Mtambanyama Community Based Organisation
Mtambanyama was formed in 1996 and supports 570 people living with HIV/AIDS in the Thyolo district. In the Thyolo area they are faced with various difficulties brought on by HIV and AIDS including overcrowded hospitals leading to poor or non-existing care for those most in need, a lack of transport to take the sick to the hospital, and a high rate of school drop-outs due to orphaned children being forced to find manual work to support their families.
With support from ActionAid the organisation has made the following plans:
What we have achieved so far:
Child Based Community Centres
9 Centres were provided with food supplies (Likuni phala) benefiting more than 345 children. The programme was managed by school committee members surrounding the CBCCs and provided porridge to the children. The Njovu Child Based Community Centre has benefited from this programme. Gladys tells us about her experiences at the centre:
“My name is Gladys Lemison, I'm 34 years old and married with 4 children (3 boys and 1 girl). I come from Semu village which is close to the centre. When I heard that the centre required a volunteer to teach the children, I did not hesitate to submit my name knowing that I will be helping children of my own area. I started working at the centre in 2007 and at that time there were 40 children including orphans. The number of children has now reduced to 32 as some have graduated to primary schools. It was a blessing in 2008 when we saw the volunteers from Mtambanyama Aids Support organisation providing us with food supplies (Likuni Phala) for porridge, pots and plates. The communities surrounding the area organised themselves to prepare porridge for the children Monday to Friday. The mixing of orphans and those with parents has tremendously reduced stigma and discrimination among the children in the area and I thank the organisation for their support.”
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Home Based Care
- Supported the sick with food supplies, treatment and care covering 4 villages in Mtambanyama area.
- Developed links between the guardians and councilors
- VCT Centre established benefiting the surrounding 4 villages
Ruth benefits from the project and shares her thoughts:
“My name is Ruth Alfred 39 years old from Semu village. I was once married and had two children who unfortunately died. My husband divorced me in 2007 at a time when I was very sick. Esime Chimeta my mother who is over 70 years old looked after me. It has not been easy as she could stop doing all domestic work to take care of me. Our family started experiencing shortage of food as there was nobody to look for food to feed the family. In 2008 volunteers from Mtambanyama Aids Support group visited our home and they provided us with food supplies. I was advised to go to the nearest hospital for VCT where I was found positive and I am now on medication in the form of anti-retroviral drugs. I am now able to do some domestic work at home and started eating. If it was not for the volunteers who visited me for support and counseling in 2008 I believe I wouldn’t be here today.”
Vocational Skills training
27 young orphans (15 girls and 12 boys) from the 4 surrounding primary schools trained in tailoring. The training is done after classes and twice a week.
“My name is Aaron Mvulayatera, I am 15 years old and an orphan and I live with my old grandmother Tione Henry. We are 6 children 3 boys and 6 girls supported by her. I am in standard six and I happen to be one of the lucky ones benefiting from the tailoring training. I am happy that now I am able to make shorts and shirts which I sell for income to support my family. Shorts are sold at K40 and shirts K50. I use the money from sales to buy school books and materials and buy food to feed my family. After completion of the training I will continue tailoring so that I can complete my education. I would like to thank the organisation for organising this training which has really changed my life and this will allow other orphans to learn new skills to support themselves.”
