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Chamba Area Program

Sponsor a child

Program Type

Community Development

Planned Life Cycle

2012 - 2027

Location

Malawi

Areas of Focus

Health | Education 

Program Timeline

Status: Active

Progress

10,123people had access to handwashing facilities at home or school

Progress

7,768patient consultations were provided by community health workers through projects supported by World Vision

Progress

7,000reading materials were provided to schools and communities in support of children's education

A white jeep driving through a muddy path, featuring a rainbow and trees in the background.

Program Details

Context

The Chamba community is located in Southern Malawi, near the shores of Lake Chilwa. The area includes lowlands within the lake's drainage basin, as well as plains. The climate is hot, with temperatures ranging between 23℃ and 35℃ . Seasonal waterlogging and flooding are common problems, which cause damage to crops and homes. On the other extreme, communities experience periods of drought that wither crops in the fields.

Typical homes are constructed from clay bricks, with grass-thatched roofs. Most families practice subsistence farming. People of different tribes and faiths co-exist, and have built a culture of caring. However, their efforts are hampered by widespread HIV and AIDS and extreme poverty.

...
Challenges
Education
Thousands of school-age children in Chamba are not enrolled in school, and dropout rates are high. This is largely due to the poor quality of curriculum and school environments. Classrooms are overcrowded and dilapidated, and most teachers are untrained.

Most children start Grade 1 with no preparation. Of 3,718 children under five in the area, only 867 attend preschool centres where they can learn and develop. Primary school dropout rates are high, especially for girls, and the school retention rate is just 9.3% " much lower than the national rate of 39%. Hundreds of orphans are at risk of dropping out of school due to poverty and lack of support.

Parent-teacher associations and school management committees lack the training necessary to improve the quality of education. Many parents are not educated - 38% of people in the region are illiterate " and most are not actively involved in their children's education. Orphans in particular do not have the support they need to stay in school. More girls than boys drop out, and many are encouraged to marry early.

Health Care
It is difficult for many residents in Chamba to access good health care services. Due to a lack of early care centres, many children are not able to receive growth monitoring and immunization. Parents are also not frequently educated in nutrition, which leaves them unable to take full advantage of the locally available foods in their area. This also can cause children to suffer from malnutrition, and become more vulnerable to common, preventable illnesses.

HIV & AIDS
The Chamba community has been decimated by AIDS. HIV prevalence in the area is over 12%. Health workers and impoverished families are stretched beyond their capacity to care for all the sick. Many parents in Chamba have died, leaving a large number of orphans and children in need. These children are vulnerable to exploitation. Girls are often forced into early marriages, and boys are required to work in the rice paddies or risk their lives fishing on Lake Chilwa.

Water and Sanitation
Many families get their drinking water from open water sources that are easily contaminated. Inadequate latrines cause the spread of waterborne diseases, especially during heavy rains and flooding. This has a serious impact on the health of young children, as they are very susceptible to disease....
Plans
Education
To ensure children can access and benefit from quality education, World Vision will assist the community to:
  • Renovate and construct classrooms and preschools.
  • Educate parents about the importance of education, especially for girls and preschool-age children.
  • Organize children's committees to give children a voice in issues that affect them.
  • Establish community-led adult education, youth entrepreneurship programs, and savings and credit groups.
  • Organize training for teachers, parent-teacher associations, and school committees.

Health Care
With the partnership of Canadian sponsors and the community, World Vision will work to:
  • Train community health committees to conduct health education campaigns on nutrition, hygiene, and the prevention and treatment of common illnesses.
  • Organize sessions for parents on preparing healthy meals using locally available nutritious foods.
  • Mobilize the establishment of gardens for growing indigenous vegetables year-round.


HIV & AIDS
To combat the spread and stigma of HIV & AIDS, World Vision will partner with the community to:
  • Educate community members of all ages in preventing the spread of HIV.
  • Support health care workers to conduct community education on HIV and AIDS, including prevention of mother-to-child transmission.
  • Enhance church- and community-led care and support for orphans and people living with HIV and AIDS.

Water and Sanitation
In partnership with families and sponsors, World Vision will work with the community to:
  • Construct and maintain clean water sources and sanitary latrines.
...
An image of children sitting on the ground in a classroom, writing in workbooks.

Results

Unless otherwise stated, data presented on this page reflects the most up-to-date results of World Vision Canada programs reported between October 2023 and September 2024, and any previous fiscal years available. Previously reported data may not match the current presentation as we continuously receive and refine data from our programs. If you have any questions, kindly reach out to us.