Life in Malawi
Malawi is one of the poorest countries in the world (174 of 189 countries). It’s very difficult to access clean water, sanitation and health care. Over half the population live in poverty and one-fifth in extreme poverty. One million children are without parents due to AIDS, Covid and poverty. 80% of the population are trapped in subsistent agriculture.
Farmers across Malawi are highly susceptible to drought and floods, as most of the population depend on agriculture for their survival. Subsistent agriculture means the people of Malawi can barely grow enough food to feed themselves, let alone enough to sell in order to purchase the most basic household items.
Yet the leading cause of death is AIDs related. It is estimated that 1.5 million people in Malawi—around 7% of the population— are HIV positive.
This has a massive impact on the children of Malawi, leading to thousands of orphaned children. AIDS, Covid and poverty have left more than one million children as orphans. Normally, they live homeless on the streets or earn their daily food from working in the fields. There is no time for school, only for survival.
AIDS, Covid and poverty have left more than one million children as orphans.
Along comes a hero called Courageous
Courageous was also an orphan. Her parents died when she was ten and she lived on the streets with her older brother, sister and baby brother. “We lived like animals to survive”, she said. Then an orphanage took them in. “They gave us food and the Gospel, which made us feel human again.”
Today Courageous is ‘Mum’ to 97 orphan children, ranging in age from babies to teenagers. They go to a school where Feed The Hungry provides daily food for all the students. Before the food started coming four years ago, only 46% passed their grades. Now an incredible 96% pass!
How can children in Malawi have a brighter future?
Through the generous giving of our friends, the orphaned children of Malawi can enjoy a hot and nutritious meal each day. As always, the gifts you send go directly to our local church and missionary friends who ensure the food gets to those who really need it, like Courageous and her children. So orphaned children can grow up with an education and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.