by admin | Mar 19, 2023 | women empowerment
We know what you are thinking, “Another sponsorship program, blah, blah, blah.” We get it. Sponsorships have been around for a long time. Give us just a few seconds to explain.
Women and girls have a tough life in Malawi. Consider a few statistics:
- Half of the girls in Malawi are married before age 18, many not by choice.
- 84% of births are from teenage mothers.
- Only 3% of girls graduate high school.
- 40% of women suffer domestic abuse.
- A recent poll showed nearly the same number of women believe it is acceptable for a man to beat his wife.
- In the village, a man can leave a marriage or take another wife any time he chooses.
Women work hard in Malawi. They clean house, fetch water, gather firewood, forage for and cook food, work the fields, plus care for the children and their husband. Even young girls are expected to be up before the sun and work until night. In all of this difficulty, challenge and pain, if you look deeper, there is something below the surface. Something that you might miss. It is influence. In their difficult situation, women are in a very unique position to influence the lives of their children, their family, their husband, and even the entire culture.
The Y-Malawi program is different than anything you have seen before. Unlike others, half of your support goes directly to your sponsored woman or girl in the form of food, supplies, regular visits, counseling and development. Some of it goes to pay school fees so that girls can graduate. The balance goes to support Bible studies and programs like Girls of Distinction, Mother Groups and Women’s Change Me Programs. Sponsors get a quarterly progress update. They can communicate with their sponsored woman or girl through Y-Malawi by simple email.
Women can change a culture from within. So can you. This new concept is working. More girls are in school than ever before. More women have started new businesses. Marriages have been saved. Not surprisingly men have noticed. They are changing too. Women are taking center stage in not only changing their personal lives and families, but their communities.
This isn’t just about sponsorship and more programs. This is about making a difference for a woman who just needs a little help, a hand up, hope and someone to step in an love them. Will you be that someone?
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by admin | Oct 8, 2022 | women empowerment
The Home Safe House for Girls is officially open! The house is home to 12 girls who were walking miles to school. That’s not safe for a girl in Malawi. Now they stay together, they will have a Matron who cares for, mentors and coaches them. Plus, the house is just 1/4 mile from school!
The day began with a parade down the main highway, right in front of the busy open-air marketplace. All of the Y-Malawi staff surprised the girls by coming to the event dressed in a school uniform. Some hadn’t worn a school uniform for 20 years!
Monica Chagwamjira, who leads Y-Malawi’s efforts to empower women and girls gave encouraging words of testimony. She was once a village girl herself. Field Officers read specific scriptures to encourage the girls that hard times can come, but God loves us and never leaves us. Newly appointed Operations Manager Reverend Richard Kapanda and Larry Hall, Executive Director for Y-Malawi USA both shared with, and prayed with the girls. Mother Groups who provide counseling and support to the girls also shared words of encouragement. The days was topped off by the distribution of more school supplies.
God gave Monica the vision for the Home Safe House. Then He provided the perfect property. A women’s Bible study in Whittier, California helped make it a reality. We have big dreams for Home Safe House. There is more renovation that needs to be done. More bath houses are needed. Gardens will be planted. Possibly even poultry coups built. We are even talking about adding room for an additional 12 girls! The goal is that Home Safe House will become self-sustaining, so that it can operate long into the future and make a difference in the lives of hundreds of girls.
The best part? The girls are in school, safe and able to learn. Now they have a home where they are learning about Jesus too. More than one of these girls has become a believer in Jesus in just the first few weeks at Home Safe House.
We are praising God for Home Safe House. We praise God for the incredible things He is doing in Malawi. We praise God for everyone in the USA who is standing with us in prayer and with financial gifts.
Click here to be a prayer partner Click here to help with a gift
by admin | Apr 10, 2022 | women empowerment
We call it basketball. Malawi has a similar game called netball. Like basketball, it’s played on a court with hoops on each end. Usually, the hoops are made by twisting some metal and attaching a homemade net. Since the court is dirt, there is no fancy dribbling. But there is a lot of passing. The idea is the same as basketball, get your ball into your net to score.
It might seem just a game, but it can be a lot more. One Christian Chief wanted to give girls in his village something productive to do after school as a group. Score one for Netball. He formed a Netball team. The girls come together on game days and play. Some of them study the Bible together before and after the games. Some older women participate as mentors. The girls have discussions about life that are sometimes tabu in the village. It’s become more than a game. The game is a catalyst for changing lives.
When this Chief became a Christian, some other Chiefs said he had gone mad, but day by day his village is being transformed. Now other Chiefs are looking closer. Several others have since become Christians. God is on the move!
Is it March Madness? Nope, more like Holy Spirit Madness!
by admin | Feb 24, 2022 | women empowerment
If you are breathing, this story should leave you with a lump in your throat. It’s Esther’s story, told in her own words.
“I am a 31 years old mother of three kids (she was married at 15) who has thought of going back to school after years of great torture (both physical and mental) from my husband (unfortunately not uncommon in Malawi). I stayed with him for 16 years. Then I left and went back to school and started grade 8. I have been selected to go to High School (You must be selected to attend in Malawi) for grade 9. I am attending, but traveling 2 hour (walking) one way to attend.
I had a challenge of tuition fees and school supplies. I was praying for such a support for some months now. I was sent back from school when time came for payments of the school fees. I cried all the way back home.
Then one of the Y-Malawi Community Facilitators came to our village and prayed with me. She then told me that God will make a way for me one day. I was happy when I was told about your provision (she is now sponsored). I am back to school now, a happy mother looking young and full of hope.”
Esther is in school with girls half her age, but she is determined. She says she wants to be a writer one day, but the truth is she wants much more. Again, in her own words, “I believe God will help me accomplish my goal. I have to. When I do, it can make a difference in my life and also the life of my sisters, aunts, and every other woman I know.”
Don’t think sponsorship can make a difference? Try telling Esther that.
Ready to learn more, click here
by admin | Jun 18, 2021 | women empowerment
Stella is a Chief, but even Chiefs can face tragedy. She testified during a women’s gathering recently that when her husband died it hit her hard. She couldn’t understand why this happened. It was like she was living in a deep fog, nothing seemed clear anymore. She struggled to feed and provide for her children. With no real source of income, she turned to begging for a few pennies a day and scraps to keep the family alive.
Then a friend invited her to a Y-Malawi Chiefs Ministry Change Me program. In Change Me she heard for the first time that there was a God who loved her. Through Bible study, she heard stories of strong women in the Bible. Stories about women who made a difference in life for those around them through the strength given to them by God. Her learning didn’t stop there. In the Change Me program she learned new skills. She learned how to knit goods she could sell. She learned how to grow a garden using the principles of Farming God’s Way.
Stella’s life has changed from one of a lost soul to a woman of purpose. She has new hope. She is excited for the future and what God has in store for her and her family.
Learn about Y-Malawi More about helping women
by admin | Nov 5, 2020 | women empowerment
She was born into a poor family of 6. Her parents worked the fields for day wages. They did the best they could, but life was very hard. Despite the challenges, Veronica was able to attend school. Then in grade 8 everything changed. She became pregnant. It wasn’t her fault, but she accepted the responsibility. While the baby was still young Veronica tried to return to school, but she could not afford the fees.
When a man told her that he would marry her and take care of she and the baby, Veronica believed him. Less than a year later, while Veronica was expecting her second child, the man left her and ran away. Now with herself and two young mouths to feed, Veronica worked the fields for day wages just as her parents had done before her.
She worked hard but could barely afford enough food to sustain herself and the children. Then she heard about the Y-Malawi sponsorship program for women and girls. She registered, not looking for a handout, but a hand up. By the grace of God, out of so many waiting, she was selected by a sponsor. The provision of food and some other basic needs gave Veronica the boost and hope for a better future she needed.
A few months ago, Veronica began growing her own rice on about ½ acre of land. She did all the work herself, Y-Malawi provided fertilizer, guidance, and encouragement. She planted during the dry season in Malawi, not something most people attempt because of the challenge of watering. Veronica was determined and did it anyway.
Her efforts paid off. She harvested 22 bags of rice from her field. Each bag represents about $25, so Veronica will earn $550! This is 50% more than the average Malawian earns in an entire year and Veronica can still plant a second crop yet! It gets even better because Y-Malawi is buying most of her rice to feed those suffering from hunger in her own community.
Veronica has worked hard for this success, but she also gives credit to the blessings provided her. She shared, “I am overwhelmed with the support which you have provided for my farming project. God has amazed me. I did not know where to get fertilizer. I had tried and all my efforts were in vain. I have seen God intervening in the last hour.”
Veronica’s experience is a wonderful illustration of how economic empowerment can and is changing lives in Malawi.
Click here to learn more about Economic Empowerment
