Everyone is enjoying books at the new library
New and used books were given to Kanyenyeva Ministries to start a library at the orphan project.
A mission team from Ohio presented the books to the leadership of the orphan project. 
The mission team stated, “The focus of this mission was on literacy. High School students in Malawi must take national exams in English, but their native tongue is Chichewa. They literally have almost no books to read in order to increase their fluency. We were thrilled to start a library in Kanyenyeva with 230 books and more to come!”
Books were read to the children and they were able to look at them independently, also.
Everyone enjoyed the books, even the adults!
Floods during growing season will decrease harvests in Malawi
Photo from the Times Group (www.times.mw/expect-more-floods-met-department-says/)
Please pray for the people and the country of Malawi. At least 56 people have died this year as a result of the flooding in Malawi. Most of the flooding has occurred in the southern part of the country. The orphan project is in the central area of the country and has received much rain but not deadly flooding.
According to The Malawi Times, at least 13 of the 28 districts in Malawi are affected by the flooding. The floods began as a result of Tropical Cyclone Desmond in late January and heavy rains have continued through February and March. These floods have affected at least 922,945 people and displaced at least 16,545 households, who are now living in camps.
The Village Civil Protection Committee has reported that most boreholes were underwater and 97% of latrines have collapsed in the flooded areas. The flooding will increase the likelihood of cholera and malaria in these areas.
The floods and heavy rains have also ruined their crops which were planted in December and January; this will increase the cost of food countrywide.
“An estimated 3.3 million people were assessed to be in need of food assistance until the start of the main harvest in April. The most food insecure districts are in the south, reflecting the impact of production shortfalls in 2018. As a result, many households depleted their food supplies from own-production earlier than normal, compelling households to access market supplies prematurely.
Moreover, the recent floods in the southern region, which have affected over 900 000 people, have further compounded the situation. Losses of food supplies, damages to the soon-to-be harvested 2019 crops and reduced access to markets, are likely to aggravate food security conditions. Heavy rainfall, forecast for much of the second dekad (set of 10 days) of March, could increase the risk of further flooding, potentially resulting in larger crop losses and interruptions to humanitarian operations.” (http://www.fao.org/giews/countrybrief/country.jsp?code=MWI)
Please pray for safety, housing and adequate nutrition for everyone. If you feel led to make sure the orphans have adequate nutrition, learn how to donate here.
Skills Center to be built
The women of Kanyenyeva will have a dedicated space to make reusable sanitary pads in the new skills center.
A new building will be constructed at the orphan project this summer. This new building will house a skills center for the community of Kanyenyeva. When completed, the building will be equipped with solar lighting, running water, and indoor plumbing for restrooms.
Kanyenyeva Ministries has been approved by Days for Girls International to begin an enterprise where women in the community will make and sell reusable sanitary products in their community and throughout their country. The building will provide a sheltered space for work and secure storage for their equipment and inventory.
A separate room will be utilized as a study space for high school students. Additional space will also be available for men in the community to learn new skills and start businesses. Kanyenyeva Ministries is researching the feasibility of teaching sandal making so that the men can start a sandal making business.
The construction of this skills center will enable the women and men of Kanyenyeva to produce marketable products and the high schoolers to have a place to study in the evening. Having a business producing and selling reusable sanitary pads will provide a source of income for women in the community and allow girls and women throughout Malawi to have an affordable and viable solution for menstrual hygiene in a country where the girls and women typically miss school and work since their alternatives are primitive and sometimes nonexistent. These businesses will enable the people in the community to expand their repertoire of skills and options for income beyond sustainable farming.
The construction of the hall is the first phase of the project and is possible thanks to a generous grant from the Christmas offerings of Westwood Community Church in the Minneapolis, MN area.
The second phase of the project will include the addition of solar and generator power and plumbing for indoor restrooms. The second phase is projected to cost $15,000 – $20,000 and will begin after the money is raised. If you would like to donate to this project, please click here.
Kids give more than $10,000!!
Lebanon Lutheran School in Lebanon, WI has donated over $10,000 over the past 5 years!!!! They donate their offerings from their chapel services for a semester each school year. These are some of their pictures.
Over the years, their donations have been used to purchase blankets for the children, provide food for the feeding program, provide scholarships for high school students, and to help start the chicken/egg business.
Not one of these children can afford to donate $1,000 or $2,000 alone. However, many people’s donations over several years have made a positive impact on the children in Malawi!! Thank you, Lebanon Lutheran School!!!
