In Malawi there are 1000 Orthodox Christians, while the population and area of Malawi is about equal to that of Greece. The people here are very poor. There is a lot of unemployment. The cost of living is very high and wages are minimal. In some areas there is cholera and almost all over the state there is malaria, which leads to death. The needs and the programmes we are developing are as follows:
Drilling (Wells)
By the grace of God we have established 9 parishes. It is very important to have our own clean drinking water in each parish centre. Out of the 9 parishes, 3 have drinking water. So we are waiting for donors to be found so that we can drill 6 more wells and have a well in each parish. Each borehole costs 3,000€.
Soup kitchens – care of the sick
We try to develop charity work to the suffering by providing them with soup kitchens and treating the sick. The soup kitchens are not run on a regular basis, but on an emergency basis, depending on our capabilities. Each soup can be just a single plate of fermented flour or sometimes more elaborate ones such as Easter meals, with meat, salads and juices. These cost from 100€ to around 200-250€.
Support for prisoners
Our Church has special permission from the state to visit state prisons. We visit 3 prisons per month in Zomba town, the adolescent section, in Chichimi town, two sections for men and women and in Vuboe district, the men’s section. In the prisons the living conditions are appalling and that is why we are insisting on this project. In addition to the joy we give with our presence and the word of comfort we offer them, we always feel more joy when we give them something, such as food, shaving products, soap, copies of the Bible or used computers. Any donation for this mission project is appreciated. The prisoners here number in the thousands.
Baptisms (sponsors are requested for new converts)
In our Sunday school lessons come from genuine interest. After many years of catechesis we prepare them for their Holy Baptism.
Scholarships for 30 children
Knowing that knowledge is power, we often feel the need and duty to help children of our parishes to escape the state schools. In places without infrastructure within the public schools, 200 and 300 children are often crowded together without any real progress. There are private schools that provide a more meaningful curriculum in a decent environment. That is why we hope to be able to send some of our poor children there each time until the Mission has its own schools. We are asking for 30 scholarships. Each scholarship costs €250 per year.
Training of catechists
We attach great importance to the education-training of our catechists who in turn give their knowledge to the catechumens. Every Sabbath there are seminars at our missionary base which are attended by catechists who come from different villages to bring their knowledge back to their villages. To run this programme we have transport and accommodation costs of 350€ per week.
Construction of two kindergartens
Right now we need to build two kindergartens, in two more of our parishes, so that we can gather the poor and orphaned children of the area, keep them close to the parish program, teach them and even feed them. Each kindergarten, including its equipment, costs 20,000€. Dear brothers and sisters, we know that in our time of crisis, all that we are asking for is very difficult. But we put our hope entirely in God and wait for a miracle. With the love of Christ
π. Hermolaus Iatrou
