Child sponsorship update from Blantyre, Malawi

Update for child sponsors from the SOS Children's Village Blantyre, Malawi from Summer 2008.

Rainy season is over and so 2008 cools down allowing flowers to bloom, trees to bud and our children to be happy in their new environment. With our 10 mothers cherishing their new children, they are faced with heart wrenching situations and trauma caused by the giant upheaval experienced by their children. It is hoped that by the end of this year we will be caring for 80 children.

This year has brought great leaps forward as it’s the first full year for our lovely 15 family house Village. The big occasion was in April when a high profiled delegation from Norway visited us and was thrilled to see how their support had so greatly helped our 43 orphaned and abandoned children of Malawi. A splendid day of dancing and celebrating was enjoyed by our supporters, staff and children alike.

Nursery school started with a bang at the beginning of this year with 102 applicants, but we could only accept 50. We joined in the National Tree season by planting 20 early maturing hybrid fruit trees, so our children will be able to harvest the fruits of their labours shortly.

Supporting children and communities at Blantyre

Our Primary School opened in January with the start of the new school year where SOS children together with children from the local community, started in their new school uniforms of which they were so proud of. The Parent Teachers Association is functioning well and our term one results show great potential for our children. For those not so gifted, the Village Educator has been busy giving remedial lessons to the slow learners.

Through the Family Strengthening Programme our Social Centre strives to improve the lives of orphans and vulnerable children and their families, impacting in 4 local villages. Local orientation meetings and trainings were held during the first months of the year. 35 families have initially been chosen to benefit from our FSP and development plans formulated with the families. We are now well on the road to seeing local impoverished families looking forward to a better future.

Our Rehabilitation Programme in our Medical Centre at SOS Blantyre has started making wooden equipment for our cerebral palsy and hydrocephalus patients from the local community. Eight workshops have been carried out for 55 parents and caregivers of those disabled children.

We work closely with other similar organisations in collaboration for improved services for SOS and the community. Our school health program provides early identification of medical problems ailing younger school children. So much work with such heart warming rewards!

We thank all our sponsors and donors from the bottom of our hearts for their generosity and loving kindness in enabling Malawian impoverished children to look forward to a bright future.