The Japanese government on Wednesday called on the Malawian authorities to strengthen its disaster management system in the face of an increase in the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events.Japanese ambassador Kae Yanagisawa said the southern African country should be well-prepared in reducing the risks of disasters.
“People should be well-equipped with full information and how to manage them before they are hit by the disasters,” Yanagisawa said as she handed over drought relief items to Malawi’s Department of Disaster Management Affairs in Lilongwe.
She said Japan is equally prone to natural disasters but has managed to minimise the risks by emphasizing on preparedness and other measures.
Malawi Vice President Everton Chimlirenji said his government has prioritized disaster risk management in its development blueprint, the Malawi Growth and Development Strategy.
He revealed that one of the measures is the recent approval of Malawi’s disaster risk management policy, which aims to effectively coordinate programmes aimed at building resilience of communities and the nation.
“The policy outlines the country’s priority areas and strategies to build a nation resilient to disasters,” he said.
Malawi is one of the countries in southern Africa that have been repeatedly hit by natural disasters such as floods, prolonged dry spells, pests and diseases’ outbreaks, strong winds and earthquakes.
Euthini Secondary School in Mzimba has had a fully-funded computer lab installed thanks to funding provided by Cardiff-based not-for-profit, Power2Africa.
The Turing Trust finished the installation of this facility in early October, as part of Power2Africa’s first wave of funded projects which will see more than £67,000 invested in community projects across Africa.
In addition to computers, Power2Africa also provided intensive training for the computer lab teacher to ensure that learning opportunities are maximised, and the machines are maintained
This £7,000 computer lab provides more than 560 students per year with the opportunity to learn new skills and access to a vast eLibrary of educational content.
The hope is that this resource will allow students to learn vital digital skills that enable them to attend University in Malawi.
By delivering a framework that ensures a sustainable IT future for Euthini Secondary School, this computer lab will benefit future generations of students allowing the school to deliver ICT for years to come.
Nick Proctor, founder of Power2Africa and CEO of amber energy, said:
“It’s hugely gratifying to see what an impact Power2Africa can have. This new computer lab will provide the community with access to resources that we take for granted in the UK, letting them go on to further education or follow a new career path.
“In just a few years, we’ve set up community projects that positively impact more than 2,000 people a day. It’s incredible to think about how much good can be done simply by putting a small percentage of business’s energy savings into these projects.”
James Turing, founder, Turing Trust, said:
“I’m delighted to see the partnership between the Turing Trust and amber energy come to life in Malawi through the Power2Africa project.
“Thanks to this innovative initiative, Power2Africa has installed a reused computer lab at Euthini Secondary School in Euthini, Mzimba, North Malawi on the 14th October. Now the 562 students at Euthini will begin learning computer studies for the first time using their projector and network that enables access to a vast eLibrary of content.
“Beyond this fantastic social impact by reusing and refurbishing ICT equipment from the UK, this project has made a significant environmental impact. This circular economy approach to ICT has offset six tonnes of CO2 emissions, which is the equivalent of planting 15 trees. At the same time, the energy savings created are enough to power a home in the UK for a whole year!”
Preparations are well in place for a second project that will see another school receive a solar-powered IT classroom.
The Winchester School, Jebel Ali, a GEMS Education school in Dubai, has raised has Dh132,000 to support the education programmes for underprivileged children in rural Malawi.
The initiative, in association with Dubai Cares, is part of the ‘Adopt a School’ programme targeting children in developing countries and providing them with primary education and thereby contributing to Sustainable Development Goal 4 – Quality Education for All.
Consistently ranked among the world’s 20 least developed countries on the UN’s Human Development Index, the Southeast African country of Malawi has long been challenged by economic stagnation and a lack of access to education. The project will improve the infrastructure of school classrooms and provide a safe and sanitary area for children to learn and for teachers to teach.
Deputy Ambassador Andrew Chefukwa , receiving the cheque
The Winchester School, Jebel Ali has been a regular contributor to Dubai Cares in previous years but in September 2018, the school decided that this year they would to adopt a school. In the months that followed, the Senior Leadership Team, school staff, students and Parent Representative Group of the school have been collectively working on different projects to collect the requisite funds. Some of the main events organised were the Annual Fun Fair, bake sales, each department enterprising events, like Garba evening, movie nights and many more to support the “Adopt A School” project.
One of the prominent contributors to the cause was, WINshares, a group consisting of 45 students from Year 1 to Year 13 who collected gently used books and sold them at community events within and outside school. Raising AED 16,100 through the book sales, the students also promoted sustainability and love for reading.
The cheque handing over ceremony held on December 5 was attended by Zainab Faraidooni, Deputy Director of the Fundraising Department, Dubai Cares, Ranju Anand, the Vice President of Schools, GEMS Education and Andrew Chefukwa, Vice Consul, Embassy of Malawi. The ceremony was also attended by the student leaders, school leaders and parent representatives.
Faraidooni said, “I’d like to thank The Winchester School, Jebel Ali. It’s because of individuals like you that has enabled us to reach 18 million beneficiaries in 57 countries. Education is the greatest investment and today you’ve invested in the future of the children in Malawi.”
Meenakshi Dahiya, the Principal and CEO of The Winchester School, Jebel Ali applauded the collaborative efforts of the school community and expressed her appreciation for this opportunity afforded by Dubai Cares to make a difference in the lives of young children.
“The Winchester School, Jebel Ali has been engaged in a large number of activities to support Dubai Cares and we are very proud of our students, staff and parent community. I’m very proud that everyone- across year groups and departments- contributed to this cause. I’d like to thank each member of the Winchester family. Winchester believes in dreaming and aspiring. It’s a beautiful day to see a dream come to life and a commitment being fulfilled. We are motivated to set further targets for ourselves. We’ll continue to strive to contribute to Dubai Cares in bigger and bigger ways,” she said.
Chefukwa said in his address to the audience, “ On the behalf of Malawian government I would like to express my sincere thanks for what you’ve done for Malawi- the hope and happiness you’ve brought in the lives of the children of Malawi by investing your time and your resources.”
LILONGWE – United by a common purpose of restoring the glory to their former school, Bwaila secondary school Alumni, class of 1990, that graduated from the school in 1994, had a meeting on the weekend of 30 November to strategize on returning the school to its good old days.
The school, which has churned out Ministers like Ralph Jooma, Engineers like Charles Msusa and Soccer greats in the name of Young Chimodzi and Ganizani Masiye, is drowning in problems that range from dilapidating infrastructure to inadequate books.
The 1994 alumni mobilized the meeting through a WhatsApp group. The mobilization was a success as 22 former students from the class of 1990 showed up. The meeting rekindled old memories. Some of the alumnus had not seen each other since 1994 and meeting each other after 25 years brought smiles, jokes and lots of hugs.
Bwaila Class of 1990-94
“No way! This can’t be you Patrick!” Mtisunge Mipando, one of the alumnus that showed up on this day exclaimed with joy upon glancing at his roommate, Patrick Ulaya, he had last seen 25 years ago adding jokingly: “This pot belly of yours shows good economic well-being man!!
“No. It’s a sign my wife is taking good care of me.” Patrick responded jokingly stifling a laugh while feeling his pot belly. The rest burst into a chorus of laughter.
Apparently, Patrick Ulaya, is the chair of the grouping. In his interview with Nyasa Times, he disclosed that the class of 1990 is already actively involved in assisting the school.
“We contributed a little something which was used to paint the laboratory block,” Ulaya disclosed adding that the class of 1990 was very committed to helping the school reclaim its glory.
“We are what we are now because we had the privilege of passing through the corridors of this great school,” Kelvin Mponda, another Alumnus, told this reporter while taking ravenous gulps of the heavy stuff.
A tour of the school’s classrooms was depressing. All the classrooms had inadequate desks. Where desks were available, most were broken. The classrooms’ windows were all broken. The chairperson of the grouping disclosed that the head teacher had confessed to him that most students were sitting on the floor during lessons.
The 1994 Alumni have resolved to identify an area the school is struggling with and raise resources to sort. The group has also elected a Welfare Committee that outlines specifics on how they can assist one another in times of need.
The group was also entertained to old school music, courtesy of DJ Chipi Haji. They also had a sizzling barbecue and drinks.
Bwaila secondary school, established in 1962, has produced a number of high profile personalities in Malawi. It used to be a boarding school up until 1994 and the class of 1990 being the last cohort of students to enjoy boarding facilities.
Currently the school is run on double shifts schedules.
Malawi’s First Lady Professor Gertrude Mutharika has officially accepted her Honorary Professorship before students in the department of public health of Peking University in Peking, the People’s Republic of China.
The First Lady was honored with a Professorship in Public Health by the Peking University School of Public Health in November 2017. As part of the acceptance of the accolade, the University prepared a grand ceremony for her to address the students of the institution.
Among the invited dignitaries at the function which took place at the university’s campus were Prof Qimin Zhan, Executive Vice President of Peking University, Prof Qingyue Meng, Dean Of School Of Public Health, Jappie Mhango , Malawi’s Minister of Health and Population, Martha Ngwira , Malawi’s Deputy Minister Of Education, and Dr Robert Egolet, Head Of Peking Research In Malawi.
In her address, Professor Mutharika expressed gratitude to the president of the People’s Republic of China and the leadership of Peking University .
The First Lady, who is also the Patron of her charity Beam which focuses on girl-child education, environment and hygiene, also thanked President Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika for his inspiration both as President and husband.
After the extraordinary award presentation ceremony, the First Lady visited the university’s third hospital to appreciate the different innovations and advancement that the hospital has made and what it does in a bid to provide necessary support and care to those in need .
It was here that she was pleased to take note of what the facility is doing in breaking the chains of infertility through different innovations like in vitro fertilization.
This is in line with the First Lady’s task as the Ambassador of Merck, “More than a Mother” Initiative – which aims at breaking infertility stigma in Malawi.
