Reach Out and Touch: Malawi pupils bail out poverty-stricken family
Pupils from Little Chaps Academy on Tuesday donated various items worth K171, 000 to one of poverty-stricken families in Mbayani-Chemusa township, Blantyre through the school’s initiative, Reach Out and Touch.
The Evance family has 19 children-11 adopted orphans- and lives in one bed roomed dilapidated house, which reveals worse tales of how the family continue to be subjected to the pangs of poverty.
Narrating her tales to the pupils who contributed towards the donation, Mrs. Evance disclosed how she struggles to provide for the family, saying “there are times we are forced to sleep on empty stomach”.
Mrs. Evance explained: “My husband is not working and this puts more pressure on the family. I have to go around looking for piece-works (ganyu) and I sometimes I sell sand (mchenga) just to survive”.
She disclosed that she had let out 10 of her children to some well-wishers in order to ease the burden, adding most of the children do not go school as they help to provide for the family.
“We lack clothes, food and some of my children (aged between 2 and 18) have been forced out of school just to help us with ganyu. The last time we received a donation was December and we appreciate the gesture by Little Champs Academy for bailing out my family,” she explained.
The pupils donated soap, rice, maize flour, beans, pair of shoes, clothes, snacks, Sobo Squash, sugar and cash amounting to K171, 000.
The school’s Principal Virtuous Thokozani Moyo urged other well-wishers to come out and bail out the family.
“It’s the tradition of our school to help the needy every end of school term. Last time we donated items at Queen Elizabeth Central, Hospital (QECH) children’s ward. And we hope others will emulate the gesture”.
He said funds for the donated items were raised by the pupils themselves, saying the school runs a Mufti Day to raise money for its Reach Out and Touch initiative.
“Teach children in the right way to go and they will follow it. It is our desire to instill a giving spirit in our pupils thereby creating a better generation”.
Little Champs Academy is situated in Mbayani-Chemusa along M1 road in Blantyre City.
Follow and Subscribe Nyasa TV :