Two years ago Linda Olson followed her heart and made a trip to plant gardens in African villages. She made the journey with Heart for Africa, a volunteer organization that provides help in the poverty-stricken continent.
Olson, a teacher in the Carlsbad school district, heard about the organization at a church meeting. Bruce Wilkinson, founder of Heart for Africa, was the guest speaker.
“He is such a dynamic speaker, and what he said really moved me,” Olson said. “When he asked for volunteers to go, I found myself standing up. I thought, 'I'll go this one time.' I was so moved by the whole experience I knew I had to go back.”
Heart for Africa, previously known as Dream for Africa, has had volunteers plant more than 500,000 backyard vegetable gardens and work on building projects. In the past three years, more than 3,500 people have volunteered for Heart of Arica, serving in Kenya, Malawi and Swaziland.
Trips with the organization are on a first-come, first-served basis at the volunteer's own expense.
Olson's first trip was to South Africa in 2005. She took many pictures of the friends she made during her visit.
“Doris, from my first trip, is a beautiful young woman I'll never forget,” Olson said. “She showed me her church. It was a small wooden structure with gaping cracks between the boards. A dozen or so cheap plastic chairs were the only things inside. As we said goodbye, tears filled my eyes, having seen a glimpse of the beauty in her heart in sharp contrast to her extreme poverty and lack of possessions.”
Olson, 54, said her day would begin between 5 and 5:30 every morning, when she would plant spinach, cabbage, beet root and lettuce. When she wasn't working in the garden, she'd visit a school and interact with the children.
“I taught some silly songs to them,” she said. “Most of the kids are orphans, and they only get one meal a day – a corn porridge. They made instruments out of tin cans. They played the instruments so well, you'd think these kids had taken lessons for years.”
Olson also sat in on a biology class.
“The needs are so great there,” she said. “They had no textbooks, no desks – just paper and pencils.”
After seeing the living conditions in Africa where most homes were huts with no furniture, Olson decided she could cut down on her material possessions.
“I did no clothes shopping for a year, and, believe me, I love to shop,” Olson said. “I needed to prove to myself that I don't need all this.”
When Olson saw the many needs of the African people, she couldn't wait to go back and help again.
Last year's trip was to Malawi. Olson visited a slum outside the city.
“Tragically, 75 percent of the inhabitants are children,” Olson said. “The relief organization we were assisting is able to provide care and food for some of these families and children so desperate for both.”
Olson and another team member tried to console a mother whose baby had just died.
“There are at least 10 deaths every day at the hospital,” she said. “We saw children suffering from third degree burns, AIDS, malaria, malnutrition, dehydration, blood disease and bacterial infections. I did not see any technical equipment or doctors; only a few nurses were available for several large, multibed rooms.”
Because Olson injured her foot, she wasn't able to make the Africa trip this year. Wanting to contribute in some way, she raised $2,000 for the Malawi school.
Olson, who is active in her church, said her parents were good role models for her, serving on leadership and humanitarian committees at church.
“It seems Mom was always sewing something to send somewhere to people in need,” Olson said.
Olson said she can't wait until next year to go back to lend a helping hand.
“After my two awesome trips to Africa, I must admit I have two regrets,” she said. “The first is is not being able to do more. The second is not being able to tell my parents about the strong faith in God and the beauty of the African spirit.”
For more information about Heart for Africa, write P.O. Box 573, Alpharetta, GA 30009 or call (800) 901-7585.
Saturday, 25 August 2007
Malawi removes restrictions on cement imports
The Malawi government said on Friday that it had lifted restrictions imposed on the importation of cement into the country.
Speaking in Lilongwe, Industry and Trade Minister Ken Lipenga said removing the restrictions was meant to ease the current scarcity of cement in the country which has retarded progress in the construction industry.
"The action is expected to facilitate free flow of cement without compromising quality which is expected to be maintained by the Malawi Bureau of Standards," he said.
In view of this, he said, all importers of cement are not required to obtain an import licence as it was previously done.
Lipenga added that the scarcity of cement in the country has occurred due to lack of raw materials like cliquor on the market from Zimbabwe, the country that supplied it.
"Due to the current situation in Zimbabwe, it has affected the quality and quantity of the raw material which the local cement company (Lafarge Investments) has been purchasing.
“This has affected the manufacturing in the country, hence the scarcity," he said.
The minister said that there will be a long term solution because the country has discovered the lime deposits in Balaka, a southern district 100 km from commercial city of Blantyre, and it will be “easy for Lafarge to manufacture cement using our own materials.”
Speaking in Lilongwe, Industry and Trade Minister Ken Lipenga said removing the restrictions was meant to ease the current scarcity of cement in the country which has retarded progress in the construction industry.
"The action is expected to facilitate free flow of cement without compromising quality which is expected to be maintained by the Malawi Bureau of Standards," he said.
In view of this, he said, all importers of cement are not required to obtain an import licence as it was previously done.
Lipenga added that the scarcity of cement in the country has occurred due to lack of raw materials like cliquor on the market from Zimbabwe, the country that supplied it.
"Due to the current situation in Zimbabwe, it has affected the quality and quantity of the raw material which the local cement company (Lafarge Investments) has been purchasing.
“This has affected the manufacturing in the country, hence the scarcity," he said.
The minister said that there will be a long term solution because the country has discovered the lime deposits in Balaka, a southern district 100 km from commercial city of Blantyre, and it will be “easy for Lafarge to manufacture cement using our own materials.”
Malawi to build four more prisons
The Malawi government has said it intends to build at least four new prisons in the country, including a maximum security prison in Lilongwe, as a way of improving life conditions in the country's prisons, website of local newspaper The Nation reported Friday.
Vuwa Kaunda, Deputy Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security Symon made the revelation on Wednesday during a tour of Maula Prison in Lilongwe, saying the ministry is aware of problems inmates are facing due to congestion in the country's prisons.
"We intend to ease congestion by constructing new prisons and rehabilitating the already existing ones. Government will be constructing a new maximum security prison in Lilongwe and other prisons in the districts that have no prisons," said Kaunda.
He said the role of prisons in Malawi has changed from punitive to correctional and rehabilitative in nature hence the need to improve living conditions for inmates.
"The role of Malawi Prison Service is to keep you in human conditions. Our role has shifted from punitive to correctional and rehabilitative in nature," he said.
Maula Prison has a maximum holding capacity of 600 inmates but currently holds at least 1,700 prisoners.
Vuwa Kaunda, Deputy Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security Symon made the revelation on Wednesday during a tour of Maula Prison in Lilongwe, saying the ministry is aware of problems inmates are facing due to congestion in the country's prisons.
"We intend to ease congestion by constructing new prisons and rehabilitating the already existing ones. Government will be constructing a new maximum security prison in Lilongwe and other prisons in the districts that have no prisons," said Kaunda.
He said the role of prisons in Malawi has changed from punitive to correctional and rehabilitative in nature hence the need to improve living conditions for inmates.
"The role of Malawi Prison Service is to keep you in human conditions. Our role has shifted from punitive to correctional and rehabilitative in nature," he said.
Maula Prison has a maximum holding capacity of 600 inmates but currently holds at least 1,700 prisoners.
Stolen Medicines in Mozambique Sold in Malawi
Mozambique's Health Minister Ivo Garrido claims that an increasing number of medicines stolen from the country's National Health System are finding their way into the neighbouring Malawi, reports the Friday's issue of the daily paper 'Noticias'.
According to Garrido, this often involves gangs of organized crime, who are even using heavy trucks to carry the stolen medicines.
Garrido denounced this in Nampula on Thursday, during the Third National Meeting to Accelerate Leprosy Eradication.
On the occasion, he singled out the central provinces of Zambezia and Sofala as being hit the most by this illegal activity, and urged the citizens to denounce any suspicious cases to the relevant authorities, as the country could face the risk of being unable to provide adequate healthcare.
Garrido, however, did not give further details on the nature of the medicines most sought after by the criminals. Also, a number of these medicines are supplied to the informal market, and the authorities have already launched an investigation to identify the main culprits.
"We uncovered a theft of huge amounts of medicines in Zambezia province", said Garrido, adding that "in the following day, we found and intercepted a heavy truck loaded with these medicines in the border district of Milange, and therefore we presume that the product was about to be introduced in Malawi".
He said that this situation has to be dealt seriously by all the citizens in general, and particularly by the health officials, urging for a renewed commitment from the provincial directors.
Garrido also blasted the international media of sensationalism in covering theft of medicines in Mozambique.
Garrido was speaking before cadres from the Health Ministry and a number of representatives of international organizations currently funding Mozambique's health programs.
According to Garrido, this often involves gangs of organized crime, who are even using heavy trucks to carry the stolen medicines.
Garrido denounced this in Nampula on Thursday, during the Third National Meeting to Accelerate Leprosy Eradication.
On the occasion, he singled out the central provinces of Zambezia and Sofala as being hit the most by this illegal activity, and urged the citizens to denounce any suspicious cases to the relevant authorities, as the country could face the risk of being unable to provide adequate healthcare.
Garrido, however, did not give further details on the nature of the medicines most sought after by the criminals. Also, a number of these medicines are supplied to the informal market, and the authorities have already launched an investigation to identify the main culprits.
"We uncovered a theft of huge amounts of medicines in Zambezia province", said Garrido, adding that "in the following day, we found and intercepted a heavy truck loaded with these medicines in the border district of Milange, and therefore we presume that the product was about to be introduced in Malawi".
He said that this situation has to be dealt seriously by all the citizens in general, and particularly by the health officials, urging for a renewed commitment from the provincial directors.
Garrido also blasted the international media of sensationalism in covering theft of medicines in Mozambique.
Garrido was speaking before cadres from the Health Ministry and a number of representatives of international organizations currently funding Mozambique's health programs.
Campaigners fear cut in funds for Malawi
Campaigners yesterday called on the Scottish Executive to maintain its level of financial support to Malawi.
Members of the Scotland Malawi Partnership are due to meet Linda Fabiani, the Minister for External Affairs, tomorrow to demand that the executive's plans to give aid to more African countries does not lead to the amount Malawi receives being cut.
They will present a petition signed by more than 1000 people and organisations urging the executive to strengthen its links with the country.
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Some 58 projects have benefited from millions of pounds in Scottish aid since the Scotland Malawi Co-operation Agreement was signed in November 2005.
They include the Mary's Meals project, which has fed an extra 11,000 children a day, and the Malawi Millennium Project to deliver equipment to secondary schools attended by visually-impaired youngsters.
Dr Peter West, chairman of Scotland Malawi Partnership, said he wanted assurances that support would continue.
The SNP-led executive has pledged to double the amount of foreign aid currently distributed.
A spokeswoman for the executive said: "The new government will retain a commitment to Malawi, but is also likely to consider supporting other countries with which Scotland has strong links."
Members of the Scotland Malawi Partnership are due to meet Linda Fabiani, the Minister for External Affairs, tomorrow to demand that the executive's plans to give aid to more African countries does not lead to the amount Malawi receives being cut.
They will present a petition signed by more than 1000 people and organisations urging the executive to strengthen its links with the country.
advertisement
Some 58 projects have benefited from millions of pounds in Scottish aid since the Scotland Malawi Co-operation Agreement was signed in November 2005.
They include the Mary's Meals project, which has fed an extra 11,000 children a day, and the Malawi Millennium Project to deliver equipment to secondary schools attended by visually-impaired youngsters.
Dr Peter West, chairman of Scotland Malawi Partnership, said he wanted assurances that support would continue.
The SNP-led executive has pledged to double the amount of foreign aid currently distributed.
A spokeswoman for the executive said: "The new government will retain a commitment to Malawi, but is also likely to consider supporting other countries with which Scotland has strong links."
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