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Save Says Goodbye to Tamandani

As Tamandani is reunited with her family, her Open Arms Mother, Save Pofera, reflects on saying goodbye. ‘Yes, it’s good she goes to her relatives’ Save told me ‘But I feel sad, I was giving her my love, now we are apart’.

Save told me about how when Tamandani arrived she was so very tiny that Save was nervous to bath her, then with a good diet she grew well and as you’ll see from the photo, she is now a strong, well-nourished and cared for toddler.

Tamandanis Family Chapananga Sq 150X150

Our team of ‘Mothers’ make all the difference when a baby like Tamandani arrives. Thirty-nine year old Save Pofera is from Mzimba right up in the Northern region of Malawi.  Her and her sister came to Blantyre to find work many years ago. 

Fanny With Malita Who She Cared For As A Baby And New Baby Tamandani Sq 150X150

Her parents have passed away and Save and her sister live together in Mbayani township with Save’s son who is 12 years old. Save has been working at Open Arms for sixteen years.

Save says that she’s very happy caring for the children. She has had six in her care until yesterday, when she said goodbye to Tamandani. Save accompanied Mrs Phiri and Kondwani to Tamanadani’s village, quite a distance from Blantyre, in Chapananga.

A few days before Tamandani left, her grandmother came to stay with her at the Open Arms Transition Hut, so closer bonds can be formed and she could adjust to the new environment she is heading to.

The Transition Hut is a traditionally built and styled house in the Garden of Open Arms that children move into with their guardian a few days before they leave Open Arms. 

The House is close to Harrogate House and the departing toddler and their guardian join in with the routine of Harrogate House but sleep in the Granny House together for a few nights before departure. This gives Matron chance to get to know the Guardians and for the guardians to get to re united with their toddler before they leave Open Arms.

Hut Repair Web

Annie and Lukia smoothed the sand with empty bottles in the traditional to way, to make a beautifully smooth finish, and a welcoming stop-over for the next child who is reunited with their family.

Neville With New Arrival Tamandani Web 150X150

Last week Annie and Lukia, Gardening Ladies at Open Arms main site in Blantyre made much needed repairs on the Transition Hut. Annie and Lukia replastered the inside of the House floor with a mixture of ‘matope’ mud and black sand. Black sand they told me, is used because it dries harder than other earth or sand and is resistant to the ‘putsi’ fly that lives in the earth and burrows into the skin of humans.

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