Over 30,000 people have benefited from World Vision’s programs in Nkhoma Area Program, Lilongwe, after the organization wrapped up its 20-year Nkhoma Area Program.
The closing ceremony was marked by a celebration on Tuesday in Nkhoma, Lilongwe of the organization’s achievements and the impact it has had on the community.
According to Minister of Homeland Security Ezekiel Ching’oma, who represented Minister of Local Government Richard Chimwendo Banda, World Vision has transformed the community in many areas. “It has been a good journey for World Vision Malawi in this area. It has added value in Nkhoma area,” he said. Some of the notable achievements include:
Reduced Malnutrition: Chronic malnutrition has been reduced from 50% to 20%, a significant achievement
Improved Access to Water: 9 out of 10 households now have access to portable water sources
Education: Nearly 100 classrooms have been constructed, 50 for early childhood development and 50 for primary school
Charles Chimombo, World Vision’s Director of Operations, highlighted the organization’s focus areas, saying, “World Vision’s focus is on the wellbeing of children and in that case we look mostly in nutrition, water and sanitation, education as well as livelihoods.” He added that the past 20 years have seen tremendous improvement in the areas of nutrition.
Emily Mangani, promoter and lead farmer from Nkhoma Area Program, expressed her gratitude to World Vision, saying, “We have benefited a lot, all thanks to World Vision. Through various trainings that we have received on economic empowerment, mindset change, our lives have changed and we are no longer the same.” She added that school dropouts have tremendously reduced, a testament to the impact of World Vision’s programs.
World Vision started the transition process three years ago, focusing on mindset change and ensuring the sustainability of its programs. Minister Ezekiel Ching’oma echoed this sentiment, saying, “We pretty much depend on what the people have been trained. The people have been empowered how to fish on their own. Our focus will be sharpening the skills acquired from World Vision.”
World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organization dedicated to working with children, families, and their communities worldwide to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice. The organization has been working in Malawi for several years, implementing programs in areas such as health, water and sanitation, education, and livelihoods. Through these programs, World Vision aims to improve access to healthcare services, provide clean water and sanitation facilities, promote education for all, and support economic empowerment and sustainable livelihoods.
