by admin | Jul 12, 2020 | BLOG
Like so many other women in Malawi, Malita has lived a difficult life. She was born into a family that follows Islam and married at an early age. After her third child, her husband found another wife and left Malita alone to fend for herself. With no skills, no education, no property to call her own, she worked the fields for a few cents each day in hopes she could earn enough to have a meal.
Then one day the pastor of a local church that is a part of the Y-Malawi supported Church Empowerment Zone, came to Malita’s door. He shared with her some lessons from the Transformation Tree curriculum. He helped Malita to see that poverty is both spiritual and physical. He helped her to understand how poverty came into existence, and how knowing Jesus can transform a mind from despair to hope. That day Malita’s life changed. Now she is a follower of Jesus and regular church attender.
Y-Malawi is helping Malita with food security. Since she lives in a home that is not adequate and safe, her church has plans to help build her a better house. Malita’s life is still hard, but she now has hope. Recently she testified, “I feel so much better about myself. I feel so good to be a part of a church family. I am even being discipled by the Pastor himself!”
Malita is dreaming of the day she might have her own Bible. Thanks to a generous gift, Y-Malawi will soon be providing her just that. No longer does she feel herself a “throw away life,” now she believes there are people who care, and that God actually loves her.
Click here to help a woman like Malita
by admin | Jul 12, 2020 | BLOG
Violate is her name, she wears the orange skirt in the photo. The misspelled name given to her at birth a prophecy. She was raised in a difficult family situation. She was married at a young age and has 3 children. Her life has been hard. Then she joined a Bible Study Group where she learned about God’s love and his plan for her life. Violate loved studying the Bible and soon she was even leading the Bible Study Group herself. She was modeling for others what it means to be a Christian from her own trouble past. In her words, “From the time I joined Bible studies, my life changed. I now trust the Holy Spirit to lead me in making decisions instead of asking neighbors that always mislead me.”
Then seemingly, more disaster. She and her husband decided to plant a rice field. They worked hard together, often side by side, but many days Violate toiled in the field on her own. The work paid off and the couple harvested 28 bags of rice! Violate was thinking this harvest would change everything. It could help her family, even save her troubled marriage. Instead, her husband sold the rice, took the money, and ran off with another woman.
When she shared her testimony many of the women in the Bible Study Group cried. But Violate shared with them that God had given her peace. She shared with them “God has taught me to rely on Him alone. To fully trust Him. No matter the situation, I can know that God loves me.”
Violate is replanting now. She continues to work hard. She continues to be a role model and an example to other women. She is young, but her example is giving other women hope for their future too.
Learn more about Y-Malawi Learn more about sponsoring women & girls Click here to donate
by admin | Jul 11, 2020 | BLOG
COVID-19 has had impacts far beyond the illness itself. With schools closed in Malawi, young students and youth who would normally be in school are now at home. They have little to do other than chores at home. Most have no ability to communicate with schools, teachers, and others outside their immediate village. There is virtually no opportunity for on-line learning. The situation is made worse, because these children are now at much greater risk. Unfortunately, during the last few months physical abuse, teen pregnancies, and child marriages have all spiked along with COVID-19.
To help these children who are so vulnerable, Y-Malawi partners are taking action. The Chiefs Ministry is conducting awareness meetings with Chiefs to discuss holding people accountable for their actions. They are doing community education sessions making parents aware of the dangers and helping them to realize that they must protect children.
The Youth department has stepped up efforts by holding Youth Empowerment and End Child Marriage campaigns. They have also done additional training with Mother Groups and are working to expand their influence in the village.
Fishers, Trainers and Senders is helping to educate the children themselves. They are holding training sessions designed to help young people recognize abuse. They are encouraging the young people that they have a choice and can take action to protect themselves. The training is called Journey to Hope.
A young student named Takondwa (pictured here) said, “I have learned that it is not good to hide anything if I have been abused, I must tell my friend, my parents or the police. Through this book, I have the knowledge to help friends who need hope for the future.”
Another student named Jailosi said, “What I have learned from Journey to Hope is that when I have been abused I must report the matter to the police, so that they can assist me to go to the hospital and been assisted to avoid sexual transmitted disease.”
COVID is not just an illness. It is a life changer. Like in the days of Joseph of the Bible, God is using even something like COVID-19, that might be considered evil, for good and to help those most vulnerable.
by admin | Jun 24, 2020 | BLOG
Have you every imagined yourself on a Vision Trip to Malawi? If so, your next thought might have been, “Me? Go to Africa? I don’t think that ever going to happen…” So what if you could experience Africa from the comfort of your own home? Now you can.
You can take a sort of virtual Vision Trip with us to Malawi! You can meet the people through stories, learn about the ministries and their impact. We will even take a look at why we do what we do in light of what the Bible says. Videos, reading, and online discussions, will make your heart become full as you experience the country known as “The Warm Heart of Africa.”
To get started just visit the Heart 2 Heart page on our website. Use the link that follows to go straight there. Click here to learn more
by admin | Jun 24, 2020 | BLOG
Can you imagine trying to learn English or study the Bible by nailing paper to trees? That is what some of the Bible Study/Literacy Groups in Nkhotakota were forced to do because they lacked resources.
Now that is all a thing of the past. Y-Malawi supplied the funds and commissioned students at the Vocational Training Center to build some new chalkboards. It was a win for everyone involved. Students got the chance to practice carpentry skills and complete a project. The Vocational Training Center earned some revenue to help sustain the center. The Bible Study/Literacy Groups gained a new tool to help them with learning. Its development from within.
Teacher Ireen Sitolo said, “Teaching and learning by using flip charts was challenging. It was hard to properly hang the flip chart on a tree. We were constantly requesting new flip charts and in need of pens. This new chalk board will simplify teaching and learning.”
It is another great example of the power of synergy. It demonstrates how working together we can benefit each other and accomplish more. That is why the Y-Malawi model has seen such success. In a world where independence is often sought after, working together in community can change everything.
by admin | Jun 24, 2020 | BLOG
She had to stop going to school during the 11th grade. Although a good student, her family couldn’t afford the school fees. At 19 years old Maureen’s hope for a better future was setting like the evening sun. Yet, a beautiful sunrise was on the way.
Maureen registered and was sponsored in Y-Malawi’s sponsorship program to empower women and girls. Once in the program the first priority for Maureen was food security. Then Field Officers tried to encourage her to go back to school, but Maureen had other ideas. Her sponsor gave her a special gift and told Field Officers to use it for whatever Maureen needed. They consulted with Maureen, she requested to use the money to begin a small business.
The Field Officers saw that Maureen was a smart girl. They agreed and helped her get started, coaching and guiding along the way. Just look at what this ambitious young lady did.
- Bought 4 bags of maize and resold them at a profit.
- Used the profit from the maize to plant tomatoes, sold them for a profit.
- Used the profit from the tomatoes to plant 2, 056 heads of cabbage.
- Cabbage sells for $2.28 per head, she plans to have a profit of about $4,000!
Maureen is planning to continue growing both tomatoes and cabbage, but she is also planning to invest in another business with some of the profits. Now that she has some funds, she is also going to go back and finish High School.
This story is a great example of what the women and girls of Malawi can do with an opportunity and just a little help. Maureen is not only a role model, but her success is giving hope to others. Congratulations to Maureen, and a big thanks to her sponsor for making this all possible.
