Malawi

"The church should be the greatest threat to injustice in the world today"
- Chief Theresa Malila, Someobdy Cares Malawi

The Story

In 2007, MISSION began partnering with Somebody Cares, a ministry in Malawi, Africa. Somebody Cares works alongside 1,200 pastors in 17 peri-urban and rural communities surrounding the capital city of Lilongwe.  Somebody Cares empowers churches, community leaders and pastors to minister to orphans and vulnerable children, widows, families and communities infected and affected by HIV/AIDS. Malawi is one of the 10 poorest nations in the world with a per-capita income of $20 a month, and a life expectancy of 37 years. There are almost one million people in Malawi who are HIV+.  This nation of 15 million people is home to over 1,400,000 orphans and vulnerable children.

MISSION, in partnership with Somebody Cares is committed to seeing God's kingdom come in all its fullness to the people of  Malawi.

What We Do

Our particular focus is Chikudzulire -- a community located about 30 miles west of Lilongwe. Chikudzulire is home to about 68,000 people who live in 50+ villages. Alongside Somebody Cares, Mission has been involved in a number of ministries and projects not only in Chikudzulire, but in many of the other communities Somebody Cares works in.

Together with Somebody Cares we have:

• Drilled 5 deep-water wells/boreholes that provide water to about 5,000 families.
• Funded two Child Care Community Centers in Chikudzulire Central and Njande that serve as the centers of their villages. 
• Supported the work of Home-Based Care volunteers as they minister to the sick and dying, the elderly and child-headed households.
• Supported pastoral and leadership training, youth conferences and Bible distribution.
• Provided support for women and widows to learn income-generating skills so they can support themselves and their children.
• Supported feeding programs for over 8,500 orphans and vulnerable children.
• Encouraged HIV/AIDS Support Groups that are meeting the needs of hundreds of people living with the virus.

Every year Mission sends short-term teams to Malawi to work alongside Somebody Cares staff and volunteers.  Among many other things, our teams have:

• conducted medical clinics
• conducted vision clinics
• worked alongside Home-Based Care volunteers
• helped build community centers, pit latrines, and other construction programs. 
• participated in feeding programs for orphans and vulnerable children 
• worked in the early childhood education programs
• conducted discipleship training programs for pastors and their wives, traditional leaders, youth leaders, Home-Based Care volunteers and support group leaders

Looking Forward

MISSION will continue its partnership with Somebody Cares as we move into the future.  Before the end of 2013 we plan to:

• send 4 Global Justice Teams
• provide support for a conference for hundreds of people who are infected and affected by HIV/AIDS
• support programs for women and widows that lead to self-sufficiency
• support Home-Based Care programs
• support a youth conference bringing together over 2,000 youth from across Central Malawi
• provide support for drilling 11 deep-water wells/boreholes that will provide clean water for up to 11,000 families
• provide support for building Child Care Centers in two villages in Chikudzulire
  
• supporting a daily meal for over  8,500 orphans and vulnerable children
  

If you would like join us in what God is doing in Malawi, click on the Opportunities and Trips link on the right side of the page, or contact the Justice Ministries office.