..Community Opportunity..
'Community Opportunity': The Aim
Community Opportunity is a project originally founded by Sussex University students. It is now also comprised of Sussex alumni and members of the local community. The aim of the project is to support Community Based Organisations (CBOs) by working with the local community to provide training in the practical skills and theoretical knowledge needed to establish successful enterprises. Currently the project is partnered with a CBO in Malawi: Samalani Orphan Care and Youth Organisation. In the Chichewa language 'samalani' means 'to take care'.
The Situation
The Samalani centre is located in Lilongwe, the capital of Malawi. It is based in an area of Lilongwe called Area 23. There are two major difficulties affecting Malawi. Firstly, the prevelance of HIV is high, even for sub-Saharan Africa. HIV disproportionately affects the 25-45 age group and thus half of Malawi's population is now under 15. This results in a high number of orphans and child-headed households. Secondly, 80% of employment is in the informal sector and mostly in agriculture. The fragility of the agricultural industry was highlighted in 2005 when there was a huge drought. This led to a famine as only 37% of maize needed to feed the country was produced. Of course, it is the most vulnerable who are affected the worst and many orphans and elderly people died.
Samson with some of the younger members of Samalani
The History of Samalani Orphan Care and Youth Organisation
Afternoon teachers: Peter, Innocent and Maxwell
Samalani Orphan Care and Youth Organisation was born out of these conditions. Samson Chaziya, a resident of Lilongwe and local to Area 23, recognised the need for community action to combat the difficulties people were facing. Bringing together local members of the community Samson held a meeting in order to discuss how best to help those most at risk and from this a feeding programme was established with women from the community gathering to cook any food available.
Since 2005 the feeding programme has grown. Where it used to be held in Samson's house, now local chiefs have donated two buildings and the 'Better World Together' foundation have bought land. Not only is there still a feeding programme every morning for young orphans but the services the centre offer have extended to:
- Nursery and Primary education
- Extra classes for Secondary students, school-leavers and those unable to attend Secondary school
- HIV awareness
- Elderly support
- Psycho-social support
- Recreational activities
The centre is a member of the Tsabango network of community centres within Lilongwe, of which Samson is now chairman. It has a permanent team of devoted staff, all of whom are local to Area 23.
Since 2005 the feeding programme has grown. Where it used to be held in Samson's house, now local chiefs have donated two buildings and the 'Better World Together' foundation have bought land. Not only is there still a feeding programme every morning for young orphans but the services the centre offer have extended to:
- Nursery and Primary education
- Extra classes for Secondary students, school-leavers and those unable to attend Secondary school
- HIV awareness
- Elderly support
- Psycho-social support
- Recreational activities
The centre is a member of the Tsabango network of community centres within Lilongwe, of which Samson is now chairman. It has a permanent team of devoted staff, all of whom are local to Area 23.
The morning feeding programme