There are approximately 450,000 orphans in Malawi out of a population of 14 million. Traditionally the extended family would have cared for these children but in some cases as a result of the HIV/AIDS pandemic, there may be no family left, or they may be overwhelmed. The Church in Malawi supports these children where they can and in early 2009, MACS received a request from Archdeacon Francis Kaulanda (now the Bishop of the Diocese of Lake Malawi) which said ‘In conjunction with the Department of Social Welfare, the parish wishes to set up an Orphan Care Centre where 160 orphans aged 6 – 18 from 10 surrounding villages can come to receive daily food, pre-school teaching, life skills training, counselling and vocational guidance. We need to build a block 22 metres x 9 metres consisting of 2 classrooms, an office, a storeroom and kitchen. Our people have already made bricks and collected sand and quarry stones, and have received a donation of MK 366,620 (approximately £1,550). The trustees agreed the project in March 2009 and awarded a grant of £8584, the amount requested in the application. The building went ahead swiftly and MACS representative Mr Grafiud Tione gave out staged payments after inspecting the quality of the work and checking receipts.  In April 2010 Eileen Eggington, the project officer visited and met with the committee.

During the visit, the project officer was able to see the building and also the painting and decorating going on inside.

Painting the building

The Mothers’ Union are very involved and celebrated the visit to the centre with singing and dancing.

A MACS group visited the centre in July 2010. Amanda Quince, one of the group,  reported ‘two extraordinary ladies, Agnes and Angela run the Lingudzi Orphan Care Project. Five of the children who attend have no living relatives so they have to live alone and to fend for themselves. The centre is their lifeline. They mix every day with over 200 other vulnerable children and learn how to sing, to dance and to pray. Their smiles are heart rending as they have nothing and appreciate everything.

 Initially some of the children were suspicious and wary, but as the group interacted with them, they lost their fear and were soon involved in blowing bubbles.