In 2001, The GOD’S CHILD Project, through its Founder and International Executive Director, Patrick Atkinson, responded to an urgent plea by representatives of the United Nations to help the poor and AIDS-afflicted children and widows of Malawi, Africa. The result was the founding of the Mwana wa Mulungu Project (The GOD’S CHILD Project Malawi). Since then, Mwana wa Mulungu has been busy using an all-volunteer force to build schools, dig and protect fresh water wells, teach environmentally-friendly farming skills – all efforts done to help our poorest brothers and sisters who desperately need a platform to see above and through their seemingly hopeless situation.
(Left to Right) Picture 1. A program volunteer encouraging a child in the village of Bakasala Picture 2. Donated vegetables being donated Picture 3. Children eagerly waiting for the completion of their new classroom built by MwM
We encourage and facilitate the forming of relationships between financially-able schools, teachers and children and schools here in Malawi. By promoting education, we intend to place into practice the credo of The GOD’S CHILD Project: “To break the bitter chains of poverty” that have for so long gripped these beautiful people. Hope, and therefore a reason to dream big dreams, CAN be realised by these people, if they are only given the most basic of tools – an education!
A little bit of help here in Malawi can do so much:
US$8,000 builds a two-block school classroom
US$5,000 digs and protects a deep, fresh water well
And just US $2,400 builds a cooperative poultry project for AIDS widows
In a country where more than 40% live on less than one dollar a day, and more than 70% live on less than $2 a day, you can see that your donation, even as little as a dollar, used in the right way, can help tremendously.
A fruit tree planted at the home of a desperately poor family will not give food today, but over time will bring more than fruit and an income; it will also teach an important lesson about life. As the child tends and cares for her little tree she learns about reaping benefits tomorrow from the little bit of work that she is investing today. This lesson will change the way she lives and how she views her time, patience and ability to plan. A fruit tree in Malawi costs around one dollar.
Service Teams
Bakasala
In December ’06 and January ’07, a GOD’S CHILD Project “ServiceTeam” from Washington University (St. Louis, MO, USA) and La Asociacion Nuestros Ahijados (Antigua, Guatemala) worked in the village of Bakasala near Blantyre Malawi, to repair schools damaged by high-winds. A special emphasis was given to replace all of the school’s roofs which had been destroyed by the strong winds, which left the children, supplies, desks, and timbers exposed to the harsh sun and penetrating rains.
Bvumbwe
The little children at this orphanage in Bvumbwe, Malawi, kept tugging at their teachers arm and pointing to the huge murals painted on their walls by GOD’S CHILD Project ServiceTeam members, particularly artist Ernesto Atkinson, saying “Look! Beautiful! Beautiful!” This ServiceTeam left Bvumbwe knowing that not only had they cleaned and brightened up this orphanage near Blantyre, Malawi, but they had given a little of their lives to these children. These gifts will have a life-changing effect on both the Children as well as on the volunteers.
Letters
DZANJA LA CHIFUNDO
29th January, 2007 Mr. Patrick Atkinson Founder The GOD’S CHILD Project Malawi Mwana Wa Mulungu Blantyre, Malawi Africa
Dear Patrick,
I would like to thank you and all your helpers for the wonderful painting job that has been done on the Orphanage Entertainment Area/Family Room – and also the murals and paintwork in the other areas of the orphanage. It is wonderful and the children love it !
Your group were fantastic with our children and also the house mothers!
The entertainment was wonderful and I think the Orphans will remember this visit for a very long time. Tthey absolutely loved it!
We hope that you will be able to come back again in the very near future.
I would also like to thank you in advance for the 10 desks you promised, which will be put into the family/entertainment room.
They will be very useful for the children to do their studies and homework.
I know you come to Malawi frequently – please feel free to call in at the orphanage whenever you have the time – I know that the children would be delighted to see you.
With very many thanks for taking the time to visit and to give our children such a special boost – they will not forget you. With best wishes,
Ann Davidson
TRUSTEE
THE REGISTERED TRUSTEES OF DZANJA LA CHIFUNDO
Ways to get involved
MwM Out and About
It is with confidence that we entered an area where the signs of malnutrition are evident in both young and old, knowing that soon we will see change. In just a few weeks we hear reports from excited ladies of how they are already able to reap and eat the rewards of their labour. “Look we eat!” explains a villager as she pulls out a carrot and holds it up for us to see. Vegetables and a variety in diet are essential in improving health and vital to the developement of children. In villages far from shops and markets the ability to produce vegetables is for some the only means to improved health. For us to see people learning how to help themselves in a sustainable way is a reward that little can compare with. Thank you Ken and FFL. It’s been a good few years and Malawi is all the better for it.
Picture 1. (from left to right) Approaching a village Picture 2. A typical village scene Picture 3. Preparing the trenches
Now in addition to the programs that we built in Malawi, all of which continue to operate, we maintain our program’s presence in Malawi through Dzanja La Chifundo; an orphanage and educational program started and directed by Gordon Hayes.
Picture 1. Taking a closer look Picture 2. Further instruction and advise Picture 3. A handmade rake
We do Christmas and special projects fundraising for Dzanja La Chifundo, and refer directly to Gordon the mostly European volunteers that desire to volunteer at our program in Africa.
Picture 1. A villager proud to show us her garden Picture 2. Picture 3. Tyrone, Ken, Ketha and Matthews
Mwana wa Mulungu (The GOD’S CHILD Project Malawi) supports these community-changing efforts. If you can help please contact us today:
Patrick Atkinson, Founder & International Executive Director
Mwana wa Mulungu (The GOD’S CHILD Project Malawi)
721 Memorial Highway
Bismarck, ND 58504 USA
Tel: (001) (701) 255-7956
Fax: (001) (701) 222-0874
info@godschild.org