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Bandawe is a particularly poor area of a very poor country. Malawi is the 10th poorest country in the world where the average wage per annum is £80. 15% of the population is either HIV positive or has Aids. The area to the immediate north of Bandawe is the worst affected in the country.
Alloway Church has now been involved in Bandawe, Malawi for nearly three years, the length of the original partnership. That partnership was renewed last winter for a further three years.
Alloway’s involvement is centred on the Bandawe Mission Station. It is a focus for much community activity. There is:
Bandawe Girls’ Secondary School (BAGGS), together with several tied teachers’ houses including that of the Headmistress, Fiddes Msowoya who visited us in Alloway two years ago, and two overcrowded dormitories. Capacity 304 boarding girls.
Bandawe Primary School capacity 1050 pupils, together with boarding complex (Headmaster: Alick Nyirenda).
Bandawe Residential School for 32 deaf children (funded by the Breit Trust and the American Ambassador’s special aid fund).
The new Thipura Congregation Church (Kawiya Parish, Central Church Africa Presbyterian CCAP) roof funded by Ayr Presbytery.
A clinic (photo above) set up by Ayr Presbytery and now run locally.
The Mamie Martin original Church now converted as a community centre and library resource (with a special grant directly from the President of kw 3 million = £14,000 awarded when he came to open the new Thipura Church in May 2008).
A variety of other houses for staff working on the Mission Station and other local residents.
The Church Manse of Rev. Anocks Schisiza, Presbytery Clerk and head of station including the schools.
We are delighted that the wider community in Alloway is getting involved with us. Our two primary schools are doing great fund raising to help Bandawe Primary School.
Alloway Congregation is funding a refurbishment project at Bandawe Girls’ School. You have helped fund putting in electricity at Mikundi Orphanage and provided solar water heaters.
You have given grants to do works at Thipura church, to carry out improvements at the Manse. You have sponsored a student, Charity Phiri, at college in Blantyre and have purchased a laptop to assist in her studies and dissertation. You have also, to date, donated goods and helped fund three large containers sent to Bandawe.
Your Mission Committee has decided a key focus is to be upon training and job creation. to this end we are pleased that your endeavours and donations have funded the start-up of five or six businesses including four dress hire businesses, two tailoring businesses and an internet/office centre.
Most important of all is regular contact and communication.
To let our friends in Malawi know about our world and for us to know more about theirs. There is now a steady stream of emails, letters and pictures being exchanged between the schools here and in Bandawe and between members of the Congregation and those who lead the Bandawe community in the church, the schools and community generally. We are learning more every week about their lives, their struggles and their challenges. It is in stark contrast to us, even in the context of what we consider to be a deep economic downturn in the UK.
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