Malawi

Get the load down on video right here 2017

Unedited Report Mission to Malawi 2017 (see detailed report under Projects and Services in International Operations) page.
TO: The Chief Executive officer
: Operations Manager/UK
: Executive Board
: All Sponsors
FROM: AOS Malawi Team
DATE: 12/04/2018

SUBJECT: REPORT ON MISSION MALAWI 2017
Day one- 18/10/2017 The UK team arrived at Chileka airport at 15:30 Welcomed by the operations manager (Pastor Brenda Banda) media personal Joab and Elisha and the volunteer (Mrs. Miriam Gwalidi Mbemba) group photo was taken following formal introduction, a prayer of thanksgiving for travelling mercy was done by the O.P. The team thereafter checked in at Sunbird hotel, the CEO addressed the Malawi team and both of us did a review on the itinerary, thereafter we had dinner meeting at the hotel, the following was on the agenda:-

  1.  Donations
  2. Visiting chief Kachindamoto in Dedza
  3. Women training in Chikwawa

Donations
The C.E.O briefed the members that she had bought uniforms and stationery for the students and also T. Shirts to be given to the beneficiaries, she also introduced the two potential sponsors whom she came with, one of them being Mrs Vanetta Jebutu who brought some hospital utensils for donation.

Visiting Chief Kachindamoto
The C.E.O briefed the team about the visit, she said the visit will not be funded by AOS but the other visiting Donor by the name of Bemisola. The trip was to be done by all mean because the donor wanted to meet the chief and identify the beneficiaries.  She also advised the O/M to arrange two hampers for the chief, a special car was arranged for the trip and no cost was put to it except for fuel.

Women Training
There was an arrangement that Ntcheu women should travel to Blantyre then Chikwawa for training on designing and tailoring, the women were communicated to and they travelled as planned.
The trainer was contacted the same night and he was ready for the job.
End of day

Day Two- 19th October 2017
We started our day very well and we all travelled to Bwabwali in Chikwawa district, where the CEO addressed the students at the assembly then had one on one meeting with the beneficiaries, at the same time, 22 women were having their training with the trainer and supervised by Mrs Bemisola, Mr Chakhaza  spoke to some students on career guidance, we then had lunch with the women and students, after which we gave out the maize and hampers to the women, gave the students uniforms and stationary we could not meet our pregnant student, at the time she had just given birth. We drove back to our base (Blantyre) safely.
End of day two.

Day three- 20th October 2017
Schools visit- 1) We started our day visiting Namikasi secondary school, the administration welcomed us with a warm welcome by the Deputy Headteacher Mr George Nali and the Bursar Mr David Phiri. We got a report on how our students are doing in class, boys have really improved and one of them called Mphatso came out the best in his last term exams but one student named Innocent Yona needs extra lessons to improve his grades, there is a great challenge with the girls performance, it’s very poor, the baser said this is due to poverty and most of them are still to and from their homes, they underperform because most of the times they come to school with empty stomach, hence it affects their studies, the whole team  participated in encouraging the student on how best they can improve, we were also informed that the other contributing factor is lack of study guide books.
The CEO then asked where the AOS bicycles donated to the students last year, the baser said when schools closed, all the bicycles were left in the school campus, unfortunately thieves broke in and stole one of them, after reporting to the police, the head teacher was advised not to release the other bicycles until the investigation was over, the kids had to go back to walking long distances.
Amongst the four bicycles, one of them is reported broken and needs fixing as soon as possible.
Finally, we share stationary and uniforms to our students. We then bought lunch for them.
The students were so grateful to AOS and all the sponsors.
End of day three

Day four-21st October 2017
We started our day with meetings, reviewing the three days done so far, we were expecting to meet Tay Green the musician but the meeting was cancelled due to his tight schedule, he was having another meeting in a different district.
After our lunch, the C.E.O, Mrs Bemisola, Joab and I started off to Salima to meet chief Kachindamoto,
We arrived safely and found the chief waiting for us, she welcomed us with open arms with a warm heart and lovely smile, she gave us a brief background of herself and how she got to where she is, she has a passion for girl child and she wants all her girls not to marry until they are at least 18 years, she has been terminating marriages that are underage, she has made a decree and its bylaw in her area that as long as she is chief in the area, she will never allow under aged children to go in to marriage as it is stated above.

She also stated that many children are learning under a tree for lack of space in the school, she pleaded to AOS if the organization can build a school for the community, the land is there and the people are committed to contributing twelve per cent of the building materials.

We had a privilege to meet one of the girls who was breastfeeding her infant, we talked to her and she was ready to go back to school after weaning her baby, the only challenge she has is school fees and all necessities.

Day five-22nd October 2017
We went to living waters church, we were welcomed by the resident bishop, Bishop T.B. Mandha and his deputy Rev. Chirambo, the C.E.O was given time to speak to the church, after that we went for lunch, took Mrs Bemi to the airport
Departure for Mrs Bemi

Day six-23rd  October 2017
The team travelled to Salima sunbird hotel to meet students from Chisu secondary school, both the new and the old head teacher came along for proper handovers since the old one has been moved to another school.
The C.E.O. addressed the students then presented uniforms, stationery and sanitary pads, they had fun as always.

Day seven- School visit- 24th October 2017
Team  visited Zingwangwa secondary school in Blantyre,  we were welcomed by the head teacher Mr Kungala and the bursar Ms Mercy Chipeta and other teachers, various activities were presented by the students like poems, songs, memory verses, after all the activities, the CEO addressed the students and shared uniforms, sanitary pads, shoes and stationery.
End of day seven

Day eight- 25th October 2017
The C.E.O. had an interview with MBC TV.
In the afternoon we went to welcome Mrs.Vanetta from the UK, she arrived at the Chileka airport at 2 pm, we went straight to work at QECH, hospital items and hampers were donated to the hospital, labour ward and the anti-natal clinic, after which she checked in the hotel.
End of day eight

Day nine-26th  October 2017
Visited chief Kachindamoto with Mrs Vanetta

Day ten- 27th October 2017
Visited Ntcheu women and identified students and Ntcheu secondary school, hampers and maize were donated to the women, the students received sanitary pads, uniforms and stationery, the CEO addressed the women who were present and they were very happy.

Their comments
They appreciated the gifts and the love shared to them, they also informed the team that they have found a filed in which they want to plant maize this year so that AOS should not buy maize, they requested for fertilizer and seeds from the organization.
After the visit, we proceeded to Lilongwe. Had dinner and end of day nine.

Day eleven- 28th October 2017
The CEO had and an exclusive interview with ZODIAK head of Programs, after that we started off to Mitudu community hospital where we were welcomed by the matron, she gave us a brief background of the hospital and how it is growing so rapidly, the hospital saves as a referral centre for seven health centres. It has many challenges especially in the theatre, they don’t have enough theatre boots, gloves, solar bulbs and delivery beds. We then gave start-up hampers to expectant mothers and visited the labour ward where we found the kangaroo ward.
After the visit we now went to Kawale where we visited HIV infected and affected women, we donated hampers, maize and assorted clothes.
End of day eleven.

Day twelve-29th October 2017
We went to area 25 where the CEO was ministering, after speaking the word to the church, we distributed clothes to the women and children. We then had lunch, after which we said our goodbyes, some of us went back to Blantyre, the CEO and others went to Dedza to meet the students at chief Kachindamoto.
Thereafter Mr Joab Chakhaza took the visitors to the airport.
End of day twelve

I would like to thank all our sponsors who have stood with us for the last 5years
Mission to Malawi was a success, well-done team UK/Malawi

Pastor Brenda Banda
Operations Manager
AOS Malawi

Malawi News Feeds

AOS Mission To Malawi 2016

Against All Odds Still Standing (AOS) – Mission to Malawi 2016 was a huge success: Special THANK YOU to every organisation that has supported us during our Dare to Dream! Dare to Fly! Against All Odds Dinner Gala in April. Express Link Int’l, Miss Malawi UK ,Bata Malawi ,Sunbird Mount Soche Hotel Sunbird Capital Hotel,Lilongwe, WOMEN of Purpose ,Womenof Faith ,The Anointed UK, Oasis Universal Radio Station and many others.

Our Next fundraising anniversary dinner event will be held on Saturday 29th April 2017 at the Hilton Dartford Bridge Hotel.

THANK YOU To our SPONSORS, Supporters, Prayer Partners & Followers: Without you all this Mission will be impossible.

AOS Malawi Achievers Awards recipient. 

A glimpse into the Mission to Malawi 2016. Supporting vulnerable Women, Girls and Boys with education and empowering women and also providing training towards self-sufficiency.

See Malawi To Malawi 2016 video reports click here: http://aosuk.org/projects-services/mission-to-malawi-2016/

Against All Odds here to:
Rebuild Lives, Restore Hope and Restore Dignity. Through, Education, Social Development and Health.

Mission to Malawi 2014

The date for the 2014 travel to Malawi was from the 17th October to 25th October.   The AOS UK Malawi team who traveled were supported by ordinary people like yourself.  They made valuable donations of all sorts of items.  As well as from donors from Businesses, Doctors, Nurses, Psalmists, Pastors, Development Practitioners & others. You can also support our effects by giving towards our various projects, be it education, e.g  One off donations of £60 for getting girls back to school for a whole year. Or towards our Health projects or else in our social development projects.  You may like to take the opportunity to join us for a life changing experience in future upcoming missions.  Get in touch to take part in transforming the lives of those who need our help and support.

ET logo with STAR and web
AOS Team Malawi consisted of five members who travelled on the Mission to Malawi 2014.   We were able to obtained donations that we received and to give out these donated items of gifts the following demonstrated in our Achievable /Outcomes in 2014 below.  We did not have measurable targets as this was our first real efforts to obtain donations, which we can now measured using the 2014 figures below.
Achievable /Outcomes in 2014:

School Scholarships:X 22 for girls & x 5 for boys
Girls white socksX 100
Boys socksX 100
Men’s shoesX 14
Assorted clothesFor women & children
ToiletriesFor women & girls
Sanitary padsX 400
Baby hampersX 30 (Includes hooded Towels x 25
Women’s ZitenjesX 100
Food HampersX 25

All these were achieved, demonstrated in the above left hand above column, within our various projects as stated below:

  • Education projects – Visited six Schools and personally delivered School Scholarships programmes (colour coded – Yellow) [1].
  • Social development programme: Social awareness & empowerment talks with, women, boys & girls, and income generating activities  (colour coded – Blue).
  • HIV/Aids & Women Health projects: Deliverable of medical supplies etc, included Maternal & Neo-Natal Day at health clinic – Delivering of babies, etc (colour coded – Green).

Of course our main beneficiaries are victims/survivors of Domestic Violence and Abuse (DVA) and their families, along with Gender Base Violence (GBV), some of which included orphans and widows.
[1] Colour codes are for ease of fundraising purposes.

In 2014 we were able to access the South Region & some of the Central Regions in Malawi. In October 2015 Mission to Malawi we would like to cover the rest of the Central Region & the North Region. We intend to take with us a solid team of professional volunteers. Please consider how you can best support the coming event and mission, as well as the social development programmes and AOS operations.

We would be grateful if you could consider the organisational event’s sponsorship package and Donations information to promote where relevant.  As we look to double the donations given, with items of gifts and in-kind donations to be raised, we will use the above outcomes as a benchmark to build on what we have already successfully achieved to date.

 

Mission to Malawi 2013

Mission To Malawi 1.

SCOPE AND COMPANY MISSION REPORT

26th – 30th October 2013

See the below feedback from some of the women:   

 Brenda Banda Chombo (Gospel Musician in Malawi – Chikwawa) writes: I would like to express my sincere gratitude to you Madam Fikelephi, your partners and the entire team, who thought of Malawian women and girls who have been victims of domestic violence, widows and orphans. This project has proven to be essential in this country with clear evidence of lives transformed in just a few days you were here, I hope you are planning to continue and sustain this project because the demand for such charity programs in this country is so high, please remember other districts as well especially Chikwawa. Your visit left a huge impact so much and it is my prayer that you establish infrastructures that will shelter these women and girls, thanks again to Nana Churcher and Sonia Rock for giving the shoulders for the broken to cry on, all the donation both in cash and kind, the school fees you paid for those girls, may the lord bless you for having our country at heart.
 
Esnart Busher writes: Against All Odds Still Standing visit to Malawi was a good mission in the sense that we have more victims of Gender Based Violence and people they don’t know where to go with their cases. I found this visit of importance as the charity team have seen themselves the problems women and children are facing because of Gender based violence and poverty. I am pleased to see some people being adopted and some given school sponsorship. I am very happy with this charity work as it has touched some rejected and forgotten souls here in Malawi. I would love this should be the beginning not the end because there are a lot of people who need to be reached with these services and I request when coming next time we should have enough time to visit more districts and touch more lives. I have liked the organization and it would be good if we can have this charity project here in Malawi to change lives of victimized people.  Finally, I thank you the Founder of Against all odds still standing charity, Nana Churcher and Mrs Sonia for your coming to Malawi for this mission, the donations, school sponsorship and adoption was amazing and am short of words but I am very thankful. It’s my plea that you open offices in Malawi in a similar project. God bless you for charity work you are doing. Esnart Busher, Malawi.  
 
Peh Isaacs writes:  Salima district is a district found in the central region of Malawi. It is most comprised of Lake Malawi so it is a Tourist District. Most of its Residents source their income from fishing and farming. In terms of development, it is partly developed. Being a tourist attraction District, it has a high rate of its population being illiterate as most young people like in boys abandon school for fishing and girls for marriage even prostitution so there is a high percentage of HIV contraction, early and forced marriages among young girls. I write in review of the Against all odds visit to Malawi recently. I had a chance to meeting the team on Sunday the 27th of October 2013 in Area 25 Lilongwe at God Consuming Fire Ministries where the Against All Odds team visited for and made prayers. I met with Mrs Fikelephi Jackson and Nana Churcher where I narrated my life story. They offered me Spiritual and physical Inspiration and promised to help me get up on my feet in terms of a career. For the short while Against all Odds visited Malawi, they have managed to touch a number of lives and given them hope. They have a Message of Hope. From my encounter with them, I got the opinion that Malawian women can benefit a lot from Against All Odds not only in terms of receiving charity but inspiration as well. They can be more independent and aspire in life by not looking down on themselves and do great things in society. I met them for a short time, our discussion didn’t last 30 minutes but I was highly inspired. So if Malawi could have more organisations like Against All Odds, we can be singing another song in terms of poverty eradication in women, women empowerment and yes our girls will have a different view of life and will live to aspire in life. The inspiration such women can get from Against All Odds am sure should be enough to bring a change upon the lives of our women.
 
Interview with Zodiak Broadcasting Station (ZBS) On the late afternoon and evening of 27th October, Fikelephi did an interview with Zodiak Broadcasting Station (ZBS) a top radio station in Malawi. It was aired in the morning of 29th October on Good Morning Malawi, another popular programme with huge listenership, resulting in the interview being aired over and over due to public demand.
 
Interview with Matindi Radio Station This was yet another encounter and opportunity to connect with listeners in Malawi. This interview highlighted that Against All Odds Still Standing’s intention was to enhance all the good work that is being done by the current NGOs and the Government of Malawi. Also this interview highlighted how the world is watching Malawi with admiration as the only second country in the African Continent being led by a great woman. Dr. Joyce Banda, this should empower the women and girls in Malawi, as it is empowering. The feedbacks from these radio interviews were very encouraging from those in the studio and from the listeners, who were very inspired and which made clear the scope of the needs and the necessary work to be done.  
 

28th OCTOBER, 2013 (Meeting with Honorable Minister & Dr. Mary Shawa)

On Monday, the Team had an audience with the Minister and Principal Secretaries (PS) for Gender, Children & Social Welfare at City Centre, Lilongwe.  

29TH OCTOBER 2013 – VISIT TO SALIMA The meeting in Salima involved the local authorities in the District, including the Officer in Charge of police (OC) and Social Welfare Officer  and Education manager.  With approval the team proceeded with the rest of the programme.  Mrs. Fikelephi Jackson addressed the meeting and encouraged that in the near future with the Government’s approval the Ministries of Education, Gender, Social and NGOs would work together to end Domestic Violence Against women and girls. The team then proceeded to Salima Secondary School.

SALIMA SEC.SCHOOL – GIFTS TO STUDENTS Mrs. Fikelephi Jackson addressed the Students inspired them, and encouraged them to work very hard in their studies and mostly she affirmed them as the future for Malawi. She also introduced the Police, and the rest of the officials who were present that if any of them were challenged they would get help from the authorities in Salima District. The team also interacted with students and teachers at Salima Secondary School via a meeting organised in the school hall. The girls were given the cards where the information about their future and what they will be was written. The boys were given clothes and shoes.

See letter received below.
Dear Madam, Thank you so much for your email. It is nice to hear that you had a safe flight back to England. We are so grateful for your visit and we will always keep in touch with you and your team in Malawi. We will certainly tell our students to write you in appreciation for the gifts that you gave them. Once again on behalf of the students and staff and on my own behalf I would like to thank you so much for visiting our school. We felt honored and privileged by your visit. We will be looking forward to your coming again.  Kind regards and best wishes. May God bless you? Rabson Mpinganjira.

Head teacher. SALIMA POLICE On the way to Salima Secondary School, the team had a briefing meeting the Salima Police who presented a few things on how the Salima Police works in the district. The briefing presented some opportunities on how AOS could work with the police on matters of GBV.

30th OCT, 2013 – END. 
MISSION  SUCCESSES

  • The donations made were of great value and were well received by the beneficiaries.
  • Part of the vision for Against All Odds Still Standing is to be the voice of the voiceless, and to reach the unreachable.  Of which within the short space of time we were in Malawi we were able to connect with the victims at the grass roots level, which was one of our targets that were fulfilled. Though this was on a smaller scale but was nevertheless impactful.

Malawi Photo Gallery

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