By Vincent Gunde
An international humanitarian organisation called IsraAID,is set to implement a programme aimed at strengthening psychosocial recovery and resilience among displaced communities at Dzaleka Refugee Camp in Dowa District.
The project, titled Dzaleka Refugee Camp Response Programme: Psychosocial Recovery and Resilience for Displaced Communities, seeks to improve the wellbeing of children and other vulnerable groups through community-driven interventions.
Presenting the project to district stakeholders in Dowa, IsraAID Project Protection Manager Romeo Malizani Chaheka said the organisation works in key thematic areas of protection, health and nutrition, disaster risk reduction, education, and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH).
Chaheka said Dzaleka Refugee Camp, which was established in 1994 to accommodate 10,000 people, currently hosts more than 63,000 refugees and asylum seekers, including 28,896 children.
He said the camp receives more than 300 new arrivals every month, mainly from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi and Rwanda, putting additional pressure on its infrastructure and services.
Chaheka said the project will address gaps in child protection and safeguarding through child-friendly spaces, 10 Early Childhood Development (ECD) centres and 10 children’s corners, targeting more than 3,000 children.
He said the programme aims to improve psychosocial wellbeing and resilience among displaced children through structured, community-driven activities implemented through ECD centres and children’s corners.
Chiheka said the project is expected to reach 3,000 children through care groups and ECD activities, 2,500 children through child-friendly spaces, 8,000 parents, caregivers and exchange agents, and 13,600 indirect beneficiaries.
He said it will also benefit 4,000 household members and 9,500 people in the wider community.
“We will work closely with the Council for the sustainability of the project. What we need is collaboration and protection of the children in the camp,” said Chaheka.
In his remarks, Dowa District Social Welfare Officer Jonathan Bonongwe said the stakeholders’ meeting was intended to receive updates on the project’s progress and identify areas requiring further action.
He urged implementing partners to share reports regularly, saying this strengthens cooperation, transparency and accountability.
Founded in 2001, IsraAID has responded to major humanitarian crises in more than 60 countries worldwide.
The organisation began operating in Malawi in 2023 as part of the emergency response to Cyclone Freddy.
