Latest News

Community, Donations, Healthcare, Malawi

Malaria medications donation to Ruarwe and Khondowe Health Centres

Phunzira

This malaria season has seen a very sharp rise in malaria cases as a result of various factors including the change in climate. This is a nationwide crisis, which has unfortunately coincided with a Forex and a fuel shortage, hampering the purchase and distribution of the malaria treatment Lumefantrine and Arthemeter (LA). Phunzira has been able to make a donation of LA to both Ruarwe and Khondowe clinics, to hopefully see out the rest of the malaria season.

This donation of medications coincides with a nationwide government initiative to distribute mosquito nets to all households, which started in the Ruarwe area at the beginning of November. Alongside the education provided by the clinic staff at the start of every clinic day we hope to see a drop in malaria rates and no fatalities. We are grateful to be able to help the wider community at a time of need such as this, and will continue to focus on education for the whole community about the importance of using mosquito nets correctly and prevention methods community members can take to reduce their risk of infection.

Community, Malawi

Two new Trustees selected for Nyumba Ya Masambiro

Phunzira

Following the resignation of one of NYM’s Trustees we had a gap to fill on the NYM Board of Trustees. The staff called a meeting of the community Chief, Village Headmen, and representatives of the Village Committees to select two new Trustees to bring the board to its maximum of four members. The meeting was held on Friday 25th October at NYM’s Library. The selected Committee members presented candidates from the community who share the values of NYM and would be good fits for the roles. After presentation, a discussion was held to allow all present to ask questions and share their views on the candidates. A vote was then held and the two new trustees were selected from those candidates. The selected trustees are Rhoda Mhone from Ruarwe Village and Consuet Msowoya from Kwenthu village. These selections retain a 50:50 male:female split on the board, keeping representation fair and equal.

Both new trustees have paid multiple visits to Nyumba ya Masambiro in the days and weeks following their selection as they find their feet in their new roles. We are delighted with the selection and very much look forward to how NYM continues to go from strength to strength with these new trustees on board.

Donations, Healthcare

Donation of clinical supplies to Ruarwe Health Centre

Phunzira


September saw a donation of medical supplies of bandages and sterile gloves to Ruarwe Health Centre. Surplus supplies, otherwise destined for landfill, from a health facility in the UK were provided to the clinic. As we come up to planting season here in Malawi, the clinic is seeing numerous wounds and injuries from farming. Both the bandages and sterile gloves have come in really helpful to manage these injuries and wounds. The sterile gloves have also come in useful for the delivery of two babies at the clinic in the last few weeks! We are really grateful to the facility in the UK for thinking of the clinic in Ruarwe and for facilitating this donation, which really does make a big difference. Yewo Chomene!

Business, Community

New Airtel Money building construction almost completed at Nyumba Ya Masambiro

Phunzira

Construction is almost complete on a new Airtel Money Office. This building means that community members coming to NYM to carry out Airtel Money transactions have a dedicated place to go to complete those transactions. This keeps the NYM management office free for management members to complete their tasks undisturbed.

The Airtel Money business continues to be very popular amongst community members, with multiple people coming to complete transactions every single day. Each transaction gains a small commission for NYM as the Agent, and that commission is then reinvested into NYM for the benefit of the community. Having a dedicated space for these transactions to be carried out is a great step forward for this business.

Healthcare, Malawi, Volunteers

Phunzira’s Volunteer Program reopens

Phunzira

After years of closure due the COVID-19 and the subsequent maintenance and reopening phase, we are delighted to announce that Phunzira’s Volunteer Program has reopened for both Nyumba Ya Masambiro and Ruarwe Health Centre. Our first volunteer, Rachel, joined us in Malawi for three months from Mid July to Mid October. A qualified nurse from the USA, Rachel helped daily at Ruarwe Health Centre as well as getting stuck in with community health visits to the wider catchment area with the Health Surveillance Assistants from the clinic team and by running First Aid sessions with both the NYM staff and Clinic Staff.

Rachel was really valued by the whole team, community members as well as staff at Zulunkhuni River Lodge, where all volunteers stay during their placements in Ruarwe. Rachel, we thank you for your hard work, for getting stuck in with so much while you were here and your cheerful demeanour throughout your stay. We would love to see you back some time very soon! Yewo Chomene!

Business, Community

Repairs, maintenance and building at Nyumba Ya Masambiro

Phunzira

Following another rainy season the team have been busy making repairs and finalising maintenance around the Nyumba Ya Masambiro education centre. Firstly, a new bridge has been built over the stream bordering the NYM land. This year funds have allowed for a raised foundation to be built to support the bridge, hopefully allowing for it to rise above coming years rainy season flooding and keep a safe access to the education centre and all its services throughout the coming years.

Additionally, following the roaring success of the Airtel Money business the team have started building a dedicated Airtel money kiosk on the NYM property. This frees up the Management Office to its original administrative tasks and provides a secure dedicated space for community members to access this vital financial service.

Community, Malawi, Sports, Youth

Community Football and Netball League

Phunzira

Nyumba Ya Masambiro has successfully run a community-wide football and netball league for mens and womens teams around the community. The League ran at weekends from 7th June to 8th July. 36 Football and Netball teams from the wider area competed and all teams won financial prizes to go towards their clubs for equipment such as new balls, new nets, new bibs and kits, as well as travel funds to allow them to continue to play against other teams in the wider area in the future.

Played at the football and netball pitches at the top of the big hill above Ruarwe Village, the games drew huge crowds from around the area. Bringing wider communities together to support their teams and each other, the joy was palpable and spirits really high.

Community, Malawi, Sports, Youth

Youth club football tournament

Phunzira

NYM Youth Club football team took part in a football tournament playing the youth team from Khomola Village in our catchment area. They had an afternoon of hype and entertainment together on Friday 3rd May at the NYM youth hall and in the gardens around the centre (think a Ruarwe version of a Pep Rally!). This was followed by a match at the Ruarwe football ground at the top of the hill on Saturday 4th May in the afternoon. Everyone was in really good spirits and both teams played well, with an end result of 3:2 to the Khomola youth team. With a winners prize of MWK3,000 and a losers prize of MWK2,000 paid out for the players to buy essential supplies for their teams. 

The NYM youth club is going from strength to strength with 50-70 kids turning up to each session, which still focus on education, creativity and sports and exercise. Having a safe space for kids to hang out and socialise is so important for Ruarwe village and the surrounding areas and linking up with other youth clubs and teams builds a network in our wider area. 

NYM is now preparing for a Senior Youth Football league for both men’s and women’s football teams in the area. With 40 Senior Youth and community teams taking part (20 men’s teams and 20 women’s teams), and further cash prizes to keep the clubs supplied with footballs, boots and kits. The league is due to begin in mid-June so watch this space for upcoming updates!

Business, Community, Malawi

New income generating activity at NYM

Phunzira

Nyumba ya Masambiro education centre has set up a new Income Generating Activity for the benefit of the community. They have become an Airtel Money agent. Airtel Money is a mobile commerce service offering money transfer by phone run through the Airtel telephone network by means of an app and SMS messaging. This service gives community members access to sending and receiving money digitally to any registered number anywhere in the country. A digital service of this kind breaks the circular economy experienced within remote communities such as Ruarwe and its surrounding areas by allowing community members to engage in financial communication nationally and opening the doors to wider buying and selling inside and outside the community. It has been a heavily requested service and the team are delighted to have been able to set this up. Since starting as an agent hundreds of thousands of Malawi Kwacha have been transferred in private transactions into and out of the community, each transaction earning a nominal commission fee, which can then be returned back into the education centre to fund the ongoing community activities available to all community members.

Donations, Fundraising, Healthcare, Malawi

Emergency Malaria Medications

Phunzira

A nationwide shortage of medications remains a critical issue across Malawi. The most recent 44% devaluation of the currency will unfortunately only add to these pressures. At the plea of Ruarwe and Khondowe health centres, Phunzira provided funds in order to purchase necessary and life-saving medicines to stock the two clinics. Both clinics within the catchment area had run out of all antimalarials as well as antibiotics and antipyretics. The clinic in Usisya, 20Km south, which has helped out in the past, also had no stock. 

Ruarwe clinic sees an average of 300 patients per month. In the last three months these numbers have risen unexpectedly and drastically. In August 2023 the clinic treated 800 patients, in September 2023 the clinic treated 1200 patients and in October 2023 the clinic treated 900 patients. Of these, a very large portion were malaria cases, which is a startlingly high rate at this time of year, before the peak malaria season begins in December/January.  Government supply is not able to keep up with these patient numbers, and patients have been dying of treatable illness as a result. 

Phunzira was able to purchase 710 doses of Antimalarials for a wide range of ages, as well as antibiotics and antipyretics whilst further government supply is awaited. While the donation of medications in this way is not sustainable in the long term future, we are extremely grateful to our donors to allow these short-term life-saving donations to take place and we wish that Malawi is able to stabilise her currency and continue to look after her population.