CRWRC has been working in Malawi since 1989. Malawi is one of the world’s poorest countries. Several issues continue to keep Malawi in poverty. These include drought, declining soil fertility, low levels of education, government corruption, high population density, and the pandemic spread of HIV/AIDS. To address these issues, CRWRC works alongside local partners to carry out a variety of community transformation programs.
Malawi Fast Facts
Population: 14,268,711 (July 2009 est.)
Area Comparative: slightly smaller than Pennsylvania
Literacy Rate: 62.7%
Life Expectancy: 43.82 years
Population below the poverty line: 53% (2004)
Gross Domestic Product per capita: $800 (2008 est.)
Religions: Christian 79.9%, Muslim 12.8%, other 3%, none 4.3% (1998 census)
Languages: Chichewa 57.2% (official), Chinyanja 12.8%, Chiyao 10.1%, Chitumbuka 9.5%, Chisena 2.7%, Chilomwe 2.4%, Chitonga 1.7%, other 3.6%
(From the World Factbook. Click here for more information on Malawi)
CRWRC Partners in Malawi
CRWRC has three partners in Malawi:
Church of Central Africa Presbyterian Nkhoma Synod (CCAP)
Through CCAP, CRWRC reaches out to communities spread throughout central Malawi. In these communities, church leaders are encouraged to form diaconal committees. Nkhoma Synod’s Relief and Development Department (NRD) trains these committees to assess the challenges and resources of their community and congregation, and design programs that will meet those needs using local resources. At the same time, “Women in Development” groups meet to train women on improved agricultural techniques including seed multiplication, food storage, and establishing tree nurseries. Women also receive training in nutrition, sanitation, using mosquito nets, and Biblical concepts of family life and sexuality. Women’s groups are used to track the health of under-five children and teach mothers how to intervene and improve the health status of their children. Training to run small businesses and small loans to enable those businesses to grow provide the dignity of being able to meet family financial needs as well as giving back to God through local churches. Both men and women are engaged in literacy classes and specific projects that meet community felt needs. Literacy training impacts the lives of thousands of Malawians each year giving them confidence to become more active participants in church and community leadership. Communities are engaged in a range of specific projects including composting latrines, small-scale irrigation and orphan nursery schools.
Save Orphans Ministry
In partnership with CRWRC, Save Orphans Ministries (SOM) is helping provide food, education and clothing to orphaned children through direct support to orphan-care groups. Indirect support to increase the income and food security of families caring for orphans helps to ensure orphan’s health and sense of belonging. SOM registers orphans and provides older orphans with school fees and supplies to ensure their continued development in school so they will become valued members of their communities. Orphans take part in Bible Camps and Kids Clubs where they learn biblical values and truths from their study of Bible stories
As SOM helps communities put together orphans and orphan care-givers they also work to make sure the care-givers can provide the needed support to incorporate the orphans into their families. Care-givers learn more effective farming techniques to increase their food production so they can properly care for the orphans. Some families supporting orphans receive goats to raise in order to increase their income. Adult literacy classes encourage care-givers to grow in confidence and voice so they take a more active role in community and church leadership.
Partners Worldwide
CRWRC and Partners Worldwide support small business development and other income generating programs across Malawi. These include:
a) Christian Entrepreneurs' Association of Malawi (CHREAM) – This program brings groups of Christian Malawian business people together to encourage them through training, access to capital, and mentoring. Through savings and loans, this new partner seeks to encourage its members to grow their businesses and create jobs for the unemployed poor.
b) Farmer To Farmer –This program connects North American farmers with farmers in central Malawi. Because this is done in partnership with the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian, the programs are designed in a similar way to those described above. For example, the farmer to farmer program reaches out to women farmers enabling them to try irrigation, seed multiplication and diversification, and improved crop storage and marketing techniques to ensure enough food for their families for the year. “Women in Development” meetings train women in preventative health practices along with Biblical standards of family life. A third component of the farmer to farmer program is literacy. Nine-month literacy classes enable community members to improve their reading, writing and basic math skills to facilitate their greater involvement in leadership roles in church and community.
Relief Projects
An emerging food security project is in the process of approval for funding by the Canadian Foodgrains Bank (CFGB). This three year project will assist 1,200 households in 60 communities. Crop diversification and agricultural training is anticipated to reduce food shortages so that even in the leanest months of the year, the participating families will have sufficient food.
CRWRC Staff in Malawi
CRWRC-Malawi
Chiluli House, Area 3
Upper Office #9,
Lilongwe, Malawi
SAMT Team Leader: Zakka Chomock
Larry McAuley
Larry and Linda McAuley serve jointly with Reformed Church in America (RCA) and Christian Reformed World Relief Committee (CRWRC) in Malawi and Mozambique. Larry and Linda met at Sterling College, Sterling, KS where Linda obtained her BS in Elementary Education. Larry transferred to Kansas State University after his second year of college where he earned BS and MS degrees in Agronomy.
After marrying in 1972, Larry and Linda served 2 years in Ethiopia with Presbyterian Church, US (PCUS) as Volunteers in Mission teaching at Bethel Evangelical Secondary School. While in Ethiopia, they also worked on a mission station on the Omo River with the Daasanach people helping with a windmill program.
When their tour of service ended in Ethiopia, the McAuley’s returned to the States where Larry managed a corn/bean/hog farm in Illinois for 5 years. In those years on the farm, though, God kept stirring their hearts to return to the mission field. In 1981, Larry and Linda answered the call to do pioneer church-planting and community development work with the Pokot people in western Kenya.
During the 15 years they worked in this semi-arid area as RCA missionaries working hand in hand with Africa Inland Church, they helped the community start a school, a clinic, several churches, demonstration gardens, water development work, literacy, women’s development programs – and were blessed with 3 children!
In 1997, Larry returned to school beginning a program of study at Covenant Theological Seminary in St. Louis. Sabbatical year finished (but not the studies), Larry and Linda accepted the joint assignment with RCA and CRWRC in Malawi and Mozambique in 1998 that they still hold. Larry is the Country Consultant for Malawi/Mozambique and Linda is a “Designated Volunteer” working with partner staff to identify training needs and opportunities, strengthening the adult literacy program, hosting and orienting volunteers and guests, and taking care of much of the correspondence from the field.
Larry finished his MA in Theological Studies in 2001 and enjoys integrating the fields of theology, agriculture, and development in his consultation with partner staff and communities.
Email: (Larry) lmcauley@crwrc.org
Email: (Linda) linda@crwrcm.org
|
|
|