MALAWI LIVELIHOOD DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS

Two projects in Malawi have been very successful. Emily Chufanake has purchased 3 sewing machines with a donation from LifeNets. Emily suffered a stroke during the birth of her first baby and has difficulty speaking. The government had a program to help, but ran out of funds and she needed some way to earn money. She had been taught the skill of sewing, but was not able to use this skill until she purchased the sewing machines. She has made several beautiful clothing items with these machines and is wearing one of them in the picture below. This is a wonderful way for her to be able to take care of herself and earn her own living. Emily literally cried with joy when she purchased the sewing machines.

Emily and her daughter with dresses made on the sewing machines

Both the dress Emily is wearing and the dress hanging on the wall were made by her

Here is a note that we received from Diverson Chonde, a friend of Emily's who now lives in the United Kingdom

April 1, 2004

Dear Mr/Mrs Kubik,

I write to say thank you so much for helping Emily Chafumuka with the project she is involved in. Emily used to be a very hard worker and a help to the family. But after the stroke she suffered, there was no any hope for her in this life. I went to school with Emily and knows how she was performing in class.

Emily is so excited about this project and when I spoke to her on the phone after reading about it, she just said God is great and I never expected to have a chance of working let alone do any sort of business (with a tone as if she was crying). She tried several places for employment but was not able to get a job due to her disability. The only job she managed to get was assisting in the factory of a Malawi Council for the Handicapped (MACOHA) which was not paying enough to meet her requirements let alone paying rent for her accommodation.

Thank you so much for the job you are doing in helping the less fortunate.

Diverson - Farnborough College of Technolgy- UK.

A second project in Malawi again uses the sewing skills of the Malawi women. Last year, Bill Jahns suggested that the Malawi women start sewing items to be sold in other countries. The ladies of Malawi enthusiastically started sewing and have truly done a remarkable job with their skills. Several worked many hours into the late night in order to complete their projects. Around $700 of items have been sold in the USA and South Africa. Each person who sewed receive K2700 (about $25.00) in February for their work on the sewing items. This amount to approximately 1 month’s salary for the average Malawi worker. There are many more items available for sale. Contact Bill Jahns at bill_jahns@ucg.org if you wish to purchase any items. Most of the items sewed are covers for couches, but they could be altered to be used as placemats for tables. There are many ways these items could be used.

Mr. E. E. Salawila presenting money for sewing items sold outside of Malawi

Blantyre ladies who participated in the sewing project

Alice Chonde with daughter-in-law Edda (with baby Beverly on back) showing some of their craft and sewing skills