Bishop Mtumbuka Commends Lusubilo’s Efforts to Transform Lives
By Wezi Mwangonde
Bishop Martin Anwel Mtumbuka of the Catholic Diocese of Karonga has commended the work being carried out by Lusubilo Orphan Care Organisation in Karonga and Chitipa districts.
The Bishop said this during his visit to some of the sites where Lusubilo Orphan Care Organisation is implementing projects. Lusubilo is implementing Orphan and Vulnerable Children project where young people are equipped with vocational skills such as carpentry and joinery to lead independent lives.
As one way of economically empowering communities Lusubilo is also implementing Sustainable Options Recommended for Testing (SORT), which gives farm inputs to farmers to engage in irrigation farming. Lusubilo also trains women in hand sewing (dress making) and bakery.
In his remarks, Right Reverend Martin Anwel Mtumbuka said he appreciates he appreciates the help being given to the needy and orphans by this organization. He further described Lusubilo as a relevant institution with the positive impact it has on the community it is serving because it responds to their problems.
He further observed that through Lusubilo, the Diocese of Karonga lives Matthew 25: 35: “for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave drink, I was a stranger you welcomed me.”
“Am very happy with the work being carried out by Lusubilo Orphan Care as well as the collaboration between the staff and community members including the traditional leaders,” said Bishop Mtumbuka.
In an interview, the Director for Lusubilo Orphan Care Sister Beatrice Chipeta urged the beneficiaries of these projects to show ownership of the resources such as farm inputs which include maize seeds and fertilizer so as to sustain the objectives of the projects.
Sister Beatrice said despite the organization facing financial challenges, it is doing its best to meet people’s needs.
“This visit will help the Bishop to witness what our organisation is implementing on the ground,” explained Sister Beatrice.
Lusubilo Orphan Care Organisation is an institution under the Diocese of Karonga founded in 1997 by Sister Beatrice Chipeta. The organization is implementing these projects with the financial support from the Coppel Family in Mexico.
Lusubilo Orients Its Staff Members in Child Protection Policy
By Vitumbiko Ngwira
In a quest to empower its staff members and clients on child protection, the management of Lusubilo Community Based Organization organized training session to orient staff members and clients in Child Protection Policy.
The orientation follows the enactment of Child Care Justice Act by the Government of Malawi and the adoption of Child Protection Policy by the Catholic Church in Malawi. These two instruments aim at protecting children from potential abuse. The training took place on the 7th and 8th December, 2017 at Lusubilo Boardroom.
The training aimed at empowering the staff members with skills on how to protect the children and vulnerable adults from harm. Since Lusubilo is an organization within the Catholic Diocese of Karonga, the Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM) Child Protection Policy was used during the training.
Staff members were exposed to the guidelines and principles stipulated in the ECM Child Protection Policy. They were reminded to make sure that children and vulnerable adults at Lusubilo were always protected from potential harm at all times. In this way the mission and vision of the organization would be enhanced.
The facilitator for the trainings, Mr. Vitumbiko Ngwira, emphasized that the safety of children should be the priority of every staff member at Lusubilo. Staff members were also reminded of the noble responsibility of ensuring that abuses of clients were to be dealt with honestly. It was further emphasized that all staff members should make sure that children are respected in according with ECM Child Protection Policy.
During the training, staff members asked many questions about child protection. They also appreciated the trainings and encouraged management to continue providing such opportunities from time to time. Child protection agreement forms were signed by the all staff members. The trainings would be repeated quarterly to facilitate internalization of the message.
Lusubilo Orphan Care Centre Gives Children a Rare Christmas Treat
By Vitumbika Ngwira and Maureen Nasho
On 25th December, 2017, Lusubilo Orphan Care Centre organized a Christmas Party for children under its care. This followed a joint get together of staff members from Diocesan Curia and Lusubilo.
The main aim of the Children’s Party was to celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. Fr. Mathews Simwela, Professor Kim and some Lusubilo staff members accompanied the children during the celebration. Lusubilo values with great reverence all church activities.
The children began their celebrations with Christmas Mass at St Mary’s Parish. After that they gathered for a common lunch at the Children’s village. The meal was specially prepared for the occasion. One could only notice the beauty of the celebration on the faces of the children. Children shared experiences. Lunch was followed with music and dance. Children displayed their dancing and singing talents.
On 26th December, Professor Kim, the Director of Lusubilo Band visited the Children’s village and shared gifts to the children. It was a wonderful day, a memorable day for the children. There was also dancing and singing.
On 28th December, the children’s village received visitors from Austria. Mentina, with her children Ana and Daniel cheered the children at the village. Mentina gave an encouraging talk to the children. They appreciated the services that Lusubilo gives to vulnerable children.
