NANCHOLI YOUTH ORGANIZATION
The Country: MALAWI
Malawi is a subtropical country, landlocked and mountainous. It is one of the world’s least developed countries.
- Capital city: Lilongwe
- Malawi has a population of over 18 million in an area about the size of Cuba. A large part of that area is a huge lake called Lake Malawi. It provides abundant fish, a staple food along with tea, corn and potatoes.
- colonized by Britain. Received independence in 1964, at which time it became a one-party state. In 1994, a new constitution was adopted and Malawi became a multi-party democratic republic with a president.
- the flag has three stripes, black, red and green, with a rising sun in the black stripe.
- generally a poor country, most people are subsistence farmers and the life expectancy is 53 years. Chronic malnutrition is widespread, infant mortality is high and HIV/AIDS is highly prevalent.
-the main exports are tobacco, sugar, tea, and coffee.
-English is the official language however, it is only spoken by 0.2% of the population. 48% speak Chichewa, the language used in public elementary education.
- Since 1994, primary education has been free, becoming compulsory in 2012. By 2015 youth literacy had increased to 75%.
-the first European explorer to “discover” and map out Malawi was David Livingstone. His followers made so many converts that his legacy is “a church in every village”.
-needless to say, the main religion is Christianity (82.3) mixed with some tribal beliefs, and 11.6% are Muslim.
Nancholi District:
-located in the southern part of Malawi, Nancholi is a small rural district in the hills surrounding the city of Blantyre, the second largest city in Malawi and the commercial capital. Blantyre is named after the town in Scotland where Livingstone was born.
- health care, education and gender equality are huge issues in rural areas.
Nancholi Youth Organization:
- NAYO was started in 2004 by four youths who wanted to help those suffering from HIV/Aids by providing social, emotional, educational, and nutritional support. They had seen first-hand how the pandemic affected their families and villages but, as they dug deeper, they found problems challenging the whole community.
- as of 2018, the NGO had grown to over 175 volunteers, including many from around the world, and 10 paid staff.
- their vision is to promote behavioral changes in youth regarding HIV/AIDS, and other socio-economic issues affecting the youth and their community.
- NAYO is community-based and, although the focus is on youth, they provide resources for the whole community.
- as of 2018, they were working in 16 villages
The 5 pillars of NAYO:
1. a public health clinic for children under 5
2. a community-based childcare centre
3. water, sanitation and hygiene projects
4. youth activities
5. resource mobilization
-as of pre-COVID, more than 145 youth under 25 had benefited through activities such as music, drama, games, provision of condoms and HIV/AIDS education.
The focus is:
- prevent youth from becoming addicted to drugs and alcohol,
- build life skills,
- raise their standard of living.
To this end they have a Youth Friendly Centre with access to books and the internet, workshops on sex, life skills, gender issues, and a room for testing and accessing ARV’s.
-in the community, about 165 people living with HIV/AIDS receive a nutrition food supplement each month. Another 50 people are given education in nutrition and food preparation management.
-they offer school support at the secondary level including provision of fees, writing materials, uniforms, bags, and shoes.
-in 2015, with the help of student volunteers from the UK, they opened a vocational training centre to empower youth with technical and vocational skills that could lead to meaningful employment.
-care for orphans and vulnerable children, home based care, and income generating projects are also important.
-NAYO also recognizes the importance of empowering women to ensure their participation and contribution to society.
-in March of 2015 they were able to open a 5 room clinic for Antiretroviral Treatment in the heart of Nancholi District. This meant that clients did not have to travel many kilometres to receive this vital treatment. About 80 patients an hour can be seen.
-a blog dated October 2020 contained the news that they had joined with the government to provide 3 mobile health clinics so they could reach more villages. Now 38 villages could receive health care right in their area - no more traveling great distances for help.
-another aspect of their health care is palliative care for various diseases. This clinic helps over 1000 patients from 29 villages in the district and offers out-patient care when people are too sick to come or the distance is too great. They also offer some food supplies.
- a blog posted in 2020 said that unfortunately the clinic often does not have adequate medicines and patients need to be sent elsewhere. They are looking to partner with other organizations, especially to provide youth friendly health services.
Funding Partners:
-the SLF has worked with NAYO to boost the capacity of women and men in their communities and eradicate gender-based violence. They have helped the youth establish a Community Development Committee to spearhead development initiatives.
- other funding partners worldwide include: UNICEF, MSF, Feed the Children, and the World University Service of Canada.
New Projects:
-one of those funding partners is the Minga Foundation in California. With financial support from this Foundation, two new projects were started:
1. a menstrual pad factory and training program
2. youth radio programs focused on health and gender equality.
Presentation made by Connie Lacey and Deb Koegler to OMAS SISKONA of KW on October 19, 2022.
The Country: MALAWI
Malawi is a subtropical country, landlocked and mountainous. It is one of the world’s least developed countries.
- Capital city: Lilongwe
- Malawi has a population of over 18 million in an area about the size of Cuba. A large part of that area is a huge lake called Lake Malawi. It provides abundant fish, a staple food along with tea, corn and potatoes.
- colonized by Britain. Received independence in 1964, at which time it became a one-party state. In 1994, a new constitution was adopted and Malawi became a multi-party democratic republic with a president.
- the flag has three stripes, black, red and green, with a rising sun in the black stripe.
- generally a poor country, most people are subsistence farmers and the life expectancy is 53 years. Chronic malnutrition is widespread, infant mortality is high and HIV/AIDS is highly prevalent.
-the main exports are tobacco, sugar, tea, and coffee.
-English is the official language however, it is only spoken by 0.2% of the population. 48% speak Chichewa, the language used in public elementary education.
- Since 1994, primary education has been free, becoming compulsory in 2012. By 2015 youth literacy had increased to 75%.
-the first European explorer to “discover” and map out Malawi was David Livingstone. His followers made so many converts that his legacy is “a church in every village”.
-needless to say, the main religion is Christianity (82.3) mixed with some tribal beliefs, and 11.6% are Muslim.
Nancholi District:
-located in the southern part of Malawi, Nancholi is a small rural district in the hills surrounding the city of Blantyre, the second largest city in Malawi and the commercial capital. Blantyre is named after the town in Scotland where Livingstone was born.
- health care, education and gender equality are huge issues in rural areas.
Nancholi Youth Organization:
- NAYO was started in 2004 by four youths who wanted to help those suffering from HIV/Aids by providing social, emotional, educational, and nutritional support. They had seen first-hand how the pandemic affected their families and villages but, as they dug deeper, they found problems challenging the whole community.
- as of 2018, the NGO had grown to over 175 volunteers, including many from around the world, and 10 paid staff.
- their vision is to promote behavioral changes in youth regarding HIV/AIDS, and other socio-economic issues affecting the youth and their community.
- NAYO is community-based and, although the focus is on youth, they provide resources for the whole community.
- as of 2018, they were working in 16 villages
The 5 pillars of NAYO:
1. a public health clinic for children under 5
2. a community-based childcare centre
3. water, sanitation and hygiene projects
4. youth activities
5. resource mobilization
-as of pre-COVID, more than 145 youth under 25 had benefited through activities such as music, drama, games, provision of condoms and HIV/AIDS education.
The focus is:
- prevent youth from becoming addicted to drugs and alcohol,
- build life skills,
- raise their standard of living.
To this end they have a Youth Friendly Centre with access to books and the internet, workshops on sex, life skills, gender issues, and a room for testing and accessing ARV’s.
-in the community, about 165 people living with HIV/AIDS receive a nutrition food supplement each month. Another 50 people are given education in nutrition and food preparation management.
-they offer school support at the secondary level including provision of fees, writing materials, uniforms, bags, and shoes.
-in 2015, with the help of student volunteers from the UK, they opened a vocational training centre to empower youth with technical and vocational skills that could lead to meaningful employment.
-care for orphans and vulnerable children, home based care, and income generating projects are also important.
-NAYO also recognizes the importance of empowering women to ensure their participation and contribution to society.
-in March of 2015 they were able to open a 5 room clinic for Antiretroviral Treatment in the heart of Nancholi District. This meant that clients did not have to travel many kilometres to receive this vital treatment. About 80 patients an hour can be seen.
-a blog dated October 2020 contained the news that they had joined with the government to provide 3 mobile health clinics so they could reach more villages. Now 38 villages could receive health care right in their area - no more traveling great distances for help.
-another aspect of their health care is palliative care for various diseases. This clinic helps over 1000 patients from 29 villages in the district and offers out-patient care when people are too sick to come or the distance is too great. They also offer some food supplies.
- a blog posted in 2020 said that unfortunately the clinic often does not have adequate medicines and patients need to be sent elsewhere. They are looking to partner with other organizations, especially to provide youth friendly health services.
Funding Partners:
-the SLF has worked with NAYO to boost the capacity of women and men in their communities and eradicate gender-based violence. They have helped the youth establish a Community Development Committee to spearhead development initiatives.
- other funding partners worldwide include: UNICEF, MSF, Feed the Children, and the World University Service of Canada.
New Projects:
-one of those funding partners is the Minga Foundation in California. With financial support from this Foundation, two new projects were started:
1. a menstrual pad factory and training program
2. youth radio programs focused on health and gender equality.
Presentation made by Connie Lacey and Deb Koegler to OMAS SISKONA of KW on October 19, 2022.