Marist Brothers in Malawi with support from Misean Cara – a mission support organization from Ireland – in collaboration with the Malawi Red Cross Society (MRCS) have provided 500 learners at Mayaka CDSS with food and non-food items worth MK15 million.
During the donation event, it was revealed that the items were disbursed to school learners as well as mother groups in the area who were affected by Cyclone Freddy in March 2023.
The items included sugar, soya pieces, blankets, cooking oil, flour, salt, hygiene kits for girls, as well as clothes and blankets.
Brother Daniel Banda, the Finance and Administrator for Marist Brothers, spoke about their ongoing project called Girls Empowerment, which focuses on helping girls stay in school.
“Education is a crucial need these days, so we train boys and girls to become good citizens in the country. Through that, we can develop as a nation. For that reason, we consulted our brothers from Ireland for support,” said Banda.
Commenting on the same, Felix Washoni, MRCS Communications and Resource Mobilization Specialist, urged learners, parents, and guardians not to sell the donated items, emphasizing that they would help alleviate their difficulties.
“A lot of learners were affected, and in the process, educational services were also disrupted. It is important to help them so that they can continue with their education. According to the statistics, many learners drop out of school because they lack support. Some lost their houses, others their clothes, and they did not have food. As the Red Cross, we commend the Marist Brothers for their support,” said Washoni.
Testimony Kachingwe, the vice head girl at Mayaka CDSS, thanked the organizations for the help, and urged well-wishers to provide them with learning materials, as Cyclone Freddy not only disrupt their homes but also their school supplies.
“Many learners did not perform well in their previous terms due to Freddy because they had no time to learn. Instead, they were moving up and down, searching for a place to live and food to eat,” Kachingwe concluded.
