It is official. The Dinner for the Poor is on. You are invited to the Dinner on 31 January for the poor with the aim to support our Comfort Community Hospital in the year 2014, treated over 60,000 patients, 70% of whow were children.
According to Emanuele Todeschini, Orizzonte Malawi president, in attendance will be Fr Mario Pacifici, the founding trustee of Andiamo Youth Cooperative Trust (AYCT) and some medical volunteers to give testimony to the fruits of such gatherings.
By P.K.B
On Sunday, 11 January, two volunteers Alessandro and Gidio arrived from Italy to join our Andiamo family. Gidio is a long time volunteer who comes yearly to collaborate with us in our mission. Alessandro has come back to continue serving at Andiamo Education Institutions and facilitating our noble duty at Andiamo Youth Cooperative Trust.
Last evening, we organised a dinner to welcome them both. Takulandirani ndi manja awiri…
Comfort Community Hospital (CCH) treated 63,457 patients in 2014. In 2013, CCH treated only 34,354 patients. Out of the 63,457 patients treated, 71% (45,279) were children who get medication for free.
However the delay in upgrading the facility to a full community hospital is robbing the hospital of its graduated nurses as they are going out for greener pastures elsewhere.
Dr. Gabriele,volunteering at CCH in 2014
71% treated were children at CCH
By P.K.B
While two of our pillars are on holiday (Social Development, and Culture and Sports), the other two are giving their services to the community. A visit to Comfort Community Hospital which falls under the Healthcare pillar, shows that many people are accessing our services.
Under five clinic at CCH
At Andiamo Education Institutions (AEI), they expect a full house next as the Technical college is set to open for the second term Monday, 12 January. Meanwhile, the Secondary School, which has a low turn up at the start of the week, has now registered three quarters of the students.
Almost a full class
Time for classes
Photos by George Matache
The wall separating the Andiamo Technical College from the Secondary school is complete. On Wednesday, 7 January, they fixed the gate to what will be the new technical in our dreams. We thank Pang’onoPang’ono Onlus for funding the building of the wall fence. Now we go back to our bed to continue to dream…
Classes resumed on Monday at our Andiamo Secondary School as second term begins but only a few students have so far turned up. Out of a possible 250 students, only 160 are present. We may blame the heavy rains for this turn up but the economic hardships that come with the month of January cannot also be ruled out. Meanwhile Comfort Community Hospital continues to serve large numbers of patients…
Many more are yet to report for classes
Teaching a half full class
Comfort Community Hospital continues to serve the community
Pictures by George Matache
It has been raining cats and dogs for the past three days. Many houses are demolished we haven’t been spared at all. About 20 metres of the wall fence of Andiamo Youth Cooperative Trust campus has not only fallen but washed away. Below are the pictures taken by George Matache…
Fr. Mario Pacifici, founding trustee of AYCT
Fr. Mario Pacifici says if we give something of ourselves we do not lose anything, but rather “make a deposit in the bank of love” that accumulates sooner or later with an interest that “far exceeds that of any bank”. He has said this in his Advent Message written in Italian to both his friends and friends of Andiamo Youth Cooperative Trust (AYCT) where he is the founding trustee.
In the letter, he says that these days that accompany us to the feast of Christmas, he is reminded of one of the first sayings he learned in Malawi, like “Kupatsa n’kuika (Giving is investing) and “Mulungu awonjezele pamene mwachotsapo” (God should give you more than what you have given).
Fr. Mario writes that after years quite a number of his missionary life he recognizes the truth of these proverbs, because what he has received and kept in his heart and in his daily life “is really much and great joy, although there are sufferings”.
He has since asked both his friends and those of Andiamo to be generous in doing many acts of solidarity large or small, but always done with passion and heart wide open.
“The Advent journey brings us quickly to the Christmas party that makes us live joyfully welcoming of baby Jesus, God’s great gift to humanity,” he writes.
He continues to say, that “our gratitude to God can only be lived and expressed in the reciprocal of brothers and sisters near and far, convinced that if we give something of ourselves for the fraternal welcome we do not lose anything, but rather make a deposit in the bank of love to pick up sooner or later with an interest that far exceeds that of any bank.”
“For those who risk boundless love and endless colours, love is to share the little or much that we are and have, because love is surpassed only by love, by multiplying the joy and halving the suffering.”
Dr Gabriele helping one of the many patients at CCH
In the letter, Fr. Mario talks of the record number of patients Comfort Community Hospital (CCH) in Balaka has reached this year. This year CCH has treated over 60,000 patients and through the generous donations of both individuals and organisations, kids have received food and medication for free.
By P.K.B
Supper in support of Comfort Community Hospital
Some thousands miles away from home, Orizzonte Malawi Onlus has organized what is called “the Supper for the Poor” in Italy to raise funds for Comfort Community Hospital in Balaka.
According to the communication from Orizzonte Malawi Onlus, the event will be held on Saturday, 31 January at Cascina San Carlo in Bergamo.
Orizzonte Malawi Onlus, the operational arm in Italy of Andiamo Youth Cooperative Trust founded by Fr. Mario Pacifici in 1984 has since thanked both organizations and individuals for their support in this year.
During the same event, people present will be briefed on the 2015 Alleluya Band’s tour, which will be titled “KAMVULUMVULU” or “VORTEX OF LIFE”. The Alleluya band is scheduled to arrive in Italy on 10 June 2015.
By P.K.B
There have been a lot of activities in all the four pillars of Andiamo Youth Cooperative Trust for the past six days. As we break for a weekend, below are pictures showing what has happened so far…
The meeting with the delegation from National Youth Council of Malawi
At Comfort Dental Clinic
At Comfort Community Hospital
Finalising the foundation of Andrea Woyera Chapel
Dr. Gabriele volunteering at Comfort Community Hospital
Examinations time at Andiamo Secondary School
At Comfort Dental Clinic
By P.K.B
