The Malawi Benefit Fund.

The fund was set up three years ago by the “Faith Works” Trust following the visit of Pastor Christopher Ngwira to Spring Meadow Farm. Malawi is fourth from the bottom on the U.N index of poverty and Pastor Ngwira told us about the desperate plight of those most vulnerable in his country.

Along with two local churches and one other U.K.charity the fund now supports the 714 orphaned children with food, homes and an education. Many of them have been orphaned by AIDS. Widows and elderly folk are given a livelihood through being care-givers to the children in their own homes.

Seven school centres have been set up in the locality of Mzuzu, North Malawi providing schooling for children age 3 –7.  The schools are overseen by a committee of educational professionals and local government ministers. These are the men and women on whose shoulders the whole programme rests, both figuratively and literally. There are 24 trained primary school teachers who show their commitment to the project by accepting a token of appreciation which is only half the amount that they could command elsewhere.

The annual expenditure, which covers care of the children food, clothes medicines; renting homes, schools and educational materials; tokens of appreciation for the teachers and committee and a farming programme to provide most of the food supplies comes to £39,000 only.

A recent appeal has enabled the purchase of a new school building. This was needed when two,rented buildings were suddenly no longer available, leaving 312 children without a school

The photographs you see here are from Robert Laken’s trip to Malawi last year. “I am full of admiration for the faith and courage of these people who daily overcome massive obstacles and are bringing the love and care of God into the lives of these little ones,” Robert writes.

A live family concert in aid of the fund is happening on Saturday 8th September at Spring Meadow Farm. See home page for more details

If you wish to make a donation to the ongoing annual budget please make cheques out to The Faith Works Trust. Thank you.

 The “Faith Works Trust, Spring Meadow Farm, Whelpley Hill, Berkhamsted, Herts HP4 2SX Telephone 01442 834783.

   Trustees :  Nigel Goodwin, Peter Smith, Lisa Smith, Robert Laken, Marie Laken.