supplies so that Chisomo could stay in school and continue her education. She worked hard and did well in school, but Chisomo knew she was missing something.
When her sponsor made a visit to Malawi, Chisomo shared her dream of going to a better school, and even going to university one day. With a 130 students per teacher, village schools can be a difficult learning environment. Chisomo smiled from ear to ear when her sponsor agreed to consider sending her to a better school.
Then it happened. Her sponsor offered to help Chisomo go to boarding school. Arrangements were made at home, and Chisomo went to start her new life at school. Having never left the village before, just traveling to school in a large city was like a dream. She had no idea what life was like outside the village. She had seen a video once, but now she was living it!
Upon arriving at her new school she said, “I have now seen the real life. I have tears of joy. The unexpected has happened to me. I have no words to express what I am feeling now.” Chisomo’s life has changed. Once destined to early marriage, bearing many children, and long days of work in the fields, her life is now on a different course. All because her sponsor opened her heart to help this girl who just needed someone to care.
There are other girls like Chisomo. Surprisingly, it doesn’t take much to make this kind of difference. A difference that changes the course of someone’s life. A difference that will last for generations. Want to know more? Send us a quick note, email us at sponsorships@y-malawi.org, or call us at 909.541.7660. Make a difference in a girl’s life today!
by admin | Mar 12, 2021 | sponsorship for women
We say the words all the time, “Education is the key to a better future.” Yet, the data and reality are shocking. Education is not easy to come by for most people in the world. This is especially true of those living in developing nations like Malawi. For millions of women, education is only a distant dream.
There have been improvements in recent years, but there is a long way to go.
- Only 35% of Malawi’s school age children complete primary school
- Only 8% of students complete secondary school
- The average teacher has 130 students in class
Girls are impacted disproportionately for a many reasons.
- Girls are needed to do work at home
- Schools can be long distances and travel unsafe
- Families cannot afford the required fees
- Early marriages often end school opportunities
It doesn’t have to be this way. Y-Malawi’s program to empower women and girls is giving girls the chance to get an education, to change their destiny. Through the generosity of sponsors, Y-Malawi is helping nearly 100 girls get an education. 77 girls are in primary school, 16 are in secondary school and 2 are attending universities!
Studies also show that when girls get an education it creates sustainable change.
- Fewer early marriages
- Reduced deaths during childbirth
- Higher income levels
- Even greater crop yields
Education is indeed the key to a better future, but not everyone has access to that key. Want to help? It doesn’t take much to sponsor a girl in school, just about a $1 per day and there are girls waiting. Helping is easy, just let us know if you are interested by contacting us at sponsorships@y-malawi.org or call 909.541.7660. We will find someone just for you. You will be making a difference that will last for generations.
by admin | Feb 16, 2021 | BLOG
A harvest in the middle of the hunger season, unheard of. But it is happening!
Each year during January, February, and March there is a time known as the hunger season in Malawi. During these months people run out of food. The hunger season is a time of the year when people are literally starving for something, anything, to eat. The harvest they enjoyed during the Spring has been consumed. The Summer months are hot and there is no rain, so planting during those months is not possible. Traditionally people plant again in December when the rains are beginning to come, but it is April before those crops are normally ready to harvest. Thus, the season of hunger.
This February is different. Last Fall with the help of some generous donors, Y-Malawi purchased and began experimenting with solar water pumps. These pumps allowed two Chiefs to plant during early November. The temperature was blazing hot, but the fields were hoed, and seed put into the soil. Then the solar water pumps took over. They brought water from nearby ponds to the fields where the maize had been planted. They also brought water to a grove of banana trees that typically don’t provide fruit until later in the year. There were some challenges, and some lessons learned, but the plants grew.
This past week the harvesting began, not in April but in February! In the heart of the hunger season! These two Chiefs have proved that a harvest can be achieved during the hunger season. They have demonstrated hunger does not need to be a season.
With the lessons learned Y-Malawi is working to purchase more solar powered pumps so that more Chiefs can plant and provide for their people during the hunger season. Yet, this isn’t just about hunger. This is about sharing the love of Jesus. More communities are asking Y-Malawi to come help them everyday. They see what is happening, they know Y-Malawi is there to share the gospel message. They are ready to become self-sustaining. They are hungry not only for food, but for the hope that comes from knowing Jesus.
