News
Madonna's request to adopt David Banda
One of the missions of this website - to raise awareness of the Mchinji orphanage - has recently had a huge boost from an unexpected source. Madonna, and her husband Guy Ritchie, have taken steps to adopt David Banda, one of the orphans from the Home of Hope. Unfortunately, the media coverage of all this has been quite stressful for the children and care-givers at the orphanage. Whether the current interest by the media and others around the world will translate into long-term improvement in the lives of orphanaged children in Malawi remains to be seen. I sincerely hope that the recent events will result in positive changes.
Please see the following for further information:
Statement by the Malawi Orphan Fund - Trustees on our sister site www.homeofhope.org.uk
Article about the orphanage from Andrew Meldrum (The Observer)
BBC article by Raphael Tenthani (BBC News)
Top
Rev. Chipeta's 2005 newsletter
"December 2005
"At the end of another year, I am writing to all our contacts to express my thanks for the interest and support that you have given to Mchinji Orphanage. I am so thankful to God for all the people who have helped us - you are indeed our partners in this orphan ministry (James 1:27).
"We currently have 330 children on our books, ranging from newborn to approximately twenty years old. 92 are pre-schoolers, 146 are in primary school, 55 in secondary school and 37 at college. We also have 50 children who are fostered in the surrounding villages, which is a more cost-effective way of caring for needy orphans. It also eases the workload of our dedicated resident team of 28 foster-mothers.
"You may have read of the failure of the rains in Malawi earlier this year. We are so grateful to God that our water supply, which comes from a spring in the hills behind the Home, has not failed us. Some of our fish ponds have dried up, and currently all our water storage tanks are drained by midday - but over night they fill up again. Thanks to a donor from the Netherlands, we have been able to purchase 58 acres of farmland very close by, enabling us to progress further towards self-reliance. We grow cassava, beans, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, bananas and sugar cane. With irrigation, we have been able to raise two crops of maize, which produced 75% of all the maize we need this year. Because of the poor harvest across the country, maize is now being rationed in Malawi, and in the coming weeks, we may have to search the rural areas to find all we need. As we can only afford to give the children meat once a week if funds permit, we are currently raising chickens and rabbits, as well as fish, to supplement their diet. We are also raising two dairy cows.
"Although I was not so well earlier in the year, I have kept strong to do all the work that is so necessary. In October I celebrated the 50th anniversary of my baptism. At the age of 75, I am so glad that God is still able to use me - 44 years as a pastor and 8 years now on orphan care. My wife co-ordinates most of the crop growing, and my daughter Lucy does much of the administration. Our nurse, Dolly, has hosted many of our visitors. Generous gifts enabled Lucy to travel to Canada and Dolly to visit the UK, where they may have met some of you. Rev Chikoti has moved on to carry out further studies, but we were joined earlier in the year by an experienced bookkeeper, Mr Phillip Semu. One of our own orphans, Mary Makina, has graduated from college and is now working for us as a secretary.
"Our maize mills have been a blessing to us this year, paying for much of our electricity costs. The electricity supply has been fairly reliable, but the phone has only worked occasionally, so we still have to travel into Lilongwe for internet access. We do have cell phones and just in the past few weeks, coverage has been extended to include the orphanage site. However, it is too expensive to access email by cell phone. Our 3-tonne truck is constantly on the road, collecting supplies, but is becoming expensive to maintain. Our original pick-up truck and minibus are no longer roadworthy, but we were very blessed earlier this year to receive from donors in the US an eight-seater minibus, which we use as our ambulance. We also have a small saloon car for business use.
"We have had many visitors from different countries, including volunteers from Canada and the Tenteleni Project, who have done invaluable work in our school. We have also been very happy to welcome back Mrs Jane Glaves from Canada, who set up our nursery and primary schools, which currently extend up to Standard 4. We have also welcomed back Mr Martin Lowdon, who was the first treasurer for the Home of Hope. Now that Mr and Mrs Lowdon are living in the UK, they have been able to register the Home of Hope as a UK charity, called Malawi Orphan Fund. Any donations in pounds may be forwarded to them at the address below. They have also set up a child sponsorship scheme for donors in the UK.
"Financially our support has come from many people in different countries, mostly in irregular lump sums, which can lead to temporary cash flow crises. 26 of our 330 children have sponsors who are committed to giving regularly, which is a great help. Whenever we run out of money, I spend time alone in prayer as in the Bible verse Jeremiah 33:3; and God has always provided for us in the most wonderful way.
"Educational costs are a big proportion of our expenses; yet only by improving educational standards will we give these children the best chance of escaping from the poverty and suffering of their life before they came to us. We currently have 121 children at fee-paying schools. This Christmas we have 11 children leaving secondary school - please pray that we will be able to find and fund college places for them. We also have 24 due to start secondary school. We have always tried to find schools with good reputations, but recently there have been increasing discipline problems at many schools. If we were able to educate all our children ourselves, we would save money on travel costs and be able provide a constructive environment for learning. To this end, the Government has approved our application to set up our own secondary school on site. When fully open, it is our plan for both primary and secondary schools to also cater for other needy children from the surrounding area.
"We have been able to begin construction of the secondary school with three basic classroom blocks and a boys’ hostel. Generous giving from King Edward School, Witley, has established our library block and contributed towards the costs of school books. Some furniture and equipment has been provided by the American Embassy and from Canada. We have appointed a good headmaster and are currently selecting other staff. We do still need several other buildings, and we need to set up a fund to pay teachers’ salaries, but we will be opening in January. We want to make this a centre of educational excellence.
"In 2006 we are trusting God that we will continue to be able to love and provide for all these needy children. I believe that with your support we can continue to save children from starvation and give them hope and a future. In the Bible, it says “God will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.” (Hebrews 6:10). Please do continue to remember us in 2006 - we need your continued love, support and prayers.
"Yours in His service,
(signed)
"Rev T Chipeta, Founding director"
This newsletter was [made available] by Martin & Rosemary Lowdon at Malawi Orphan Fund (Registered Charity No. 1110640), 22 Bitteswell Rd, Lutterworth, LE17 4EZ. email [email protected]
In 2004 the annual cost of running the orphanage was Malawi Kwacha 25,000,000 - approx £110,000. Donations in the first ten months of 2005 were MK 19,145,000. Malawi Orphan Fund has sent £ 7,773 since it was set up in February 2005. The secondary school needs to build a dining hall, science lab, girls’ hostel and staff housing. The annual salary of a primary school teacher is £950 and a secondary school teacher earns £1,250.
Top
Jane Glaves' most recent newsletter from Mchinji!
Jan. 2006
Dear Friends of Home of Hope;
Once again I have good news, thanks to the generosity of so many folks here in Canada. In spite of the news about Malawi, things are going well at the orphanage. The rains have been sufficient and steady, so that the maize is growing well. Not all parts of Malawi have been so fortunate. We had a small taste of what it would be like without water. Prior to the rains, our supply had somewhat dried up. The water was turned off every afternoon in order to preserve what we had. We had to fill pails in the morning so that there would be some for cooking and washing.
We are also fortunate to have been given a large supply of fertilizer, which certainly makes a difference in the crops. Not everyone is able to buy fertilizer and so their crops do not do well, even with the rain.
The big news is that the secondary school opened on Jan. 9th. We have hired 8 teachers and the classrooms were finished. Of course there will be some things to work out, but the important thing is that we will be having 160 children in the school. Any spaces available will be for orphans from the surrounding area. It will cost approximately half of what it costs to send them to boarding schools. Teachers are being paid $200-250 per month. They are supplied with a house. Many of the teachers are couples, which assists us with housing.
When you help the orphanage, you are also doing a great deal for the whole surrounding area. Building projects mean that the men have work. The women help by hoeing the fields. They are then given food and also flour to make the basic food for their family. If you could see them working with a baby on their backs and a small child at their feet, you would wonder how they manage.
The Primary School continues to grow. We now are up to Standard 5. We had a graduation day for the children in early December.
Once again, we feed about 300 additional orphans from the villages near by for Christmas. The children each received an apple and a bun, along with the other food. Our chickens are laying well, so that is added protein for the children.
Anyone caring to send donations of money can do so through: St. Andrew's African Mission, 95 Darling Street, Brantford, Ontario, N3T 2K7. Your tax donation receipt will be sent out by the church. I can be reached at [email protected]. We will be sending a container in early April. We have had a lot of school desks and library shelves donated by the Sisters of St. Joseph in London. Their donation will be received with much thanks.
My most sincere thanks for all the people who have been so kind to the orphans in Malawi. You have made my work so much easier and certainly helped to improve the lives of many Malawians. God bless all of you.
Sincerely
Jane E. Glaves
Top
Mchinji Home of Hope grows bigger
by Felix Malamula, 24 May 2005 - 14:44:27
Nation Online
There are many instances that lead one into hopelessness. There is however, not one instance that would match hopelessness due to death of parents. The death of parents, in short, leads to lack of hope of a brighter future on the part of the children.
This must be the reason why Reverend Timothy Chipeta thought of coming up with something that would give hope to a child even in the absence of his parents - an orphanage. And there was no better name that would be given to this orphanage than one that was to include the word "hope". Therefore, Mchinji Home of Hope was the name that was given to this orphanage.
The orphanage, which started with eighteen children, now boasts of a very big campus that includes two maize mills, a nursery, primary, a number of hostels, a hall, six fish ponds and over forty acres of land. The orphanage is where it is today thanks to the support from a number of local and international donors. The latest donor is Limbe Leaf Tobacco Company who donated K500,000 last week.
The money donated, according to Hodges Masi, Group Human Resources and Administrative Manager at the company, will go towards building a hostel which will be used by boys who will be schooling at the orphanage's secondary school to open next year.
"Our company helps in a number of areas like sports, environment, educational sponsorships, and therefore, we have done this to continue with our spirit of helping our country", said Masi during the presentation of the cheque.
Chipeta said a day hardly passes without getting visitors who always leave the place overwhelmed by what is happening at the orphanage.
The orphanage is currently offering a light of hope to over 300 children with 110 of them in government secondary and technical schools, including one at Bunda College of Agriculture. However, the story does not end there. Because of its international recognition, Mchinji Home of Hope has seen itself receiving two babies from Mozambique.
"The baby twins were brought by a certain team sent by a pastor from a church in Mozambique. Their mother died after delivery", explained Chipeta, adding, "at first they came without the babies to ask if we could accept them. So we told them to bring the babies because it is our duty to take care of such children".
Chipeta said he wants the children to leave the orphanage independent people. But what about those who do not succeed in their education� "We know that not all of them will succeed in their education, secure a good job, and have a place to stay when they become independent. This is why we have bought enough land so that all those who do not succeed in their education should have enough land to do farming", he said.
As an atmosphere of hope greets you upon arrival at Mchinji Home of Hope, you will definitely mistake the place for a school where well-to-do parents send their children to get educated.
Top
Excerpts from August 30, 2004 letter from (Rev) T.J. Chipeta, Founding Director, while on a trip to the U.K. and Canada sponsored by Jane Glaves
"...We now have over 300 children, 80 of which are small children from 1 day old to 5 years.
"We have Jane Glaves Nursery School to Standard 3. Our Standard 4-6 children attend school at the nearby Mission School.
"We have sent up to 113 children to primary boarding, secondary and Technical Colleges.
"Our needs:
We need your prayers and financial support for this orphan ministry. James 1:27. Any donation is gratefully received. They may be sent to St. Andrew's African Mission Fund, 95 Darling Street, Brantford, Ontario, N3T 2K7, Canada. Tax receipts will be issued for donations of more than $10.00
Yours in His Service
(signed)
T.J. Chipeta (Rev)
Founding Director
Mchinji Mission Orphanage"
Top
|
Construction on the new building mentioned in Jane Glaves' newsletter below. This houses the new school, the clinic, and hopefully a library and sewing rooms. |
![[New Building Going Up]](pics/building.jpg)
|
July, 2003 newsletter by Jane Glaves
"The Home of Hope, "Mudzi Wa Chiyembekezo", has certainly lived up to its name of late.
"The Rotary Club of Brantford, Ontario, Canada provided for the building of a new school block. Their donation will also provide toilets for the school children. A generous donation from the First Covenant Church of California arrived at a time of great need and enabled the orphanage to completely pay its first term school fees.
"The Malawian government and JICA of Japan have promised to provide the orphanage with electricity directly from the nearest source: Mchinji's "downtown". Lacking the generator for the last several months, having government power will be an enormous aid.
"In the last six to seven months there have been a few deaths amongst the children. However, with the care of our trained nurse Dorrie and her assistant, many have been saved and are on their ways to recovery.
"For volunteers Jane Glaves and Andrew Campbell, one of the most beloved events has been a special feeding and enrichment program for 11 under-developed two and three year old children. The children were delayed and in need of additional nourishment. They came and played from 10:30-4 each weekday. They were given egg and juice for extra energy along with their regular meal of nsima and vegetables.
"On hot days the kids played outside in basins of water - their own individual swimming pools. We encouraged interaction and mental and physical stimulation, and were rewarded with tremendous improvements. Three even learned to walk. The children will continue to receive an egg after we leave at the end of April.
"The rains continued through early April in the delayed rainy season, causing much concern over the availability of dry diapers and passable roads. But now the skies are cloudless and blue from morning to night. The night skies in Malawi are fantastically clear, with the moon and stars lighting up the heavens.
"Easter Sunday their treat was sugar cane, and at the end of prayers the children could be heard shouting "Jesus is alive!" Because the elder children were home from school the singing was just incredible.
"All these things have been accomplished by the loving donations of people all around the world: in Holland, the United Kingdom, Canada, and the United States. Every gift, large or small, is received with great thanks, and helps greatly in education and feeding.
"Work has begun on the orphanage's own secondary school, and a container of supplies - desks, tables, etc. - is on its way from the United States Armed Forces. The school's completion will hopefully cut our costs considerably, as it will provide an immediate educational facility for our children as well as an affordable education for the children in the neighboring villages.
"We've also acted as a depot for the giving and receiving of 50 kg bags of maize grain provided by the Canadian Food-Grain Bank. It is quite a sight to see the Malawians coming from their villages to cart the grain off, the enormous sacks teetering on their heads.
"We have joined CONGOMA, a non-government organization, which has allowed us to bring goods into the country free of duty.
"A great donation has recently come from the United States Peace Corps that will provide funds for the sewing and carpentry/joinery facilities. Carpentry will hopefully soon become a profitable enterprise, with our trained carpenters selling furnishings to the neighboring villagers.
"We hope that you enjoy the pictures and again we wish to say THANK YOU to all those who gave so generously to the Home of Hope. You have truly given HOPE to the children of Malawi.
"I have been slow to get this report out, but returned with 3 children from the orphanage. I have in my care Isaac and Ishmael, born Jan. 15, 2000, who were suffering from severe malnutrition. On April 1st they returned to the orphanage in very bad shape. I made the decision to bring them back with me until Dec. I also brought Adah, age 5, who lives with me when I am in Malawi. She has adapted extremely well and is enjoying Canada. The boys are developing very well and their health has improved immensely. I am very thankful for the wonderful reception the children have received.
"If you wish to make a donation to the Home of Hope, you can send checks to "St. Andrew's African Mission", 95 Darling St., Brantford, ON, N3T 2K7. Receipts for tax purposes will be issued for donations over $10.00."
Top
Previous Newsletter
"We had an exciting 4 months in Malawi. We now have 290 children who are in need of care. We had many visitors from Australia, USA, England, and Canada. Everyone was very thankful for the gifts which I took and the money, which went to purchase necessities such as baby formula and provided school fees for many children. The toys were distributed in the classrooms. The mothers enjoyed the needlework and the sewing room was thankful for many pieces of cloth. Thank you everyone who donated.
"We were able to finish two more classrooms, so that now the children have nice bright, large rooms. We are delighted to have Diane Cook from Toronto, a retired school principal who is teaching children and teachers. She is staying until November. I took care of 10 different children in my home during the 4 months. The most exciting part for me, was trying to stimulate children who were delayed due to malnutrition. I tried to give the foster mothers some ideas to encourage the children. We provided scrambled eggs for 10 babies suffering from malnutrition and TB. Mornings were quite busy at my house, but what a delight to see them sitting on the floor sharing a bowl of eggs. Every tiny bit was cleaned from the dish.
"We now have a library (Gerry's Room) thanks to Gerry McDonald's special birthday. His wish was that rather than gifts, money be given for the orphanage. This provided 4 large shelves and 10 baby cots. The children go to have stories read, or can read by themselves and do their homework. The older kids often came to my house, begging for something to read.
"This is only a brief summary of things that are happening, but I wanted to express the thanks of all at the Home of Hope, for your many gifts. "God Bless everyone", is the message from the Chipeta Family who founded the orphanage."
Top
|
Rev. Chipeta describes this abandoned donkey stable as his "fax office to God", his personal place for prayer. |
![[The Reverend's Fax Office to God]](pics/faxoffice.jpg)
|
This page is managed by
Noel Corser ([email protected]), in Canada. Copyright 2007.
Last updated on January 7th, 2007.