Ndirande is a huge shanty town on the outskirts of Blantyre. It is an unplanned settlement, meaning there is no rubbish collection or sewage system and the houses are built very close together. It is a particularly poor part of Blantyre, but has the largest Church of God in Malawi!
As with most African countries, HIV and other health issues are common in Malawi, many adults die young, as a result children are orphaned.
The Church of God in Ndirande were extremely concerned with the number of orphans and other vulnerable children living near the church.
Most orphaned children are taken in by grandparents or extended family, but often there is not enough food to go round, with adults constantly looking for work, the children are at home alone.
The church quickly came up with a solution, they wanted to somehow help these vulnerable children.
In February 2008, the Orphan Day Care Centre opened its doors in the church hall in Ndirande.
Three ladies in the church were sent on a childcare course and now work full time running the centre which at present cares for 22 children. The children arrive at 7.30 each morning and remain there until 2pm. What’s important is that they get two nutritious meals and have a full programme of games, crafts, songs and Bible stories. Most of all they are loved and cared for in a safe environment.
New Plans
The church hall in Ndirande is too small. On a Sunday morning about 100 people try and fit into the hall and it is a tight squeeze! The hall is used during the week for the Orphan Day Care Centre.
Land nearby has been purchased to build a new hall, it’s a 5 minute walk from the existing hall.
Work is underway and once completed the Orphan Day Care Centre will move there too providing children with the much needed extra space to play.
The larger hall would enable us to consider taking up to 60 children, with so many orphans in the area, this would be a welcome development.
