Malawi

Agricultural Training

AAA has supported many orphans through to the end of high school. However, when they graduate there are very few jobs. In 2007 and 2008 AAA funded training in Market Gardening. The funds provide tools, seed and fertilizer for one year’s crop. Also AAA pays the local Agricultural Extension officer to teach the courses for young people to start up small agricultural businesses. (There is no government funding available for such an initiative.) Thirty youths have trained each year.This year the ratio of girls to boys is about 50/50. Several students from last year's program have become independent farmers.

Teddy Phiri’s note from Malawi:

”Our intervention for the youths in agricultural production is a miracle.
As you are aware we trained them and gave them materials
individually. These are scattered homesteads. So far each beneficiary is doing
extremely well. It is so pleasing that girls are even doing better than
boys. What is also pleasing is that the assistance went to one individual
on the homestead but the reality is the whole homestead has access to the
watering can and the sprayer thus the whole homestead was encouraged to grow
vegetables.”

Check the website for new photos including the youth training workshop.

AAA Guests and Travellers

Guests

The Aids Angels Board was delighted to meet with Bishop Mulungise of South Africa who visited Victoria in June. He is our connection to Thembalethu Orphanage and St. Mary’s Hospital. In July, we met Wenda Dil of St. Nicholas Orphanage, Makeni Center, Zambia. She described the progress of the new dormitory block. Wenda told us the orphans are very healthy and well cared for. Now Makeni Center is concerned about how to support children in the area still living with single parents who struggle to feed and educate them.

Both Mrs. Dil and Bishop Mulungise emphasized the importance of AAA and the very positive impact of the funds we have raised.

Travellers

Stan Shannon has just returned from two months working in Malawi for the Salvation Army. He was able to visit the AAA group in Mzuzu, Malawi and meet some of the people we support. He met a group of five widows who have been restored to life with ARV drugs and nutritional support from AAA. All five women are now healthy enough to grow their own food.

Thanks from South Africa

This month we sent the second half of our 2008 disbursements to 3 projects in South Africa and Zambia. Vic and Lorraine Parsons spent time in South Africa at the end of last year, and received these emails back in response to the funds.

Born to Live, Mariannhill Hospital (support to HIV-positive pregnant women, new mothers and babies).

Greetings to you! This is fantastic - thank you so much!

We most certainly will send you information on our programme and our other HIV and AIDS treatment programmes.

Keep well and God Bless! Kind regards,
Sheena

Thembalethu Assisi Orphanage

Thank you very much for your email and the donation. Your generosity is very much appreciated. I shall pass it on to Srs Andrea, Evarista and Pacis.

The children are happy. They play ball outside and enjoy walking round the convent, pretending they are visiting sisters.

Sr. Andrea was laughing because she sleeps in the same quarters with them and when she is not in her room, the children hide her shoes and say they are helping her to clean her room.

Thank you and your people who are committed to help the little ones.

The creche [a community facility not funded by African AIDS Angels] has been painted with colour outside and drawings inside of animals, cars, a big bus and aeroplane. It is beautiful. But your little friends add on their own drawings on top!

We will send you more information. We hope to see you again.
Sr Basil

Saltspring Newsletter

Seeds for Malawi on Saltspring Island has produced another issue of their newsletter. You can catch up on their fundraising efforts here.

Seeds for Malawi passes their funds on to African AIDS Angels.