Education for Orphans
Education in Kanyenyeva, Malawi
For many years Malawi Orphan Care Project has supported sending High School aged boys and girls to school. In Malawi, public school only goes through eighth grade so if a child doesn’t have a benefactor sending them on to High School their education ends at eighth grade. Education is the cornerstone of economic development. It is the key to ending the cycle of poverty in Malawi. Donations for education consistently send sixty-seven (67) children on to High School. These are all children who are connected to the Orphan Project, learning about Jesus and the Bible and getting other very special interactions among which would be their free meals. Often an orphan will be enrolled in school but if his/her care giver cannot afford the fees, the child will be forced to drop out. Sometimes it is a matter of the care giver being able to provide food and shelter for the family over education. The poverty in Malawi is such that the free meal may be the only meal they get several times per week.
Kanyenyeva Ministries sends girls who are at risk of underaged marriage to Boarding School, which gets them in a much safer environment. This is often necessary because many of the girls have lost both of their parents to HIV/AIDS and are then being raised by grandparents or other relatives who have very little funds to offer support. They are rescued from the vulnerability of abuse or from having so many chores and responsibilities that they cannot keep up with school work. Without continuing their education through High School, the girls cannot ever hope to go on to a good job or to college. Kanyenyeva Ministries focus on girls’ education is because according to their culture, boys are more valuable than girls, and girls often get educated last, if at all.
Because of the orphan projects focus on education, two of the young men qualified for the very prestigious National High School of Malawi. Donations for education have been able to secure support to send them on to the National High School, and one young man has gone on to college in his home area. He is thriving there. His name is Precious and one day he hopes to be able to serve his community in some outstanding capacity.
It costs $150.00 for one year of High School and it costs $1500.00 for one year of Boarding School. The National High School tuition is $250.00 per year. One year of college is $4500.00 plus some incidental expenses.
If you have a heart for education or a heart for orphans in Malawi, we would welcome any contribution that you might be able to send. Our mailing address is: MALAWI ORPHAN CARE PROJECT, 53 PARK AVENUE WEST, MANSFIELD, OH, 44902 Or you can donate through paypal on this website.
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!
Johnny Holm Band to Perform for Manna for Malawi this weekend!
Johnny Holm will turn 70 this year. Yeah, 70 going on 35.
And he and the band will be in Cuyuna this weekend. The Johnny Holm Band will perform at this year’s Manna for Malawi fund raiser on Sunday, June 23rd at the Woodtick in Cuyuna, Minnesota. There is no admission to the four hour event, only a free will offering. The event runs from 4-8pm.
Holm is starting his show these days with the admission that he’s been doing this for 50 years. And thinks he’d like to stick around for another five or six! Holm says he feels good, pays attention to his health, and has even begun a yoga practice. As if running around on and off the stage during the show band’s rock and roll performance isn’t enough exercise for anyone, especially someone who is closing in on seven decades on the planet.
The regional band has been attracting audiences around the United States, primarily in the five-state area around where he began. Holm began his musical journey just down the road where he went to high school in Brainerd. One memory has it that Johnny was taking classes in Fargo for something or other and playing guitar in a local club. And the money was better at the club. Fast forward fifty years through countless bars, county fairs, bowling alleys, proms and late night private parties and the energy is as strong, infectious and invigorating as its ever been. Bring your dancing shoes. Johnny will insist on it.
Manna for Malawi 2019 runs from 4:00pm to 8:00pm. In addition to music, those who attend get to eat Italian food from Maucieri’s while they’re checking out the silent auction items.
Pastor Paul Mattson said his heart was touched as he saw first hand what Manna for Malawi has done and continues to do. Malawi is in southeastern Africa, the poorest nation in the world. Average income is less than $2 a day.
“When we were invited to help the mission 13 years ago, volunteers fed 400 hundred, once a week. Now, feeding takes place six days a week and gives up to a thousand African orphans get their only meal of the day,” Mattson added. Last year’s event raised more than $35,000 to help the organization buy a tractor for the farm bought the year before. Money raised this year will go for the feeding program, farm equipment, and education for orphan children.
Education is Life Changing
Education can change a life!! In Malawi finishing high school means that the graduate can secure employment to help their family. Unfortunately, only 13% of secondary school aged children actually attend secondary school, according to UNICEF’s Malawi Annual Report.
Education is very important to the leadership of Kanyenyeva Orphan Care Project. If they know that a student has not attended school for a few days they will go to that student’s home to find out why and what they can do to alleviate the problem. They know the importance of education. They know that education will not only help the children in their community find jobs but that an educated Malawian can help change their nation. 
There are many obstacles to receiving an education in Malawi. One obstacle is money. The students are expected to bring their own supplies to use at school. Most students cannot afford pens, pencils, or paper.
High school is not free and most students cannot afford to pay tuition. These obstacles can be overcome. We can partner with these students. They know the importance of an education and will work hard to do their best.
Please consider donating to help with the educational fees for Malawian children. You can HELP THEM ACHIEVE THEIR VISION by donating to Malawi Orphan Care Project and designate your donation for education.
Your donations will be used for:
-School supplies for one student for a year: $25
-School uniform for one student: $30
-Tuition for a local high school student for a year: $150
-Tuition for boarding school for an orphaned or vulnerable girl: $1,500
Any size donation will help!
Click here to donate or send your tax deductible donation to:
Malawi Orphan Care Project
53 Park Ave. West
Mansfield, Ohio 44902
