Malawi - Local Update

Network e-Bulletin, April 2020, No. 5

Message from Cecilia Mpinga

2016 Graduate

Hygiene Village Project

https://gyazo.com/8b0f05a6150faad6d7ae15f63ff7522c

Cecilia

Malawi is no exception. The COVID-19 cases have risen tremendously from 3, early in April to 34 as at today, the 26th April 2020. The following are the effects of the COVID-19 on the community, our government, and also to me personally:

The messages on COVID-19 are not clear to some communities, but still, people are responding to the preventive measures that are being disseminated through different channels. The community has now improved the culture of washing hands with soap, no handshaking, wearing of masks, and practicing social distancing.

Malawi is not yet on lockdown. The government ordered a lockdown to start from 18th April 2020, but some CSOs went to court and were granted an injunction, stopping the government to start the lockdown. The CSOs claimed the government did not say what it will do for the poor, as regards to food and money, in the affected communities. However, schools are already closed. Gatherings such as religious, political, and weddings are prohibited.

Most of the people are currently working from home. This includes staff from my organization – Hygiene Village Project. Most of the donors have stopped funding activities, as most of the activities they fund involve gathering together of the communities.

Malawi is affected heavily as this is a period when Malawi is supposed to conduct fresh presidential elections after the court nullified the previous elections. So, the country is in dilemma as we don’t know whether the elections shall be conducted.

A word of encouragement to the 2020 participants – Thank God that you have arrived to ARI! Do not get discouraged that you are few. God is with you and you will work and achieve as you are all there. Follow all the measures that have been put forward by the Japanese Government. I wish I were there with you, developing dreams for our communities. Gambate kudasai!

https://gyazo.com/71abea3c1468408f712b6efcca57e7ce

Cecilia (center) browsing the boutique with two of her classmates