The country and its people
Malawi is a landlocked country in Southern Africa, formerly known as Nyasaland, a British Central African Protectorate, until 1964, when it was renamed Malawi. In 1966 it became a republic. The country is 520 miles long and 100 miles wide, bounded by Tanzania in the north, Mozambique in the east and south and Zambia in the west. Malawi has one of the world’s deepest lakes, Lake Malawi. The population is mainly concentrated in the south with 85% living in small villages, where people live in mud huts with thatched roofs.
There are crocodiles, elephants, giraffes, zebras, hippos, lions, antelopes and all kinds of diseases. United Nations records Malawi as the world’s sixth poorest country.
Malawi Mission Projects
The mission was originally called Malawi Mission Freshwater Project and although we are still very much involved in supplying boreholes in the rural areas, we are increasingly involved in building community centres which can be used as schools, clinics, village meetings houses and for church services, again in the neglected rural areas. Because of our wider remit it was felt that the removal of the word “Freshwater” from out title would better describe our work.
The Project has, since 1995, supplied over 400 boreholes which in turn provides clean water for between 450,000 and 600,000 people. It has also supplied £30,000 worth of medical aid; 5 fire engines full of aid; a dental surgery; support for a nursery school; 2,000 Bibles; clothes, especially for children.
The Mission has built a Resource and Training Centre with a 20-bed hostel. The centre is for training of rural pastors and basic skills in building, agriculture and office related education for young people.
Aid is supplied irrespective of the village’s religious leanings. Need is the determining factor, and the need is still great. When drilling boreholes, and in order to make most use of equipment and manpower, arrangements are always made to finance several wells within easy reach of each other at any one time... The village head and elders must request the well and then supply the manpower to maintain the well. Training is given in the upkeep of the mechanical parts and our Malawian partners now have their own workshop and office instead of renting.
Along with the drilling of wells is the building of special hygienic latrines, provision of seed for varying crops and much, much more.
Who’s involved in Malawi Mission Projects?
The Project Director and Mission Chairman is Mr Derek Hayes of Baldrine, Isle of Man, supported by a small team here in the Isle of Man and working with local Malawians.
The workload is growing at amazing rate with opportunities for service to meet a wide range of needs, with resulting demands on finance. We are therefore looking for others on the Isle of Man who will take an active interest in the work.
Please let us know if you are able to help us. 90% of financial support comes from the Isle of Man. Countless goods from fire engines, motorbikes, clothing, computers, sports kits, medical equipment, sewing machines, furniture and toys have been sent.
All monies and goods donated to the Project are used directly for the benefit of the people of rural Malawi. There are no wages or benefits paid to anyone in the Isle of Man and no help is taken from the funds to assist travel to and from Malawi.
What next?
The needs are ongoing and many people are still without the basic necessities of life. The average house in a Malawi village has no lights, no running water, no gas, no electricity, no roads, and of course, no television or radio. There are no shops and if they don’t grow it, then they don’t have it.
In the past the people relied on polluted river water and drop wells. Often animals have fallen in and drowned and the villagers, unaware of decaying animals at the bottom of the well, have become ill as a result. We continue to supply boreholes in order to give them safe, clean drinking water. We need your help to do this.
A new project started in 2007 is fruit tree planting along with other fast-growing trees which can be used for firewood. This programme will serve three aims:
- To provide the villagers with another food source
- To help stop soil erosion
- To help stabilise water table by reducing the effect of the sun on the soil.
How can you help us?
- Offer help with goods or services, finance or organisation
- Request our twice-yearly newsletter
- Invite us to come and talk to your society or club
- Receive more information
