News: Malawi

A New Shipment Arrives in Malawi in Time For the Holidays

On Monday, December 15^th, a  twenty-foot container filled with over 5 tons of goods arrived in Malawi after a long ocean crossing. It took about 10 volunteers to unload all the boxes from the truck and transport them to our warehouse for safekeeping. Smiles abounded as men, women and children all pitched in to move the boxes. The shipment will provide materials for all of our partners, including a year’s supply of pens for students in 20 primary schools and clothing for 30,000 orphans! It was a great way to ring in the holidays for our Malawi staff. Click here to check out photos of the joyous event.

G4G Links Community to Donors

Goods for Good firmly believes that no developing community should be dependent on one organization or donor for materials and services. In keeping with this philosophy, G4G has gone out of its way to expand the network of supporters at Tiyambe Nawo Community Based Organization in Malawi. In recent weeks, the Executive Committee of this grassroots organization has met with UNICEF to secure materials to furnish an additional nursery school and with Monsanto Seed Co. to secure agricultural inputs for the community garden. The group has also hosted visitors from a local internet company and from a nonprofit funding group from Germany. This continuous stream of donors and development agencies will ensure that the community can guide their own growth and become self-sufficient in the future!

G4G Goes to the Frontlines

To better understand the educational infrastructure in rural Malawi and to ensure the most responsible method of donating supplies, Goods for Good decided to do some investigating. In the last month, our field staff visited our 13 partner schools in Dowa District to interview the teachers and community members, and to witness the conditions at the schools. Unfortunately, they reported disheartening news of tragic conditions. There is an astounding lack of classrooms, forcing children to meet in temporary shelters or outside.  Teacher housing is practically non-existent, and in most cases, Goods for Good provides the only way for teachers to get supplies through our Teacher Supply Closet program.  We need your help to continue to meet the needs of the students at these schools. Together we can improve the conditions facing Malawian students and teachers. If you know of a class or organization in the United States that would like to sponsor a school in Malawi, please click here. Or, if you know of a company with surplus inventory that could help one of these schools, please click here.

Pilot Teacher Training Program

To supplement the Teacher Supply Closet program at St. Mathias Primary School, Goods for Good piloted a Teacher Training initiative one year ago, in which two certified teachers from the US traveled to Malawi to guide teachers on how to use the materials that had been donated by Goods for Good to enrich their lessons. In a recent evaluation, the Malawian teachers indicated that the supplemental materials and learning concepts were immediately utilized and continue to make a big difference in the quality of their teaching. Students are better able to retain information, thanks to ideas like free writing and the use of instructional posters or "talking walls." Mr. Banda, the Head Teacher for St. Mathias, said proudly, "Our school is one of the best schools in the area when it comes to sending standard eight students to secondary schools. Much of these positive results are attributed to the availability of the teaching materials and the teachers abilities in using them." He added that the training program has restored teacher confidence and morale, meaning the benefits will definitely last. Thank you to our teacher volunteers for such a successful program!

 

G4G Boosts School Attendence

As you may have read, Goods for Good has been working with St. Mathias Primary School for the past two years. Both the Teacher Supply Closet program and the Pens and Pads for Progress program were piloted there, providing the school with a complete inventory of teaching supplies, 5,000 pens and 50 Leap Pads. Recently, Goods for Good had the opportunity to catch up with teachers, parents and local leaders at the school to hear about the impact of our programs. The results were overwhelmingly positive! Attendance has increased and teachers are more excited about their work. The students are happier and more confident, and feel a greater sense of ownership over their education. Said Mrs. Manyozo, "The program has encouraged my child to go to school, which helps me fulfill my obligation as a parent." It was great to learn our programs have been a catalyst for education and
 development.

 

Soap Program Launched in Malawian Nursery Schools

Through a generous donation from Water Journey and Pfizer, Goods for Good recently shipped 600 bottles of hand sanitizer and soap to Malawi. These products are non-sticky and anti-bacterial, perfect for children across the world. G4G partnered with Consol Homes to distribute the soap, which has so far been provided to 52 community based childcare centers that run orphan care programs like pre-schools and youth groups. Consol Homes will continue distribution on a rolling basis to the 120 community based organizations they support. It is an ongoing program that will decrease the spread of infectious diseases, undoubtedly helping to avoid the unnecessary loss of children's lives.

 

Clothing for Children in Need

Goods for Good has initiated a new form of outreach at Tiyambe Nawo Community Based Organization, to children that are not orphans but face other unique family circumstances keeping them in poverty. In late September, 135 children between the ages of three to fourteen received clothing during a distribution. Weary mothers and energetic children warmly thanked the 19 community volunteers who arranged the distribution. “Today, Goods for Good through Tiyambe Nawo has done what myself and my husband cannot do for our children. Our children will look dignified in these clothes. Thank you so much,” said Mrs. Namasiyani; whose four children received clothing in the distribution. The initiative was a great success, expanding G4G's reach and empowering another group of children in need in the community.