Young Christians to experience poverty of Malawi

A GROUP of young Christians will experience what life is like for people living in poverty in Birmingham’s twin dioceses of Malawi.

The 13 youngsters, from churches across Birmingham, will set out for two weeks in Africa tomorrow for the first visit of its kind. Organisers said it was being launched in the International Year of the Child and to give the youngsters the chance to see everyday life.

While there they will work alongside local workers picking tea and coffee, drying fruit and fishing for Chambo, at the Zoa Tea Estate in southern Malawi.

They will spend most afternoons in Mwaya, a village on the estate, where they will meet children and young people and take part in games and crafts.

The group, aged from 15 to 20, each raised £1,000 to fund the trip by organising head shaves, bike rides, cake sales, bell-ringing peals and quiz nights.

Helen Tomblin, the Bishop’s adviser for Youth Ministry who has arranged the trip, said: “We hope this trip will be life-changing for the young people from Birmingham as well as for those they meet in Malawi.

“The city and the Diocese of Birmingham have had a long relationship with Malawi and we hope this trip will build on those 40 years of friendship.”

In their second week the group will travel to Blantyre.