MALAWI ASSOCIATION for CHRISTIAN SUPPORT

Annual Report April 1st 2008 to March 31st 2009

Introduction

MACS has had its usual busy year. The most exciting news is that the charity benefited from a very large legacy during the year. The executors of the will of the benefactors felt that the type of projects that MACS supports fulfilled the criteria set out in the will. This has led to a large, but temporary, increase in our income and therefore our ability to fund several large projects that we would not normally be able to consider. Some of these projects have been started, others are in the process of being agreed. Amongst these are

• Renovation of the laboratory at St Luke s Hospital

• Building of a second hostel at Malosa Secondary School

• Upgrading of the water supply at the six institutions at Chilema, Likwenu, Malosa and adjoining villages

• Building of 3 semi detached houses for nurses at St Martin s Hospital Malindi.

More details can be found on Page 3 of the financial report which also shows the income and expenditure for the year. We will be keeping you updated of the progress of these large projects with the newsletters during the coming year. The volatility of the exchange rate of the Malawian Kwacha to the pound sterling has meant that we have had to send further funds for some projects, as the estimates were worked out on a higher exchange rate. In addition, the cost of iron sheets and bags of cement have also increased significantly.

The gift list was repeated with a very good result. The design of the cards was changed from a postcard style to one which could stand on its own and this has proved popular. The amount raised was £7,565. Although most of this money is raised at Christmas, we also receive gifts at other times of the years, celebrating special anniversaries and birthdays. This is being repeated this year.

MACS supported the printing of the book The life of George Ndomondo. Shepherd Boy, Clerk, Politician, Guerrilla General, Detainee and Priest . This was written by Colin Baker in collaboration with George Ndomondo and includes a section detailing the political events occurring in Malawi between 1964 -1975. The book has proved of great interest to both people living in Malawi now, and several who were in Malawi during this period. There are copies available at £7.50 and a reprint has been arranged so that copies can go out to Malawi for sale there.
We also continue to receive funds through the Recycling for Charity scheme. MACS receives a proportion of the money raised from sending Inkjet cartridges and mobile phones. Envelopes are available and can easily be reordered by supporters. Funds have also been raised through shopping on the web, if supporters go through our website at http://buy.at/malawimacs

Eileen Eggington and Bazil Arden led another working group to Malawi in June 2008 and those of you who were able to come to the last AGM will have seen the DVD that Eileen produced. This has been shown in various venues around the country and become a significant fund raiser. Margaret Parr visited many of our projects with Grafiud Tione in November and was able to give an up to date report of the progress of many of them.

The Board of trustees have met 7 times during the year. Margaret Parr stepped down as Project Officer in March 2009, after a planned transition period and Eileen Eggington has taken on the post. We are all indebted to Margaret who set up MACS initially and has worked tirelessly on the charity s behalf. Her knowledge of Malawi and the personnel in the country is invaluable and we welcome her continued role as a trustee and her involvement and commitment. Eileen has a hard task in taking over the post. Our Malawian representative, Mr Grafiud Tione is a key figure and plays a vital role in the running of the charity in Malawi. He has taken on more responsibility for the dispersal of funds as he is one of the signatories of the accounts held in Malawi and is able to hand over tranches of money to the appropriate committees after visiting proposed sites of buildings or after discussion. He is able to report on the progress of our various projects and send photographs to the trustees.

Projects.

A total amount of £164,230 was spent on projects during the year.

Churches and clergy houses £21,799

A total of 10 churches have received funds during the year, varying in amounts from £390 where only minor repairs were needed, to £4080 for a new church at Liudzi in the Diocese of Lake Malawi. As congregations grow, there are always requests for new churches, or repairing or extending old ones. These churches are used throughout the week for a variety of community activities. 2 grants have been made for clergy houses, one in the Diocese of Lake Malawi and one in the Diocese of Upper Shire.

Education. £74, 005

This amount includes the first instalment of £25,000 which has been forwarded to Malosa for building the second hostel. We also continue to send out money on a regular basis for the bursaries of secondary school pupils at Malosa and St Michael s. A total of £4,310 has been sent this year. The fees of secondary schools have all risen, so unfortunately fewer students can be supported. In addition to this, 10 schools have received grants, including a new classroom block at Nkhotakota (£5317). Money has also been sent to build or repair 6 teacher s houses. In the rural areas it is increasingly hard for schools to recruit good teaching staff, unless there is adequate accommodation. Money has also been sent to assist in the training of volunteer teachers.

Water Projects. £23,061

A large proportion of this money was spent on the new water tank for St Michael s school at Malindi. MACS had appealed for money for this project and it was started during the previous year. We are delighted to report that this was completed and is now fully functional. A borehole has been completed at Jali, and the first £5805 went out for the major water project at Malosa.

Health , AIDS and orphans £31,310

St Luke s Hospital, Malosa and its 5 Health Centres, received a total of £9564. This included money for a small generator, air conditioners for the pharmacy, extension of the ante-natal waiting area at one of the busy Health Centres, incinerators, uniforms for staff and surgical instruments.

St Martin s Hospital received a total of £4470 for uniforms, cleaning equipment, maternity packs, air conditioners for the pharmacy and other surgical instruments. We have also continued to support the Mobile Dispensary in the Northern Diocese and have been sent detailed reports of the work done. A priest, who is also a medical assistant, goes out on a regular basis and is able to give simple treatments to people who have no other access to health care. £8584 has been sent to build an orphan care centre at Chankhungu, Lingadzi. This centre will have a nursery school and a place where 160 orphans can come for counselling, life skills training and vocational training.

Miscellaneous. £14075

£1500 has been spent on books for priests. £6333 went to the Training Centre at Chilema for the refurbishment of 5 chalets to a high standard. These can now be let out and are becoming a useful source of income generation. 4 Braille typewriters were sent to the Blind School at Nkope as they only had one functioning one and the number of students has increased. We are again indebted to all our supporters who raise money, send donations and help us in many ways. Without your support, we would not be able to respond to the many requests we continue to receive from Malawi.