World Vision Malawi Donates Gift in Kind Items to Ministry of Gender, Children, Disability and Social Welfare
World Vision Malawi (WVM), on Thursday, 21st, August, 2014, donated various items through its Gift in Kind (GIK) initiative to the Ministry of Gender, Children, Disability and Social Welfare amounting to $1.5 million, approximately K618 million.
Speaking at the official handover ceremony of the goods at WVM Headquarters in Lilongwe, Minister for Gender, Children, Disability and Social Welfare, Patricia Kaliati, thanked World Vision Malawi as well as World Vision USA and Kelvin Klein the donors of the items, for their gesture, which she described as very beneficial not only to the ministry, but to the nation as a whole.
“My ministry is working tirelessly to ensure that children, women, girls, boys, persons with disabilities and the elderly’s welfare is achieved. I believe that timely support, rendered by World Vision, through GIK, my ministry and Malawi in general will achieve more, not for ourselves but for the children we vowed to serve,” she said.
Kaliati also thanked the Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) for making it possible for the goods to have a custom fee waiver, describing the move as an indication the organization truly supports the ministry’s and government efforts to help the needy in the country.
In her remarks, World vision Malawi Advisory Council Chairperson, Evelyn Itimu asked the ministry to ensure the items reach their intended beneficiaries.
“The items donated today will be beneficial to people belonging to different demographics, including the elderly, orphans, widows, Early Childhood Development Centres and Case Management Centres. It is therefore the hope of World Vision Malawi to see these items be given directly to the people to benefit from them,” she said.
The National Director for World Vision Malawi Robert Kisyula reiterated the importance of working with not only the government, but the Ministry in particular.
“As World Vision we would like to work with the government. We want to be partners with the government in different areas. World Vision is a Christian organization focusing on children. Therefore we have found a partner in the Ministry of Gender, Children, Disability and Social Welfare. Let me assure you that we will continue to foster this relationship,’ he added.
A beneficiary of the GIK donation from the Social Rehabilitation Centre owned by the ministry in Lilongwe Chisomo James said the donation came at the right time.
“I am very happy to receive this donation. The bag I got had very nice things which I did not have like shoes. I promise not to lose or sell the things I received. I want to thank World Vision and the ministry for enabling me to get the donation.”
Centre manager for the Social Rehabilitation Centre, Harold Chafuwa, also indicated his joy upon receipt of the items by the Centre.
“The donation has helped us save money because now there is no need for us to buy the goods received. I am very proud, as apparent because the things we have received are brand new and all the 25 children who board at the Centre managed to get the items,” he said.
World Vision Malawi operates in 22 districts out of 28 in the country. Kaliati then requested the organization to spread out and operate in all districts in the country.
The donated items include clothes, school bags, vita meal flour, toys, shoes, soap and learning materials.