By Vincent Gunde
Great Minds Bright Futures (GMBF) says it is stepping up efforts to improve the welfare of orphaned and vulnerable children in Dowa through a project focusing on childcare, nutrition, protection and early childhood development.
The charitable day-care organisation operates in Dowa Central East and South East constituencies, currently supporting about 304 orphaned and vulnerable children through three centres.
Presenting the Recognition, Coordination, Partnership and Child Well-being Project to the Dowa District Executive Committee (DEC), GMBF Operations Manager Emmie Suliwa said the organisation envisions a society where every vulnerable child has access to quality healthcare, education, protection and equal opportunities.
Suliwa said the project seeks to improve the well-being and sustainable development of vulnerable children and their households through early childhood development, nutrition, child protection and community empowerment.
She said the initiative will provide quality early childhood services, improve children’s nutrition and health, strengthen child protection and safeguarding, and increase household and community participation in child welfare.
Suliwa said the organisation’s direct beneficiaries include about 304 children from villages under Traditional Authority(T/A) Mkukula, served through the Chunzu, Funsani and Tingathe Dzaleka centres.
She said indirect beneficiaries include community chiefs, guardians, caregivers and households.
Suliwa said the organisation has already established three centres, increased access to nutrition and early childhood education, strengthened community participation and supported child welfare and protection mechanisms.
She said the project contributes to Malawi 2063 through human capital development, social protection and inclusion, youth and population development, and inclusive wealth creation.
However, Suliwa said GMBF faces challenges including an increasing number of children requiring support, inadequate teaching and learning materials, and limited transport and operational resources.
She appealed to partners, organisations and well-wishers to support efforts to improve the welfare of orphaned and vulnerable children in Malawi through emmie@greatmindsbrightfutures.co.uk, info@greatmindsbrightfutures.co.uk or +265 888 122 645.
Meanwhile, Dowa District Council Director of Planning and Development Phillimon Maseko urged development partners to share progress on their interventions to strengthen cooperation, transparency and accountability in the district.
