African villages learning to rewrite their future

When a community takes ownership of relief and development, it can re-write its future.

The village of Chamoto in Malawi is a perfect example of this concept. What started as a literacy program has led to independence.

Today, villagers in Chamoto have programs running where orphans are being cared for, families have enough to eat, and more than 1,500 people are improving their reading and writing skills.

Christian Reformed World Relief Committee's partner in Malawi. Nkhoma Relief & Development (NRD), helped start the literacy program. NRD incorporated various lessons into the reading and writing curriculum. Students read passages from the Bible, but they also learned about health, agriculture, and businesses.

NRD suggested a program that would encourage local women to meet together in community groups. The group members would learn lessons about nutrition, health, agriculture, and business, and they would work together on income generating projects.

Chamoto is one of 22 centers where community workers are placed, and 15 of those centers are following the Chamoto model. CRWRC's Phil Grabowski reports: "Some of the best centers where these community workers are working. You can see the community starting to make its own plans. The community is starting to write proposals even to the government and to other organizations."

Grabowski says once the vision takes hold, ministry flourishes. "All of the community workers who are hired are Christians and are taught biblical principles. When they teach about agriculture, they teach about, 'What does the bible say about agriculture?' and about business, the same thing. So when they're doing programs, they're also sharing more about their faith."

With help, CRWRC and its partners can provide training and support for communities like Chamoto around the world.