Marist Brothers in Malawi, with financial support from a United Kingdom (UK)-based charity organization – Beit Trust, have constructed and handed over a magnificent boys’ hostel at Malingunde School for the Blind in the outskirts of Malawi’s capital, Lilongwe.
The construction and donation of the hostel demonstrate the commitment of the religious brothers to supporting the Government of Malawi in promoting inclusive education because this is not the first time the Marist Brothers in Malawi to supported inclusive education.
Through the New Horizon Project, which phased out in December last year, they supported numerous underprivileged students with fees and learning materials.
In the hostel project, the Marist Brothers in Malawi sourced £80, 000 [approximately MK175 million] from Beit Trust.
Speaking after handing over the hostel to the learners and management at Malingunde School for the Blind, provincial councilor for Marist Brothers in Malawi, Brother Francis Jumbe, reaffirmed his congregation’s commitment to ensuring that every child gets education in Malawi.
Jumbe therefore thanked Beit Trust for providing funding for the hostel project, which was a result of the New Horizon Project, which the congregation implemented in selected schools in Dedza, Lilongwe, Salima and Zomba districts.
“When we had our closing ceremony for the New Horizon Project, we had an opportunity to interact with the regional representative of the funding agency. And in his in his speech, he encouraged us to think about inclusion, to think of projects that can take care of the disadvantaged members of our society, particularly children,” he explained.
Jumbe said his congregation is particularly happy that the contractor was able to finish the project in seven months instead of the agreed timeframe of 18 months.
“We’re very happy and grateful to Beit Trust that helped us to fulfill one of our obligations to really reach out to the less privileged of our society. So we are very excited that this project has come to a completion, and that the boys that will be sleeping living in this hostel,” he narrated.
In his remarks, Brother Patrick Banda, who managed the project on behalf of the Marist Brothers in Malawi, disclosed that instability of the local currency was one of the challenges that affected the implementation of the project.
However, Banda commended the collaboration that existed between the Marist Brothers, Malingunde School for the Blind and the Malingunde CCAP Church.
“It was really a very big challenge that I reached a moment whereby I was afraid that would not complete it. But thank God that we have managed it; the building looks beautiful because we sweated to come up with this structure,” he said.
Head teacher for Malingunde School for the Blind, Aubrey Kapatamoyo Nankumba, said shortage of accommodation is a serious problem at the institution, disclosing that two learners have been using a single bed.
“…meaning that a small room could even accommodate more than five learners, or more than six learners. So it was so serious,” said Nankumba.
Apart from lack of adequate accommodation, the school also faces difficulties to provide enough food to the learners.