2026 Projects Summary
Nthache Community Based Child Care (CBCC) kitchen project
A grant of £1000 to support the Umodzi CBCC in Nthache Community, Mwanza District
MonaLisa Kangulu, Corps Africa volunteer, explained that Nthache Centre serves 120 registered learners through a weekday feeding program that provides nutritious porridge to support growth, concentration, and school attendance. However, the current kitchen structure is unsafe and inadequate, as it has no door, only mud walls and poor ventilation, compromising food hygiene and storage. This project will seek to renovate the kitchen by rebuilding walls with durable materials, installing a lockable door, and improving ventilation, creating a secure storage space for utensils and food supplies, as well as enhancing structural safety, cleanliness, and functionality.
This project is underway – check back soon for an update!
M’Modzi Community Nursery School project
A grant of £865 to support the renovation of the nursery school in M’modzi community, Traditional Authority Chiputula, Chikwawa District.
Selina Malikha, Corps Africa volunteer, explained that the existing community nursery school is in poor condition with broken windows & walls and there is no toilet, limiting children’s access to a safe and supportive learning environment. This project, seeks to renovate the building back into a safe child-friendly learning environment by include painting the classroom with bright educational drawings to support early childhood development and make learning more engaging. It will also involve constructing a toilet block which will improve sanitation.
This project is underway – check back soon for an update!
Mwalesa Community Borehole project
A grant of £1000 to support the installation of a borehole for Mwalasa Community, Machinga District.
Milius Chikosa, Corps Africa volunteer, explained that Mwalasa is home to over 75 households but the community lacks a reliable source of clean water as the borehole is damaged which means residents are forced to travel to neighbouring communities to fetch water for daily use. The project focuses on renovating the existing borehole so it can once again provide clear water thereby reducing the risk of waterborne diseases and ease the burden on those fetching water each day.
This project is underway – check back soon for an update!
Chinthopa Community Irrigation project
A grant of £1000 to support the Chinthopa Irrigation Project, in Chinthopa Community, Traditional Authority Kanyenda, Nkhotakota District.
Daniel Wiseman, Corps Africa volunteer, explained that although many households in the area have access to fertile land to grow crops such as tomatoes, maize and cabbages, there is still a lack of reliable and sustainable income. As a result, there are rising poverty levels and many families struggle to pay school fees for their children, leading to school dropouts. In response, the community agreed to organise into a farming initiative to venture into commercial farming enterprises to provide better livelihoods.
The FOMA grant will help purchase a water pump to maintain year round irrigation of crops to help improve yields and ensure a supply of vegetables for sale at market.
This project is underway – check back soon for an update!
Kazomba Community Under 5 Clinic project
A grant of £1000 to support the renovations to Empundwini Under-Five Clinic in Kazomba Community, Traditional Authority Kaluluma, asungu District
Beauty Kachere, Corps Africa volunteer, explained that Empundwini under-five clinic is meant to provide primary healthcare to the community but currently services are only available open once a month due to the poor structural conditions which are making it unsafe and impractical for the Health Surveillance Assistant (HSA) to work there. This project will improved the building by installing window frames and glass, doors for safety and privacy, replace the roofing on the clinic and toilet.
This project is underway – check back soon for an update!
Ngadziwa Community Under 5 Clinic project
A grant of £1000 to support the Ngadziwe, Traditional Authority Kanduku, Mwanza District.
Ellen Kachira, Corps Africa volunteer, explained that this project focused on renovating and rehabilitating an under-5 clinic serving four villages within Ngadziwe. The clinic is a vital healthcare facility for expectant mothers, children under 5 years old, and women seeking family planning services, serving 1,500 community members but the building had structural issues, including cracks in the walls and an unsafe, leaking roof. The renovation work included repairing structural cracks, repairing the roof and roof beams to ensure stability and weatherproofing, and then repainting the interior and exterior of the building to improve the clinic’s environment and hygiene standards.
Chitolechi Community Clinic toilet block project
A grant of £890 to support the construction of a new toilet at the Luziwazi Clinic, Chitolechi Village, Traditional Authority Kaluluma, Kasungu District.
Hannah Katanga, Corps Africa volunteer, explained that the Luziwazi Clinic provides healthcare to approx. 500 households with visiting services once a month. However, due to growing demand for child health services, the Ministry of Health has approved its expansion to function as a daily under-five clinic but there is no functioning pit latrine to support its new daily operations. The absence of a toilet compromises infection prevention and control and increases vulnerability to sanitation-related diseases such as cholera, diarrhoea and typhoid. The FOMA grant will assist the community in creating a new toilet block and help to provide safe, dignified and gender-responsive sanitation facilities for all clinic users.
This project is underway – check back soon for an update!
Emanyaleni Community toilet block project
A grant of £1000 to support the Emanyaleni Primary School, Engucwini, Mzimba District
Greciano Hezekiah, Corps Africa volunteer, explained that at Emanyaleni Primary School there are only three functional toilets which is contributing to concerns about the state of sanitation and health risks to the entire school population. Furthermore, the overcrowding compromises privacy and dignity, especially for girls, whose education is consistently disrupted by inadequate sanitation provisions. The project will see the construction of two new lavatory blocks, each comprising three cubicles, resulting in a total of six new toilets.
This project is underway – check back soon for an update!
Chozoli School toilet block project
A grant of £1000 to support the construction of new toilet blocks at Chizoli School, Rumphi District.
Catherine Nserebo, Corps Africa volunteer, explained that a shortage of toilet facilities at Chozoli School was impacting on learners. The community prioritised the project to construct two new blocks and helped to provide in-kind donations while the FOMA grant was used building materials. The toilet blocks are now in use and directly benefitting 549 learners by reducing congestion at existing toilets and reducing open defecation therefore contributing to a safer and healthier learning environment that is better supporting learning and school attendance.
Ighembe Primary School project
A grant of £1000 to support the renovation of the school classroom at Ighembe Primary School, Kaporo, Karonga District.
Given Kafotokoza, Corps Africa volunteer, explained that at the school has learners from 5 surrounding villages but that capacity to deliver quality education is severely undermined by inadequate and deteriorating infrastructure. Of the existing classroom blocks, the one accommodating Standard 6 and Standard 7 constructed through community efforts remain incomplete, with no proper windows, doors, or plastered walls, leaving learners exposed to wind, dust, cold, and distractions. This project seeks to complete these two classrooms to restore dignity to the learning environment and give students a fair chance to learn in clean, safe, and comfortable spaces.
This project is underway – check back soon for an update!
Chiwisi Junior School project
A grant of £1000 to support the renovation of the school classroom at Chiwisi Junior School, Mzimba District.
Jacqueline Kalinde, Corps Africa volunteer, explained that the school has large numbers of young learners but the building is in poor condition and is overcrowded making it difficult for learners to concentrate and actively participate in lessons. The community agreed that renovations were needed and the FOMA grant will assist their efforts in repairing classroom walls through plastering and painting, resurfacing the floor, and painting blackboards. Old window spaces will also be modified to improve ventilation and natural lighting throughout the block. This will allow children, especially Standard 1 learners, to sit comfortably, concentrate better, and participate more actively in lessons.
This project is underway – check back soon for an update!
Euthini Primary School project
A grant of £1000 to support repairs to a storm damaged classroom at the Primary School, Euthini Community, Traditional Authority Chindi, Mzimba District.
Adson Mlangani, Corps Africa volunteer, explained that the school’s Standard 1 classroom block was severely damaged in April 2025, when strong winds blew off the roof, broke window panes and doors, and damaged internal plaster. It rendered the classroom unusable and learners had to be relocated to other standard classes, resulting in severe overcrowding. The project aims to repair the damaged classroom block by replacing the roof structure and iron sheets, installing new windows & doors, re-plastering and repainting the classroom.
This project is underway – check back soon for an update!
Chewere Community project
A grant of £995 to support classroom improvements at the Primary School in Chewere Community, Karonga District.
Abdul Soabir Shaani, Corps Africa volunteer, explained that at Chewere school all pupils/learners currently sit on the bare floor, as there are no desks or chairs available in any classroom. The floors are rough, unfinished, and filled with stones, which causes discomfort, health concerns, poor posture, and makes teaching and learning extremely challenging. This situation particularly affects young learners, who struggle to sit for long periods, resulting in low concentration and decreased classroom engagement.
The project will renovate the classrooms and provide a better learning environment.
This project is underway – check back soon for an update!
Mbenjere Primary School project
A grant of £1000 to support the building of a classroom extension at Mbenjere Primary School, Nkhuna Community, Traditional Authority Liwonde, Machinga District.
Bertha Sitolo, Corps Africa volunteer, explained that at Mbenjere school serves 17 surrounding villages with over 950 students attending. However, there are only two permanent classroom blocks and with continued population growth and limited infrastructure, most learners still learn in temporary grass-thatched structures. The community were committed to developing better facilities, and so with assistance from the FOMA grant will be able to combine the locally sourced materials with purchased building supplied to complete the improvement work.
This project is underway – check back soon for an update!
Michodwe Primary School project
A grant of £865 to support Michodwe Primary School, Traditional Authority Liwonde, Machinga District.
Nora Chikonda, Corps Africa volunteer, explained that at Michodwe school two of the classroom blocks are not fit for learners – they lack proper flooring, have cracked, broken walls and there are no functional chalkboards. The poor conditions mean an unsafe and uncomfortable learning environment and many learners are absent. The FOMA grant will help to purchase the additional materials such as cement, paint, chalkboard paint and lime to renovate the building.
This project is underway – check back soon for an update!
Mkhula Primary School project
A grant of £1000 to support the renovation Mkhula Primary School, Mulalo Village, Traditional Authority Mwadzama, Nkhotakota District.
Edina Mponda, Corps Africa volunteer, explained that at Mkhula school the damage to a classroom was so severe it was not safe to use and that structural concerns for other classrooms made this a priority project for the community. The FOMA grant was used for renovations including construction of a drainage channel, installing a new floor, doors and windows, wall re-plastering, replacement of damaged roof timbers, classroom painting and chalkboards.
The community were very committed to supporting the project with both in-kind and cash to help pay for labour and transport. The renovated classrooms are in use, helping to reduce overcrowding in other classrooms enabling students to learn.
Tawina CBCC renovation project
A grant of £975 to support the renovation of Tawina Community Based Childcare Centre (CBCC) renovation project, Kazembe Community, Zomba District.
Temwa Phiri, Corps Africa volunteer, explained that due to the poor condition of the CBCC, they had been forced to conduct the children’s learning outdoors on the ground. In rainy season, classes are often disrupted negatively affecting children’s learning and development. The FOMA grant was used to cement the classroom floor, plaster the walls, install doors and windows, and replace the roof. It also helped purchase classroom furniture and a blackboard. The community contributed through both cash to help pay skilled workers and in-kind support such as provision of sand, water and bricks to the construction site.
The refurbished centre now provides 32 children and their 10 caregivers with a safe and reliable place to learn.
Kanyere School Roof project
A grant of £1000 to support the renovation of Kanyerere Primary School roof, Mjuma Community, Rumphi District.
Lesia Chauluka, Corps Africa volunteer, explained that the roof was infested with termites making the building unsafe and unhabitable for school activities. The FOMA grant assisted by supporting the removal of the existing roofing before new treated timbers were installed, and the roofing sheets replaced. In addition the classroom doors were repaired and walls painted. The community provided sand and bricks as in-kind contributions to support construction activities.
The renovated classroom block now provides a more secure and comfortable environment for the 100 learners and teachers in Standard 5 and 6.
Lompwa Community Under 5 Clinic
A grant of £1000 to support the renovation of Lompwa under 5 Clinic in Traditional Authority Area M’biza, Zomba District.
Loveness Gama, Corps Africa volunteer, stated the project was identified by the community in response to inadequate access to maternal and child healthcare services within the Lompwa community. A building was started but remained unfinished and unusable.
The FOMA grant supported the installation of roofing, flooring, windows, doors, and plastering of the walls to make it a functional clinic able to offer essential health services, including immunisation, antenatal and postnatal care, nutritional support, and family planning to over 650 people in the local area.
Kasumbu Community Day Secondary School
A grant of £1000 to support the renovation of girls’ change rooms & toilet at Kasumbu Secondary School in Traditional Authority Area Kasumbu, Dedza District, Malawi
Lucius Mponda, Corps Africa volunteer, explained that the project was chosen through consultations with the headteacher, teachers, and the school management committee in how to address the problem of female students’ absenteeism due to lack private, safe, and hygienic facilities to manage menstruation on school premises. The project involved the excavation of a new pit latrine, construction of cubicles with doors and roofing paid from the FOMA grant while the community contributed bricks, sand and labour. With the new toilet block completed, female students can access the facilities easily and reduce the number of school missed.
Chisumbu Primary School
A grant of £1000 to support the renovation of classrooms at Muwula School in Majaliro Community, Karonga.
Chakufwa Mwasinga & Tadala Ngopola, Corps Africa volunteers, were jointly responsible for leading the project alongside the community who had unanimously identified the construction of new
washrooms at Chisumbu Primary School as a priority project due to the poor condition of the existing
sanitation facilities. The FOMA grant enabled the excavation of a new latrine pit and construction of the walls, followed by a roof installation, doors, plastering and painting.
2025 Projects Summary
Majaliro Community
A grant of £1000 to support the renovation of classrooms at Muwula School in Majaliro Community, Karonga.
Gift Kholowa, Corps Africa volunteer, explained that Muwula Primary School has three classroom blocks, but only one is fully operational, the other two blocks, constructed through community efforts, remain incomplete. This is hindering students’ learning and causing a high drop-out rate. The FOMA grant helped to install a new floor, doors and windows, plaster the walls and put up chalkboards to transform the learning environment and encourage students back to school.
Mpisi Community
A grant of £1000 to support the renovation of Chibwata Under 5 healthcare clinic in Mpisi Village, Dowa.
Malongo Kayira, Corps Africa volunteer, explained that Chibwata Clinic offers health services such as under 5 health checks, vaccinations, nutritional assessments, cervical cancer screening and prenatal care for pregnant women. However, the conditions of the clinic building were not good, there were no doors or windows, the floor was damaged, and roof timbers deteriorating leaving people at risk and forced to access healthcare elsewhere. With the FOMA grant, the facility has been renovated making the clinic safer and useable once again.
Bowa School
A grant of £975 to support the renovation of classroom block at Bowa Primary School, T/A Kayenda, Dwangwa.
Harrison Mathews, Corps Africa volunteer, stated that in early 2024, the Dwangwa area was heavily affected by floods and many buildings, including Bowa Primary School, were damaged. One of the classroom blocks developed cracked walls and broken roof meaning it was not safe to use for teaching in and students therefore had to be taught outside instead. The FOMA grant helped to renovate the classroom block and return it to the students as a conducive learning environment.
Kanoni Village
A grant of £800 to support the renovation of toilets at Chioko School, Kanoni Village, Mchinji.
Devlin Sapuwa, Corps Africa volunteer, working in Kanoni Community stated that Chioko Primary School provides education to approximately 1000 students but that the school premises lack adequate toilet facilities. The existing toilets were in poor condition leading to poor sanitation and privacy, especially for girls during their menstrual period, and overall negatively affect the students’ health, attendance and performance at school. Therefore, the community proposed to renovate the toilets and applied for a FOMA grant which assisted in purchasing the construction materials needed to rebuild the structure and give a functioning toilet facility back to the school.
Chiondwe School
A grant of £1000 to support the purchase of desks for Chiondwe Primary School, Mzimba.
Prosper Chikapa, Corps Africa volunteer, explained that at Chiondwe Primary School students in Standard 5 had to sit on the classroom floor due to a lack of adequate desks and this hindered students’ ability to focus and learn effectively. A FOMA grant helped purchase desks to give students proper seating and allow them to concentrate better on their studies. Once the desks were delivered, the school held an assembly on ‘desk care’ for all students and teachers.
“A desk is a little world of its own, a place where dreams are crafted and futures are built.”
Mlindi Primary School
A grant of £1000 to support the renovation of a classroom block at Mlindi Primary School, Magaleta Village, Neno.
Bernadette Mponda, Corps Africa volunteer, described that one of the school buildings is old and damaged, with visible cracks, no windows, and broken floors. Students sat on the floor and often during the rainy season the roof leaked disrupting learning activities. The FOMA grant helped to improve the learning environment by repairing the roof, floor and windows.
Benga Community Based Childcare Centre
A grant of £995 to support the renovation of the Njerwa CBCC centre in Benga Community, Nhkotakota.
Esther Gansalu, Corps Africa volunteer, explained that the Njewa Community-Based Childcare Centre (CBCC), provides early childhood education to children under five years of age, however, the room used for learning has broken floors, no windows, poor ventilation and lighting. Children sat on worn-out sack mats, which were unhygienic and uncomfortable, limiting their focus on learning. The community applied for the FOMA grant to help install breeze blocks and proper ventilation, fix the flooring and providing age-appropriate learning materials such as preschool teaching murals. These improvements have enhanced the children’s safety and comfort, and provided a new learning environment for them.
Kasumba Community
A grant of £1000 to support the construction of toilets at Liphupwe School in Kasumba Community, Dedza.
Francois Nganbonziza, Corps Africa volunteer, described the situation at the school where 1,600 learners face severe sanitation issues as there are only six toilets available. Students are placed at risk of poor hygiene practices and waterborne diseases such as diarrhoea and cholera which lead to frequent absences, poor academic performance and serious health complications. The FOMA grant helped tackle these urgent issues by constructing further blocks of toilets, helping to create a healthier and more inclusive learning environment.
Chisamba Village
A grant of £1000 grant to support the purchase and installation of solar irrigation pump for Chisambe Village, Lilongwe.
Chikondi Chisale, Corps Africa volunteer, working within Chisamba described the village’s enthusiasm to establish a community farming club but the lack of a reliable irrigation system to ensure crops grow well meant a limited ability to sell surplus produce at market. The FOMA grant assisted in purchasing the materials necessary to install a solar pump and after group training, the farmers have been irrigating their crops. Better yields since the pump was installed have allowed the farming club to sell crops at market and with extra income have improved living standards and food security.
Tambala Under 5 Clinic
A grant of £905 to support the renovation of the Under 5 Clinic in Tambala Community, Mulanje.
Maria Kadango, Corps Africa Volunteer, stated that the existing under-five clinic was not in a safe and functional state, The FOMA funded renovation project will help return it to a reliable healthcare facility through the installation of doors, windows and repairs to the roof. The addition of storage space will help to create a functional work environment and improve the services the clinic can provide including under-five care, general outpatient care, maternal health services, and youth-friendly healthcare.
2024 Projects Summary
Kadyalunda Community
A grant of £1000 to support the construction of toilets at the Kadyalunda healthcare clinic in Balaka District.
Bertha Khuwi, Corps Africa Volunteer, explained until 2023 women and children under five were travelling approximately 10 kilometres to get to the nearest health facility to access medical care. A previous CorpsAfrica project saw the construction of a new clinic and the provision of long-awaited services, but with ongoing threat of cholera the community expressed concerns about the lack of sanitation facilities on site and resolved to address the issue by constructing toilets.
The community provided river sand, made bricks and assisted with the construction of two toilet blocks that are now in use, significantly improving the health and quality of life at the clinic.
Chilembwe Community Based Child Care Centre
A grant of £953 to support the construction of a kitchen for the Chilembwe Community Based Child Care Centre at Ntaja near Liwonde in Machinga District.
Precious Nthondowa, Corps Africa Volunteer, said that the Chilembwe CBCC plays a pivotal role in providing essential care and support to the children of the community but, due to the lack of a proper cooking facilities providing food is challenging, particularly in poor weather conditions. Lack of storage means supplies are kept off site as they are not secure. To address these challenges, the community proposed the construction of a kitchen with a storage room at the CBCC premises to help provide a better environment for meal preparation and feeding the children.
In June 2024, the community came together to begin the construction by clearing the land, making bricks, providing sand, water and labour. By August 2024 the new kitchen building, with a secure storeroom, was completed and is now in use helping to provide a better facility for cooking the children’s meals.
Kasumba Community
A grant of £857 to support the construction of a classroom block at Liphuphwe primary school, Kasumba, Dedza District.
Wezi Phiri, Corps Africa Volunteer, explained that Liphuphwe Primary school has 3 classroom blocks but, that with over 1300 students, these are insufficient to provide enough space and that the building is damaged making it difficult for students with disabilities to enter the classes.
Renovating the school block has helped make teaching and learning easier, safer and comfortable for everyone. As part of the project the classroom floors and the black boards have been repaired, the wall repainted with lime and new doors with locks installed. The direction of the doors was also changed from facing the road side which was not conducive for the learners. The community and school authority worked hand in hand to complete the work and an official handover ceremony has taken place.
Nyundo Community
A grant of £1000 to support the construction of an Under 5 Clinic for Nyundo Community, Nsakambewa, Dowa District.
Chikondi Dula, Corps Africa Volunteer, said that while Under 5 services are available in Nyundo, Health Surveillance Assistants are forced to conduct these in the open rather than a safe environment as no clinic exists. In times of extreme weather services are cancelled leaving the community without care or having to travel to Dowa Hospital or Dzaleka camp to seek medical services. With the construction of a clinic, routine check-ups, immunizations, growth monitoring, nutritional assessments, treatment of common childhood illnesses and health education as well as family planning services will be able to take place.
In August 2024 the construction of the new clinic was completed, along with a storage room to provide a safe space to keep equipment and toilets to improve sanitation. The clinic is now able to cater for health care workers providing services and also acts as hub for community engagement and health education.
Chiphazi Primary School
A grant of £1000 to support the rebuilding of a classroom at Chiphazi Primary School in Kaphuka, Dedza District.
Linda Malima, Corps Africa Volunteer, explained that Chiphazi Primary School was founded in the early 1990s and provides education to approximately 1000 students. However, the classroom blocks do not provide enough space for all classes and consequently some teaching takes place outside under trees or in a small shelter. Knowing a better solution was needed, the community worked together to make bricks for constructing walls and requested assistance to reconstruct the roof, add windows and doors.
In August 2024, the construction work was completed and the classroom block now has new walls and a new roof. Window blocks and doors have been put in place and overall the building is now a much more conducive learning environment for over 200 students.
Kanoni Village
A grant of £1000 to support the installation of water handpumps in Kanoni Village, Mchinji District.
Deusederatta Malele, Corps Africa Volunteer described access to clean water as presenting a significant challenge to the residents of Kanoni. The two existing wells serve the entire community and lack any form of water treatment meaning there is a persistent risk to health due to contaminated water.
The proposed project will address the issue by undertaking the excavation and installation of four hand pumps and water treatment facilities to improve access to clean water, help mitigate the health risks associated with waterborne diseases and enhance the overall quality of life for the community members.
In July 2024 the new wells had been dug and soon after the concrete base and pumps were installed. Deusederatta Malele reported back that the pumps are now providing clean and safe drinking water thereby improving community health and school attendance. The active participation and contributions of the community have been crucial to the project’s success, fostering a strong sense of ownership and empowerment.
Iyela Community
A grant of £586 to support the construction of an Under 5 clinic for Iyela community, Chitipa District
Lara Mugula, Corps Africa Volunteer explained that the Iyela Community has struggled for many years with the lack of a proper health facility meaning people must walk 15-20 kms to the District Hospital. This means pregnant women and children often can not access essential services such as vaccinations, preventative care, and treatment for common illnesses such as diarrhoea, eye infections & malaria.
This project involved renovating a building to become a new Under 5 clinic. It included rebuilding parts of the structure, fixing the roof, floors & doors, repainting & plastering walls and installation of electrical wiring and sockets. Lara Mugala reported that now the clinic is open, it is offering expanded services, including testing for diabetes and blood pressure. alongside better healthcare services for women and children, such as prenatal and postnatal care, contraceptives, and vaccinations. In addition, two toilet blocks have been built to contribute to better sanitation for patients at the clinic.
2023 Projects Summary
Makoka School
A grant of £720 to support the construction of pit latrines at Makoka School, Zomba.
Wonderful Mudolo, CorpsAfrica volunteer, expressed the concerns of the community at the lack of sanitation facilities at Makoka School, especially with the cholera outbreak affecting the area placing the school children vulnerable to diseases and infections. In order to solve this problem, Makoka community members identified the Pit Latrine project to constructing six new toilets and a girls changing room with the aim of improving the sanitation and hygiene for pupils.
The construction activities for both the boys’ and girls’ latrines were completed by the contractors. With the plastering and painting as finishing touches, the new toilets were opened for use and are helping to improve sanitation at the school.
Ntonya Village
A grant of £545 to support the construction and renovation of under-5 health centre for Ntonya Village, Mulanje.
Hope Ngondo, CorpsAfrica volunteer working with Ntonya village describes the lack of healthcare services for children under the age of five as a serious and pressing issue. The clinic in the community is in bad shape, with worn-out walls, no windows and floor – it is not safe to use. This means people must travel at least 7km on foot to get medical care. Renovation of the under 5 clinic will involve a new floor, windows, doors and re-doing the roof.
This project is currently underway – we recently received this update report: Approximately half the work is now completed. The building has had a first coat of lime paint, next the doors will be installed to ensure the building’s functionality and safety.
Kadyalunda Community
A grant of £800 to support the construction of bridge for Kadyalunda Community, Balaka.
Wongani Mwasinga, CorpsAfrica volunteer in Kadyalunda community reports that the lack of a bridge across the Ntchesa River means that people are forced to use longer routes, especially during the rainy season, making it hard for students to get to school, for the community to get to the markets, the graveyard and medical help. So, the decision to construct an overhead bridge was made and the FOMA grant will assist in construction.
The bridge construction project began in May 2023 by clearing the construction site and excavating the foundations. Construction of the bridge was completed on 17th June 2023 and then finally a sign post installed. The project has benefitted 8750 community members in Kadyalunda.
Makanani Community
A grant of £890 to support the construction of a bridge for Makanani Community, Mwanza.
Prisca Kadawati, CorpsAfrica volunteer working with the community reports that the Nyagambe River causes problems and concern in rainy reason when it floods, preventing people crossing safely to school, to the market and to access health services. Therefore, it is with all these reasons that the community came up with the idea to build a bridge on the river. They started by collecting border stones in 2022 and they have shown commitment to assisting in the construction.
This project started in May 2023 with the the site being cleared and foundations laid. The pillars were constructed and finally the concrete slab prepared. Once it was set and dry a new sign post was added and the bridge opened for use.
Chipata Village
A grant of £790 to support the construction of an Under-5 health clinic for Chipata Village, Kasungu.
Khumbolawo Mkochi, CorpsAfrica volunteer in Chipata village explained that the aim of the Chilamphuma Under-5 clinic project is to essentially finish the construction by providing a roof and cemented floor. The building was started in 2013 by the community members but due to a lack of funds it sits unfinished, and due to this, women and children are forced to access medication, basic counselling, under-5 and family planning services at the Mission hospital 15 km walk away.
This project was completed in August 2023 and the building is now in use holding the Under-5 clinic.
Huwa Village
A grant of £850 to support the construction of an Under-5 health clinic in Huwa Village, Dedza.
Washington Chifunda, CorpsAfrica volunteer in Huwa village explains that the Health Surveillance Assistants assigned to this area are meeting a lot of challenges as they were working under trees only with no proper health facility. The community decided on the health shelter because it improve the health services to include health education, immunization, growth monitoring, prenatal and postnatal care, disease surveillance, nutrition, water and sanitation, contraceptive distribution, and treatment of minor diseases among under 5 children.
The building has now been finished and the community enjoyed an opening ceremony at the end of July 2023.
2022 Projects Summary
ANNIKA Children’s Initiatives
A grant of £1000 to support repairs to the Primary School in Chingoli Community, Mulanje.
Luke Namangale, Board Member of Annika, reports: In January 2022 Malawi was heavily hit by tropical cyclone Ana. One of the most affected areas was in the southern region in the districts of Phalombe, Chikwawa and Mulanje. Chingoli Primary School, in Mulanje, was greatly affected with the classrooms filled with water up to window level which resulted in the development of cracks in the school block walls.
The impact of the funding has been tremendously good and this project has been a success. It has increased the space for leaners with over 100 kids now using this classroom because of the grant from FOMA.
Chiondwe Village
A grant o f £930 to support the completion of a construction project involving a warehouse and a childcare centre in Chiondwe community, Mzimba.
Thokozani Chepuka, CorpsAfrica Volunteer described the main aim of the project was to improve early childhood education outcomes and economic activity among community members which will in turn improve livelihoods. The FOMA grant was used to purchase cement, timber, lime and iron sheets while the community made contributions of £150 towards costs and in-kind donations of sand, bricks, and labour.
Kadyalunda Village
A grant of £1000 to support the construction of a Child Care Centre for Kadyalunda Community, Balaka
Adorah Maere, CorpsAfrica Malawi volunteer reported: The project involved finishing off a building that was not in a good condition and turning it into a nursery school for the community. The grant helped the building to get a new roof, plastering and painting of the walls, cement floor, windows and doors. The community provided bricks, sand and water which were all calculated in kind as their contribution. The construction of the CBCC means a population of about 83 children can learn comfortably and approximately 300 community members are also able to use the building for other meetings.
Mpulula Village
A grant of £820 to support the construction of a timber bridge for Mpulula village, Ntcheu.
Umusa N’goma, CorpsAfrica Malawi volunteer explained: The river in the village has been a problem for many years and during the rainy season children do not go to school because of the inaccessibility caused by the river. Construction of a bridge was well needed. With the FOMA grant received we purchased materials such as 64 bags of cement, a drainage pipe and nails. The community managed to work as a team and start the construction work. – the turn-up was impressive!
Chiyenda Village
A grant of £275 to assist in the installation of a water tap for Chiyenda village, Mchinji.
Funani Matemba, CorpsAfrica Malawi volunteer with Chiyenda village explained that most people were relying on a well as their main water source placing them at risk of waterborne diseases. The community agreed that there would be much benefit in installing a water pipe to connect to tap water 1km away. They identified the land to use, dug the drainage channels, provided bricks and contributed cash donations towards the total budget. The project has benefitted approximately 100 people, providing clean water and reducing the distance they walk to collect it.
Chikonde Youth Organisation
A grant of £1000 to support the construction of a Community Based Child Care Centre (CBCC) in Seunda village, Zomba.
Grace Sichinga, CorpsAfrica Malawi volunteer explained that working through the Chikonde Youth Organization (CYO) the community came together to help construct the building known as the Miracle Community Based Childcare Centre. The project’s main objective was to improve the standard of early childhood education at Miracle Nursery School to approximately 85 children. The parents/guardians of these students will also benefit from this project as the burden of providing grass, poles and plastic to thatch the local classrooms every year is now over as the school has been roofed.
LICODO
A grant of £860 to support the construction of two period friendly toilets for girls at Ligowe Community Day Secondary School, Neno District.
Kaitano Maison, CorpsAfrica Malawi volunteer explained: The single toilet used by the girls at the school fell down due to heavy storm in 2022 forcing the girls to go home for toilet use. The school also had no changing room for girls during menstruation. These affected the girls’ education since they missed class lessons. To solve the problem, the community contributed sand, bricks, quarry, water and labour and with the help of the FOMA grant, the new toilets were constructed. At least 100 girls have started using the two toilets and changing room hence thie grant has greatly improved the sanitation, menstrual hygiene and education of girls at Ligowe CDSS.
2020 Project Summary
Siyombwe Clinic
A grant of £800 to support the purchase of construction materials to complete building a health clinic for the Siyombwe Community in Chitipa District.
Lucky Katundu, CorpsAfrica volunteer working with the community, reported: The Siyombwe Clinic was initially started in 2000 but had no paved floor, no doors, no windows and was not plastered – meaning there was no privacy and prevented people from seeking medical help. It was this that inspired the Ungweru Youth Organisation in collaboration with CorpsAfrica Malawi to approach FOMA for a grant. With the successful rebuilding the clinic now serves over 1000 people.