Destination: Malawi

    You may wonder: what on earth do a handful of college students hope to accomplish in one of the poorest countries in the world?  While in Malawi, the interns will be mainly focusing on about five projects in two villages.  Some of the students will be staying in Njewa; they will be helping with a widow’s group, and working in village homes.  The widows group was founded in 2006, since then the widows have acted as a support group for each other, and learned valuable skills to support their families.  They now make and sell great looking knits and textiles (I can testify to their being fashionable as I have a fabulously cute apron that was made by them).  Interns will be supporting this group by leading the women in Bible study and prayer, checking product quality, taking and managing orders, preparing goods for sale to visitors, and participating in the daily hardships of caring for many children.  Their help will assist the widows in their battle to become self sufficient.  While helping in the village homes, interns will spend time with children around their homes by tutoring, reading, and mentoring.  These are vital experiences the children might miss out on without COTN because of the struggle caregivers have with keeping up with so many children.  We’re trying to make sure no child is left behind.  

    There is also a smaller group of interns who will be in Chiwengo tutoring, doing outreach, and organizing a sports tournament.  Classrooms in Malawi have very large class sizes, so if a child does not understand something, it is very hard for a teacher to be able to give them any individual attention.  Interns will be helping to bridge the gap of understanding that exists because teachers are spread so thin.  The children living in Chiwengo lead outreaches to the nearby villages.  Interns will be supporting them by: teaching the Gospel, organizing sports and games, and encouraging COTN children to be active in sharing their faith.  There will also be a sports tournament in Chiwengo with soccer and netball.  As many as 400 people may come to the final soccer match, so interns will be helping to organize the event and show Christ’s love to the members of the village.

    Interns will do their best to be a light of Christ in an area touched by extreme poverty.  Please pray that God’s love will pour through us and into the lives of these children.