Reflecting on 2020

As the sun sets on the year of 2020, we want to recognize the amazing work that has been accomplished in spite of the unique circumstances of this year. This is all possible thanks to your support! 

70,484 infants and children have been weighed and monitored

51,609 mothers were educated about nutrition and sanitation

35,124 babies have been immunized

4,715 books were checked out from the school libraries

1,415 orphans and vulnerable children are in school and receiving lunch each day

26 new health workers were trained in Malawi (doubling their numbers!)

12 scholars of the Girls Achievement Program (GAP) and general scholarship

graduated high school! 

6 sewing machines and supplies were provided, collectively making thousands of masks

this year (and will transition to income generating and teaching opportunities in

the future)

We feel truly grateful for you. You are supporting efforts that uplift and empower women and children, and that is a gift that lasts long-term! 

We look ahead to 2021 with hope and anticipation to continue implementing health care and education to those most vulnerable or lacking access. 

 

Celebrating students!

Students in Zamtan enjoying their celebratory lunch

December is a busy time for our Zambian students as their school year comes to a close and Grade 7’s face their exams. As a celebration of all their hard work, the Kafwa and teachers make sure to have a special meal on the last day of school! This celebration meal includes treats rarely on the menu, such as flavored drinks and meats. Each one of our sister schools prepares something special that the kids love! 

At our school in Kasompe, students were surprised and ecstatic to receive fried chicken as part of their celebration! Kafwa leader, Ireen, reported that most of the children have chicken only once every 4 or 5 months, or just on Christmas day. More than that, the process of making fried chicken from scratch (starting with live chickens) is quite a task in the best of kitchens...much less over a charcoal fire! Even still, the Kafwa lovingly began cooking at 5 am so that 60 chickens and sides would be ready for the students who so rarely receive such a treat. 

When you give to HealthEd Connect as an act of love, you recognize special celebrations like this one, but even more importantly, your gift provides long-lasting blessings of health and education for those who would otherwise lack access. Thank you for supporting our heroes and our friends - the community health workers, teachers, and students!

 

Seeing Double in Malawi!

 

Sinkhani in training! Weighing babies regularly allows health workers to track growth and identify malnutrition early on to prevent stunting. 

The Sinkhani health worker volunteers in Malawi have doubled their numbers! They’ve added 28 new volunteers to expand their ability to equip mothers and caregivers with health and nutrition education. Over the years, the Sinkhani have made it their primary goal to reduce the national rate of childhood and maternal malnutrition. The good news is, they are making progress! Ten years ago, the rate of stunting (children too short for one’s age, often linked with other developmental concerns) was 48%.[i] Today, the rate of stunting in children under five is 39%.[ii] Certainly an improvement, but malnutrition remains a serious issue leading to preventable child deaths. So, the work of prevention continues!

Recently, the new Sinkhani gathered for their first official health worker training, facilitated by the current Sinkhani volunteers, local government health officials, and community development instructors. Training topics included: sanitation, nutrition, immunization, oral rehydration therapy (to treat diarrhea), growth monitoring, and community health interviews. Training started immediately following the grand opening of the new Sinkhani Community Center and Under Five Clinic in Kazomba, Malawi! Sinkhani training was the perfect inaugural activity for their community center!

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[i] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6111268/

 [ii] https://globalnutritionreport.org/resources/nutrition-profiles/africa/eastern-africa/malawi/

Grand Opening in Malawi!

 

Grand opening of the Sinkhani Community Center in Malawi!

Sinkhani Community Center - Kazomba under five clinic, women and youth advocacy

After several delays due to the pandemic, the long-awaited day arrived for the Sinkhani community health worker volunteers to officially celebrate the opening of the Sinkhani Community Center in Kazomba, Malawi. You may have followed this journey with us, from the donation of land from the village chiefs, to the ground breaking of a community center for the purpose of health education, weighing and monitoring infants and children, basic health care, and group gatherings, such as support groups for orphans and vulnerable children. You may have even donated to HealthEd Connect to help with the project! We're so happy to share with you this news! And so happy for the Sinkhani and the community to celebrate this occasion and the many opportunities that the center will provide for the community! 

The opening ceremony included welcoming speeches by members of the Sinkhani board of directors, the village chiefs who donated the land, district health officials, and singing (of course!) by the Sinkhani volunteers and women from the community all welcoming this development. The district health official, as guest of honor, cut the ribbon opening the doors of the center for all! 

Stay tuned next week for an update on how the center was used immediately following this ceremony to host health worker training for new and veteran Sinkhani volunteers!