Sarah’s blog 7/10/21
So it’s been another busy week for Levison and his team, as well as for us here. As there are approximately 800 orphans and other vulnerable children who receive some form of support from The William Stewart Foundation, as well as some elderly villagers, there is a lot of help required to carry out all the projects to support everyone.
We send boxes of donated preloved clothes, school uniform and sports clothes as well as shoes and flipflops, knitted blankets and books. That is a lot of clothes needed to ensure that each of these children receive something new (to them). As well as it being a gift that all children love to receive, their self-esteem and confidence improve as they are no longer wearing rags and tatty old clothes. They know that people they have never met care about them. They haven’t been forgotten. Sometimes it can be very cold at night and in the early morning, so sweatshirts and woolly hats help to keep them warm.
The children who come to The Foundation, love to play team games especially football and netball. There are several boxes of sports kit, trainers and football boots. Also some footballs…..they are always needing footballs!
Obviously, the first priority is to feed the children as they are so malnourished as they don’t eat properly every day. As there are so many of them, The Foundation can only, at present, feed approximately 500 children once a week. They get a substantial, nourishing meal that includes fresh vegetables. The school teachers have noticed that the children are concentrating better since the feeding programme started and their grades are improving. They are happier and more confident because of the holistic approach taken by Levison and his team.
We look forward to seeing photos in the coming days and weeks of the children receiving some of the donations that are in these well travelled boxes. Malawi is a big country. The Foundation is right at the top near Chitipa and the container goes to a mission hospital at Ekwendeni near Mzuzu. A long way to travel but Levison was able to meet up with friends who were also collecting boxes for their projects. He (and his helpers) had left home at 3.30am yesterday morning and got back at 2.40am this morning. A very long day but a successful one!
