Chinsisi Jonasi

Chinsisi Jonasi is one of the children in my sponsor program. The mother of Chinsinsi is an epileptic patient and is mentally unsound; she was raped and got pregnant. After birth the grandmother took over the care for the baby. The mother however was refusing to breastfeed and the grandmother was not able to afford the Lactogen baby milk. She was feeding the baby maize phala. Chinsinsi arrived in Nkhoma hospital in July 2015. She had severe malnutrition and was severely dehydrated. She stayed in the hospital for almost a month. After discharge Africare foundation started assisting the grandmother with Lactogen milk powder, likuni phala and other basic needs as soap, bottles and clothes. 

Last month the mother of Chinsisi walk away from the house, since then nobody has been able to find her.

The grandmother separated her husband and has no house and no food. She was living with her three daughters and granddaughter in the kitchen of her brother. One of the daughters is pregnant. Recently the brother went to Mozambique to look for a job. She is living in the house of her brother now however the condition of the house is very poor. The family of Chinsisi is not the only family without food. This year there will be a lot of hunger. Last years harvest was very poor due to a lack of rain. There will be many families who will need food assistance. Most families finished there maize this month (September). They live day by day trying to find some food. The next harvest will only be April 2016.

 

Aricare foundation is assisting the family in many ways. We are funding a small but safe and dry house so the family has a place to stay. Also we are providing maize up to the next harvest season. We are paying the hospital fees for the pregnant daughter so she will safely deliver in the hospital and not at home. We are teaching the grandmother about farming God’s way and crop rotation so her harvest will improve next season.
One of the daughters is 16 years old; during a village visit I asked her why she is not in school. She could not really give me an answer. We counseled her and explained the advantages of schooling. After a long talk we managed to convince her to go back to school. We bought her 10 notebooks and 2 pencils.

Africare foundation is not just helping the babies admitted in the program. We look at the complete family. We counsel them, teach them and try to make them sustainable again.

 

 

Love,

 

Nicole

School year 2015-2016

On the 7^th of September the new school year started. Maria and Diana went to a local nursery school last year. Diana became three years old in May so this year she started reception class at Ebenezer. Ebenezer is a mission school located in Nkhoma. They teach in English and keep a maximum of 30 students per class. The level of teaching is much higher as the level of teaching at the government primary school and therefore I’m really thankful she got accepted. Maria only turns three years old in November so she is enjoying another year at the local nursery school. At the nursery school they play, dance and sing songs in the local language (Chichewa).

Katie and Tiwonge were both accepted at Ebenezer too! Katie started in grade 7 and Tiwonge started in grade 6. Katie is doing very well and is able to follow the lessons, I’m very proud of her as she did not go to school for the last two years. Before dropping out of school she went to the government primary school where the level is much lower. She has class from 7.30 to 12.30 in the morning. In the afternoon she follows extra classes to prepare for examination at the end of the school year. From 3 to 4 in the afternoon I’m helping her with her homework.
Tiwonge started in grade 6 however the level was too high for her. On Friday I had a talk with the head teacher and we agreed she will go back to grade 5. Also Tiwonge was learning before at the local government school, there were over 80 children in her class. I’m working hard together with Tiwonge to catch up.


Love,

Nicole

Chief ceremony

Last Saturday I was invited by Diana's family to join a chief ceremony. Every village in Malawi has a person who is responsible for solving social issues - the chief. Choosing a new chief involves a lot of traditional practices. The chief ceremony started Friday night, because of safety issues I decided to join them Saturday during day time. We arrived in the village in the morning and started preparing lunch. The whole village cooks and eats together which was nice to be part of. Soon I figured out Diana's oldest half - brother wasn't there. I asked the grandmother where he was and she told me very proudly he was getting his initiation in traditional practices. I'm not exactly sure what they did with him but initiation involves often making several cuts on the body and circumcision. It all happens in the bush without hygiene. This was a moment I realized again it is not always easy to live in and understand different cultures.

After finishing lunch we gathered together and the moment was there that they caught a new chief. They catch a chief because nobody wants to be the chief. All the men are sitting together and when one person gives a sign they all jump on the new chief, agreed upfront however he does not know. They carry the new chief to his home. The new chief fights and tries to get out of the arms of the people carrying him. I asked why nobody wants to be the chief. As chief you have to solve many social issues in the village so you make friends and enemies. The previous chief died soon after he was selected because somebody poisoned him.
After the chief was chosen the women run, dance and sing around the village. Diana joined them and this was absolutely her favorite part of the day. Diana loves dancing, as soon as she hears a beat she is dancing. Her family laughed and enjoyed her presence a lot.

When the sun goes down the ‘Chilombo’ are coming to the village. Chilombo are persons who cover themselves with leaves and material. They try to catch young girls. There are many stories going around what they do with the girls after they catch them. The grandmother informed me in this village they bring the girls back to the family and the family has to pay money. Unfortunately there are also stories going around that they rape the girls.

Love,
Nicole

Esinta Kalikokha

Esinta Kalikokha was born 28 September 2014. She has four siblings who are all much older as Esinta. The first born is 18 years old, the second born 16 years old, the third born 14 years old, and the fourth born 10 years old. Esinta is the fifth born and is currently 11 months old.
Beginning of August 2015 the mother of Esinta became sick. On the 26^th of August she got admitted at Nkhoma hospital. The mother of Esinta was HIV positive. Her condition got worse fast and on the third of September she died because of advanced HIV and tuberculosis. On the day the mother of Esinta (Gezina Kalikokha) died Esinta was also diagnosed with tuberculosis and admitted at Nkhoma hospital. The family left home for the funeral and Esinta stayed behind with me because there was nobody to care for her. Esinta’s grandmother died several years ago, there is an aunt however she is very old and will not manage to care for her.
Esinta is admitted in the hospital now for several days but still very sick. She has frequent fevers, diarrhea and vomiting. She has no appetite what makes feeding very difficult. Her HIV status is not known yet, we are waiting for the results which are expected to come back within the next two weeks.
The father is looking for someone to care for her, till he finds somebody Esinta will live in the Africare house.

The tuberculosis of Esinta was diagnosed in an early stage however she is very sick. She is weak and is sleeping most part of the day. Please keep Esinta in your prayers. 
Maria and Diana are very happy with their new sister. They help me with feeding, bathing and dressing. As soon as Esinta wakes up they come to tell me she is awake. If she is crying they grab my skirt and run to her bed. They are two proud big sisters!
The cost of sponsoring Esinta is 50 euro per month. Please consider making a donation and give Esinta a chance to live.
(Soon our website www.africarefondation.com will be online where you can find all children who need sponsorships)

Love,

Nicole