Malawi Heritage UK rewards Kantiki for 100-mile fundraising challenge to procure PPE’s
Malawi Heritage UK organisation has rewarded Malawian British soldier, Staff Sergeant Bruno Kantiki for his ‘Outstanding Positive Community Engagement’ shown during his 100 miles walking challenge to raise funds to procure personal protective equipment (PPEs) for Malawian frontline Covid-19 health care workers.
He raised over £3,000 (K3 million) through the 10-day challenge (10 miles each day) done in May during the early stages of the pandemic and managed to send over the equipment that was donated at Kameza Covid-19 Isolation Centre.
The equipment included N95 masks, face shields, 3-ply facemasks, examination gloves, disposable gowns and Infrared thermometers, which were enough not only to protect the COVID-19 health care workers but was used to treat the patients.
The Certificate of Recognition was posted on Malawi Heritage UK’s Facebook profile with the accompanying message that this was the organization’s “way of encouraging positive engagement in the diaspora”.
Malawi Heritage UK is an organisation that promotes Malawi engagement in the diaspora focusing on culture awareness and integration.
It takes cognizance that there is a huge population of Malawians living in the UK and that there are a lot of British-born Malawians, most of whom know very little about Malawi history.
Its board of directors members chairperson, Allan Mandindi said Kantiki’s award and recognition is first of its kind by Malawi Heritage UK and is aimed at recognising Malawians that have been exceptional both in community engagement and promoting Malawi.
“As an organisation, we followed what SSgt Kantiki did and our Board saw it fit to honour him as a way of encouraging others to help our mother country,” he said.
“There are several other Malawians that have been outstanding in their communities during the pandemic but due to uncertainty brought about by Covid-19 restrictions, we just thought of recognising Kankiti as what he did set the pace for others — something which is exemplary and worth acknowledging.”
Malawi Heritage UK, established in 2016 and registered in UK, operates from Manchester and other members include Bishop Seraphine Katenga Kaunda, Veronica Msonthi Mackie and Memory Choliva.
Mandindi said going forward, these recognitions will be done every year towards the end and the awardees will be chosen by a special committee.
He added that another way forward is for the Malawi government to start acknowledge those in the diaspora as partners in development.
“Many countries have even established diaspora office for their governments to effectively engage with their citizenry in foreign countries,” he said.
Mandindi, former British soldier and Afghanistan war veteran, holds BA Hons Politics and MA International Relations and Global Communications.
While Kantiki, a former broadcast journalist with MBC and has been with the British Army since 2003.
Kantiki had said he was inspired to carry out the challenge by former British Army officer, Colonel Tom Moore, who is 100 years old but has carried similar challenges that raised millions of pounds for the National Health Services Charities in UK.
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