by admin | Nov 28, 2023 | BLOG
Like many women in Malawi, Gloria was dependent on her husband for an income. She had the potential to make money of her own, but didn’t possess the resources to do so. Then Gloria joined Y-Malawi’s Economic Empowerment program. In the program women are empowered to own their own small business. Gloria is doing tailoring, but others sell maize or clothing, some have a restuarant, others are growing food for sale. This program changed everything for Gloria. Now she has not only learned new skills, she was also given the resources she needed to make money using those skills.
Gloria is running a successful tailoring business where she makes and mends clothes out of chitenje, the traditional material in Malawi. Through this business, she contributes to the household income in addition to her husband’s earnings. They’re able to support their family a little bit more comfortably now.
She has even managed to save ten dollars to start a new small business selling sardines to boost her income further. Gloria is very grateful for the Y-Malawi women’s program that helped turn her potential into a possibility.
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by admin | Nov 22, 2023 | BLOG
Ever think to yourself, “How did I get here?” Sometimes God takes us places in life to prepare us for what He has coming in the future.
Way back in 2008 Dana was attending a church that decided to build water wells in Malawi. She didn’t know anything about Malawi back then, she just knew people needed clean, safe water. She decided to jump in. The church called the campaign, “Your wants for their needs.”
Those days were tough for many people. The economy had taken a downturn, people were losing their homes and jobs. Even so, God moved in a big way. The goal was exceeded by amounts no one expected. It was Malachi 3:10-12 in action. “Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in my house, and thus put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts; see if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you an overflowing blessing.”
Fast forward to 2022. Dana’s friend told her about how she was sponsoring a girl in Malawi. She told her that she was going to Malawi on a Vision Trip in 2023. Again, Dana didn’t hesitate. She sponsored two women that same day. Then she signed up to go to Malawi!
In Malawi she met the women she was sponsoring and much more. She participated in Bible studies, adult literacy classes, took part in programs for children, youth, and met with Chiefs. She saw people learning skills that will help them start their own businesses. She talked with people who had learned new ways to grow food. She was able to give people Bibles, the first they had ever owned! The trip impacted her deeply.
On the way home she talked with people on the plane about her experience. When she got home, she talked with friends, co-workers and anyone who would listen about what she had experienced. She told them, “I saw the work in action. I saw that Y-Malawi is doing everything they talk about in their newsletters. I actually experienced it. When I send money I know exactly where it is going now. It’s going to change lives!”
Dana was so enthusiastic that people couldn’t help but respond. Four more girls have been sponsored. A nurse herself, Dana sponsored two more girls going to nursing school! Y-Malawi is talking with a potential new church partner, and a group of people are talking about taking a Vison Trip in 2024. Now that’s what we call fruit!
God uses Y-Malawi Vision Trips in amazing ways. They change lives. Since the trip Dana says, “I have more joy and am just thrilled about what God is doing.” Dana didn’t expect that to happen. She didn’t ask for it. She didn’t know what God was preparing her for when she first the word “Malawi.”
Look in the rearview mirror. What has God been preparing you for?
Learn about Vision Trips Learn about Empowering Women
by admin | Nov 2, 2023 | BLOG
Isha is a brilliant young girl at a local school in Nkhotakota. But she struggled juggling school work and household responsibilities. She was required to help her single mother at home make ends meet. Eventually, she decided to drop out of school. The money used to pay for school could cover essential food and supplies at home. Then, just before she officially withdrew from her school, a miracle happened.
Through the Y-Malawi Sponsorship Program, God provided a means to pay for Isha’s fees. A sponsor in the United States decided to help her continue her schooling. The sponsorship made it possible for Isha and her mother to live comfortably with the extra money now being distributed to other areas of their lives. Not only was Isha able to return to her education, she now had a new hope for her future. The opportunity she’s been granted has opened up new horizons for her. She is excited to explore what God has in store for her.
In response to this blessing, Isha’s mother thanked Y-Malawi. She said “I have seen God in all this. Indeed, He answers prayers.” Isha and her mother observe Muslim traditions, but have since joined the Bible study conducted in their local church. When she said she saw God in their blessings, she meant Jesus Christ. Ultimately, not only did Isha receive aid that helped her schooling and home life, she and her mother also received the greatest gift of all, Jesus.
To learn more about how you can sponsor someone like Isha, click HERE.
by admin | Oct 21, 2023 | BLOG
Mpamantha Children’s Club gathers children together to teach them many different subjects and skills, one of which is gardening. There is a little boy named Samuel who is part of that club. He has an amazing story that comes from the lessons he learned at this club.
Samuel has a big family of five brothers who also attend the club with him weekly. One week, their teacher taught them a few lessons on how to plant vegetables. They learned how to properly make gardening beds and water the plants so that they would grow successfully. Since these boys are so young, nobody expected them to do what they did next.
They started their own garden! These six boys put their shared knowledge together and got to work. In their own village, they prepared four planting beds, planted mustard in all of them, took very careful care of each bed, and eventually harvested the vegetables. Despite the miniature size of the garden, they were able to eat the vegetables during their meals–so much so that their mother didn’t need to buy vegetables from the market anymore!
They weren’t done yet. They took it a step further and even sold some of their harvest to buy some school supplies. With what they earned, they were able to afford two exercise books and one pencil, which is a great feat for such young children. This is a testament to what children can accomplish once given the knowledge and opportunity to shine.
by admin | Oct 18, 2023 | BLOG
Mpamantha Last Church is a church located in Nkhotakota that wanted to start a Sunday school program for the children that attend, but needed somebody who would teach the word of God. They consulted a woman named Mainess to fill this position. Mainess is a member of the church, so this opportunity was perfect for her to enter the ministry.
Unfortunately, Mainess felt unprepared for the role. This caused her to be reluctant accept the proposal to teach the children in Sunday school. Her apprehension towards the oncoming responsibility was due to the fact that many women in Malawi don’t go far past elementary school before their circumstances force them to drop out. Mainess didn’t feel she was equipped enough to teach these children if she herself wasn’t fully educated, which meant that her heart wasn’t in it.
Determined to remedy this issue, Mainess attended a short but extensive 5-day program for Sunday school teachers to train for this position at her church. The program was facilitated by World Relief, a non-governmental evangelical Christian organization whose mission is to empower local churches internationally to serve the most vulnerable.
This training was the turning point in her spiritual life. Now she was equipped to actively serve in her church and community. Currently, Mainess is a Sunday school teacher. She is passionately educating children on God’s word. She is impacting each young life with the Word of God. With Mainess as a teacher, the Sunday school at Mpamantha Last Church continues to grow each day as more children join to experience the love of God through her lessons.
by admin | Oct 18, 2023 | BLOG
The Mtaya Youth Club is determined to help their members to a better life. To raise money the club dug an entire fishpond using just 2 hand shovels. To fill the pond with water, they used a foot powered pump to bring water from a local stream. Imagine a stair stepping machine at your local gym, except this one pumps water. Who knows how many flights of stairs these club members climbed filling that pond? They didn’t give up.
Once full of water, the club got tiny fish from the Malawi Department of Natural Resources. They also got counseling and training on how to raise the fish. They learned well. The fish have now reached a size that they can be sold.
Guess what they are doing with the proceeds? Buying fertilizer of course. The fertilizer will go to a melon field they have started. Once the melons have been sold, the proceeds will be used to buy 3 sewing machines. Those machines will be put to work by club members sewing various clothing items they can sell in the village.
What will those proceeds be used for you ask? To pay school fees and buy school supplies for girl members of the club who otherwise would not be able to go to school.
This isn’t a story about fish, fertilizer, melons, or even sewing machines. It’s a story about a group of youth who believe they can change their future and the future of their community. It is a story of youth who have been empowered to believe they can achieve.
