Background

Mchinji Mission Orphanage was born after observations on hardships and problems that orphans face. The vision was shared by Rev. T. J. Chipeta and his wife with the C.C.A.P. Nkhoma Synod. The Nkhoma synod annual conference held at Chongoni in April 1997 approved that an orphanage be built at Mchinji Mission. The church offered 40 acres of land south east of Mchinji C.C.A.P.

In May 1997 the Synod got approval for the construction of the orphanage from the Government through the Ministry of Women, Youth, and Community Services, and construction started in July 1997.

Reverend T.J. Chipeta, the founding director of Mchinji Mission Orphanage, together with his two sons, in front of the first orphanage house.
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Aims

To contribute to the welfare of the needy orphans by improving the physical, social, psychological and spiritual well-being of the orphans through:

Providing adequate nutritious diet, clothing and shelter to the orphans;
Providing educational opportunities for the orphans;
Providing spiritual nurturing and psychological counselling;
Providing skills, training and promoting independent life;
Assisting the orphans to know that God loves and cares for them.

Two recent additions to the orphanage, bottle fed by two of the older orphans. These infants were brought at 1 day of age, after their mothers' deaths.
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Layout

The orphanage sits on a lovely 40 acre piece of land, with a good stream, running from the mountain. Beginning with the first building in 1998, there are now 7 completed buildings, as well as schoolrooms for nursery, primary, and secondary classes.

They grow all their own maize, bananas, and some vegetables. World Vision has just given them 200 laying hens.

The orphanage is supplied with water from a small dam on the mountainside. The water is piped to a storage tank at the orphanage.
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Care of Children

The children live in the 7 houses, along with at least 2 mothers (widows from the local area). They have a bed with 2 blankets. They are given new clothes when they are available. They attend school across the road from the mission. The classes are very large and their only resources are a workbook and a pencil. The older children help with preparing and storing the maize, which is their main source of food.

The mothers shown here are widows from the area. They have dedicated themselves to caring for these children until they are raised. They receive a small allowance each month for their personal needs. Some help with the cooking and four are teachers in the nursery school.
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Call for Support

There are now 290 children and 40 babies at the orphanage, which is still under construction.

You will therefore note that this is a big task that requires your assistance. Imagine completing construction of the orphanage and at the same time caring for the orphans!

We invite you to be a partner with us in Ministry to the orphans. The orphanage requires construction materials, food, clothes and financial support.

We are currently in the process of updating our method of receiving donations for the orphanage. In the meantime, if you are able to help, please Contact Us.

This little room is the orphanage's "medical clinic" - much improved from several years ago!
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