SPONSOR A CHILD − SAVE A LIFE

In Malawi, primary education is free, but secondary education must

be paid for.

Children dip in and out of school according to what can be afforded.

That is why there are pupils of 18, 19 and even 20 who are still

struggling to complete their education. Even at primary level,

although there are no fees payable, if the children haven’t got food,

or such basics as soap with which to wash clothes – or clothes

themselves – or a notebook or pencil, they can’t go to school.

And so many of them – or their parent/s or grandparent/s with

whom they may live – try and get piecework. It becomes a

classroom carousel – in and out.

All of this – so different from the Western world – puts children at

risk, not only of not being able to complete education and thus

unable to achieve what they want to – and which would benefit

them, their families, their communities and Malawi, but they are also

at risk of physical harm.

Girls are still being forced into early marriage, some as young as 12

or 13. It’s illegal and Levison now has 24 girls whom he is monitoring

in that respect. The girls don’t want early marriage; their parents, or

grandparent/s don’t want it, but they see no other way out.

And that brings risks of abuse to the girl, or her being physically

damaged during pregnancy and childbirth; girl and infant mortality is

high and so is the risk of fistula.

Girls go into prostitution, too. The boys fare no better as they

become disheartened and can go down a path which leads to bad

behaviour or imprisonment.

We have posted about girls like the very bright Deborah Munthali

and her friends, coming out of school to take maize to the maize mill,

for example, so that they can eat, and live. Walking long distances;

running the risk of sexual assault en route, having to come back after

the 6pm nightfall.

Please read on and see the children we have got kind sponsors for,

and those who need sponsorship.

Levison, on his

way to town,

meeting up

with Deborah

Munthali, 13,

and friends,

carrying maize

to the mill.

The mill is 15

km away, so the

girls walk 30 km

in a day,

starting off

while it’s cold

and dark and

arriving home

when it’s the

same. Often

with no food

and no drink on

the way.

FIVE HAPPY GIRLS

Five happy girls receiving gifts of maize, soap, notebooks, pencil, and a Bible for their schoolwork from their sponsors. Left to right: Dinales, 17; Jean,18; Milliam,17; Tamiwe 18 and Telina who is 20

ONE LITTLE FELLA

This is Chisomo, who is 3 and lives with his

grandmother. As you see, the tot has the pot belly of

malnutrition.

But he will Improve now that he has a sponsor – the

team – we took over when his sponsor had to drop

out.

Chisomo is the only one of the very young children

who need sponsors. We will put up the group photo

later on.

These children, coming from the very poorest families,

are the ones most in need. Sponsorship will enable

them to go to nursery and have some basic essentials

in life.

ANOCK AND HIS SIBLINGS

TIMOTHY – THE FOUNDATION’S MINI LEVISON

Timothy, who idolises Levison and wants to go to University and take his BSc in

Agricultural Education, as Levison did, was struggling to get back to school as

his grandmother couldn’t afford the fees or the uniform. He would rather be in

the gardens but knows he must get his education. He is 13 and is in charge of

the agricultural student team. A kind family came forward to sponsor him.

A photo of pure joy, this is Anock who

has featured many times – the little boy

with no blanket and no shoes three years

ago, who now wants to be a bricklayer

and build his Mum a proper house.

Anock and his two siblings were facing

the dilemma of none of them being able

to continue schooling. But up stepped a

generous donor who is sponsoring all

three.

This is the family, after Levison went to

tell them and to take them some gifts.

Catherine, 16; their widowed mother;

Chawanangwa, 14 and Anock, 10.

CHARITY

This is Charity, who is nine and

who lives with her

grandparents who are very

poor.

She is being sponsored by a

very kind lady who has a

daughter of similar age and

the children are looking

forward to communicating

with each other.

Deborah Munthali, whose

smile lit up our Christmas

photos, has featured so

many times over the last

three years – the most

cheerful and a most

intelligent girl, now aged 13.

But as a double orphan too,

one of the poorest.

A kind lady was so touched

by ‘Deborah’s Long Walk’ –

Debs walking so many miles

to the maize mill – that she

immediately offered her

sponsorship

CHILDREN STILL IN NEED – UPDATED TO INCLUDE THOSE CHILDREN

WHO NOW HAVE SPONSORS

There are many who need help, of course, but we asked Levison to select the

most needy; those who are not able to go to school and/or those who are

starving for most of the time.

LASTON MBAMBALA – NOW SPONSORED

This is Laston, who is 14. This is Laston’s house, and this is Laston’s bed.

He lives with his grandmother. Last year we highlighted his achievement at

school as he’d come on in leaps and bounds since being at the Centre and part

of our feeding programme.

Sadly, though, he can’t afford to go back to school. These are his best clothes –

we have enlarged the photo of his feet and of his shoes; two sizes too small

Laston has been working to try to get money

so that he can go to school. He’s herding

and milking cattle.

For full-time work, he receives the

equivalent of £1.50 per month.

It’s just enough to buy soap.

MANUEL MUNKHONDYA - NOW SPONSORED

Manuel is 10, and lives with the lady he calls his grandmother but who is a

distant relative. She is very kind to him but they have nothing. This is

Manuel’s bed.

PETER SICHALI

Peter is 7 and lives

with his

grandmother.

He started in first

grade but it’s very

unlikely that he will

be able to continue

when his class goes

back to school in

October.

This is his house, and

his bed.

ELIAS SICHONI

Elias is 10. He lives with his aunt. This is his house, and this is his bed. His eyes, and his sadness, show his hunger

The most in need of our pre-schoolers,

also in need of assistance to give them

a good start in life at nursery and a

little food on their tables.

Chisomo, who is already sponsored is

the second left.

On his right is Christine, 3 and on his

left are Felix, 4; another Christina,

Josephine, 4, Harrison, 4 and Hannah,

also 4.

ATUPELE MWANDIRA

This is Atupele, who is 13 and whose plight made even Levison cry and he sees

a lot of poverty and distress.

She lives with her grandfather, and they are very, very poor. When Levison

went to visit her, he found that she has malaria but she insisted on getting up

to have her photo taken. However, this is her bed. They had no food, and the

next day Levison went to visit again, to take some maize.

Atupele has just been added to Levison’s list of vulnerable girls, making it now

25, because a ‘guy on a motorbike’ has said that he will marry her. She was

crying; the grandfather was crying. Levison will act to put a stop to it.

MWIZA MTAMBO - NOW SPONSORED

MARIA SIBWILA

A very happy child of 12. Look at that smile, but

then look at his legs.

Mwiza’s legs don’t work and so he can’t go to

school, therefore we are not asking for

sponsorship for his schooling. What we are

appealing for is some help so that some of the

older children and Foundation staff can go to him

and teach him to read and such things as knitting

and sewing, all of which will help his future.

And gift him some clothes and soap. Just someone

who will let this little boy know that they are there

for him.

Maria is 11 and

lives with her

grandparents. Once

again, they are very

poor.

Levison asked her

to demonstrate

where it was that

she slept.

If you are able to sponsor a child, either individually or as part of a pool of

sponsors, please let us know, through the website contact form or

Friendsofwstewartcentremalawi@gmail.com