...Newsletter No.14!
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One day at a time
The newsletter of Open Arms, Malawi The most significant development since the last newsletter has been the opening of Richmond House, the second of what we call phase 3 housing. Funds for this project came from Richmond House Prep School in Leeds.
We had a very busy summer, highlighted by the eighth visit by students from Ashville College. They had raised considerable funds for the Home and worked hard on various of our outreach projects. Leeds Girls High
School also visited us and we thank them for a huge consignment of
clothing and £2000.
We are pleased to announce that work has finally commenced on Open Arms 2. This is sited at Mangochi, 120 miles north. We hope to be completed in approximately a years time. On Saturday 15th September, a memorial service for Rosemarie, on the anniversary of her death, led by our Malawi Chairman, Mr Steve Ferguson took place. A mother and child sculpture by Syndey Lundu marks the occasion.
We would like to thank our readers for their continued support, the Home and the children are thriving.
Seen left with Mr Danger Chipino is Chris Summarsell, our UK treasurer on a recent visit to Malawi. The feeding centre/nursery school was funded by the “Kitchen Table Charity Trust” in the UK. Fifty children receive nursery education and a daily meal supervised by a staff of three.
Ashville College sponsored the furnishing and labour that completed the building in July. This is the fourth feeding station that Open Arms has completed.
Pictured (l-r) are Malita, Nelifa, Chikondi, Mercy and Agness
on their first day of school at Ntonya International school, Blantyre. All of them had been most of their lives at Open Arms and had very little in the way of alternative life chances, but now enjoy security and permanence of life at Richmond House with foster parents Mr and Mrs Longwe.
Their fees have been paid for by a number of well wishers and it is planned that they should spend the next eight years at the same school.
David Penn, parent of an Ashville College student recently completed a sponsored 1142 mile walk from Lands End to John O’Groats for us. He Raised a wonderful £6664 in 69 days of non stop walking.
Congratulations and a million thanks David!
Rev Greg Warren at Namalo during this year’s trip. The group built a kitchen and bathroom at the Traditional Birthing Clinic and completely renovated two classrooms at the village Primary School before proceeding to Mangochi and Nkhota khota where similar projects were undertaken.
Peter Madden and Carol-Anne Land from Australia recently sent 450 donated bicycles from Australia. All our men received one!
Jackson, Hawa and Philip have all been returned to their Grandparents in the last two months.
When they go, they are accompanied by a brand new mosquito net, a favourite toy, new clothes and supplies of food and medicines. Each of the children is seen here with their surrogate mother and relative, prior to departure. Early reports on their progress from Mrs Phiri via the outreach program look encouraging.
October sees our annual staff outing to Lake Malawi.
In all 60 staff and the 9 children from Roses and Richmond House enjoy a day frolicking in the lake.
Sam and Eric Unnamed twins who became Sam and Eric were delivered to Open Arms early in 2003, they had lost both parents. The boys thrived and returned to Bangui township two years later. They lived with their maternal aunt and her three children. A meagre living was made by selling Mandasi (doughnuts) on the roadside. The Aunt’s husband had already passed away and six months ago it was noticed that the Aunt was suffering from repeated illness. She died the day before this was written. Five children are now motherless and without a great deal of hope. We are hoping to re-admit Sam and Eric into Harrogate House and subsequently into one of our phase 3 houses.
This remains an all too familiar story.
One day at a time
The newsletter of Open Arms, Malawi The most significant development since the last newsletter has been the opening of Richmond House, the second of what we call phase 3 housing. Funds for this project came from Richmond House Prep School in Leeds. We had a very busy summer, highlighted by the eighth visit by students from Ashville College. They had raised considerable funds for the Home and worked hard on various of our outreach projects. Leeds Girls High
School also visited us and we thank them for a huge consignment of
clothing and £2000.
We are pleased to announce that work has finally commenced on Open Arms 2. This is sited at Mangochi, 120 miles north. We hope to be completed in approximately a years time. On Saturday 15th September, a memorial service for Rosemarie, on the anniversary of her death, led by our Malawi Chairman, Mr Steve Ferguson took place. A mother and child sculpture by Syndey Lundu marks the occasion.
We would like to thank our readers for their continued support, the Home and the children are thriving.
Ulongwe Feeding Station
Seen left with Mr Danger Chipino is Chris Summarsell, our UK treasurer on a recent visit to Malawi. The feeding centre/nursery school was funded by the “Kitchen Table Charity Trust” in the UK. Fifty children receive nursery education and a daily meal supervised by a staff of three.
Ashville College sponsored the furnishing and labour that completed the building in July. This is the fourth feeding station that Open Arms has completed.
Five go to school
Pictured (l-r) are Malita, Nelifa, Chikondi, Mercy and Agness on their first day of school at Ntonya International school, Blantyre. All of them had been most of their lives at Open Arms and had very little in the way of alternative life chances, but now enjoy security and permanence of life at Richmond House with foster parents Mr and Mrs Longwe.
Their fees have been paid for by a number of well wishers and it is planned that they should spend the next eight years at the same school.
David Penn
David Penn, parent of an Ashville College student recently completed a sponsored 1142 mile walk from Lands End to John O’Groats for us. He Raised a wonderful £6664 in 69 days of non stop walking.
Congratulations and a million thanks David!
Ashville Trip
Rev Greg Warren at Namalo during this year’s trip. The group built a kitchen and bathroom at the Traditional Birthing Clinic and completely renovated two classrooms at the village Primary School before proceeding to Mangochi and Nkhota khota where similar projects were undertaken.
Peter Madden and Carol-Anne Land from Australia recently sent 450 donated bicycles from Australia. All our men received one!
Three more go home
Jackson, Hawa and Philip have all been returned to their Grandparents in the last two months.
When they go, they are accompanied by a brand new mosquito net, a favourite toy, new clothes and supplies of food and medicines. Each of the children is seen here with their surrogate mother and relative, prior to departure. Early reports on their progress from Mrs Phiri via the outreach program look encouraging.
October sees our annual staff outing to Lake Malawi.
In all 60 staff and the 9 children from Roses and Richmond House enjoy a day frolicking in the lake.
Sam and Eric Unnamed twins who became Sam and Eric were delivered to Open Arms early in 2003, they had lost both parents. The boys thrived and returned to Bangui township two years later. They lived with their maternal aunt and her three children. A meagre living was made by selling Mandasi (doughnuts) on the roadside. The Aunt’s husband had already passed away and six months ago it was noticed that the Aunt was suffering from repeated illness. She died the day before this was written. Five children are now motherless and without a great deal of hope. We are hoping to re-admit Sam and Eric into Harrogate House and subsequently into one of our phase 3 houses.
This remains an all too familiar story.
