Catholics called to “love not in word and speech but in deed”.

Posted on 22/02/2012 by admin

Catholics in Malawi have been called not to love in word and speech but deed in the Lenten Season that begins today its conversion journey of forty days.

Bishop Zuza

In his Lenten message entitled “Let us Love not in word and speech but in deed and truth” (1 Jn. 3: 18), the Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM) Chairperson, Rt. Rev. Bishop M. Zuza quoting Pope Benedict XVI that considering that Lent is a precious time given us by God for discerning and performing good works, the Rt. Reverend Bishop Zuza exhorts and encourages each and every Christian “to work for attainment of fullness of love and good works as inspired by the Gospel and our faith.”

Bishop Zuza writes that as the Holy Father has proposed to all us in His message for Lent, 2012, he has highlighted that Lenten Season is an opportunity to specifically reflect upon charity, which is ‘the very heart of Christian life.’

The Chairperson of ECM therefore appeals to all the Catholic faithful to journey in the path that the Holy Father has called us to do.

“Let us aim at a higher standard of Christian living. Let us renew our witness of love and fidelity to the Lord,” reads part of the message.

Bishop Zuza further asks the Catholic faithful from being what he calls ‘lukewarm’ Christians.

He asks the Catholic faithful to use our different talents for our own good and the good of others. He believes that Malawi would be a better place to live if we all take our respective roles.

“Let us indeed follow the invitation of the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI so that our journey during this Lent motivate us into anticipation of one another charity, service and good works (Heb. 6:10). Let us help carry one another’s burden (Gal. 6:2).

At Andiamo Youth Cooperative Trust, beneficiaries of other people’s charity too, the Lent Season begins today with Ash Wednesday mass in the student’s cafeteria at 1700 hours local time. It was also announced that every Friday there will be the Way of the Cross in the AEI campus.

You can read full Lent message from Episcopal Conference of Malawi Chairperson

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They went, participated and conquered

Posted on 21/02/2012 by admin

Andiamo Wings of Hope emerged winners at Kamuzu Stadium on 18th February, during the launch of Presidential Initiative on Sport in Blantyre and have since described 2012 as the year of victory.

Andiamo Wings of Hope at the stadium

On men category, they became first in relay race of 400 Metres, 300 Metres, 200 Metres, and 100 Metres and they ended second to Police as Blantyre Zero in the women category.

One of the female athletes from Andiamo Wings of Hope

Narrating to the congregation during the Sunday mass, Hilda Kawenda, a Form two student explained why they ended up second. “When we started running I collided with another student and I fell down but the good thing was that I never gave up. I rose up and ended second,” said Hilda.

The Coordinator of Andiamo Wings of Hope has since thanked Denis Phiri for his dedication in providing trainings to young athletes who have been shown interest in sporting activities. He also thanked Franco Fiorina, a volunteer from Italy, for meeting the transport costs from Balaka to Blantyre. The Coordinator has also thanked the AEI Coordinator’s wife for providing meals to the whole winning team.

The guest of honour at the colourful event was His Excellency The State President Professor Bingu Wa Muthalika.

Andiamo Wings Of Hope was initiated with the aim of proving skills and exposing youths who want to take athletic game as a career. In a related development, Andiamo Secondary School emerged first in Balaka district for producing a 100% passing rate in 2011 Junior Certificate Examination Results.

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AYCT receives a container

Posted on 18/02/2012 by admin

Andiamo Youth Cooperative Trust received a container from Italy yesterday, 17 February. Among the items offloaded at Andiamo Campus, machines for metal works, carpentry, paints, plumbing materials for both Comfort Community Hospital and schools.

A folk lift offload one of the machine

In the same container, was also working materials for one of the volunteers at Andiamo, Agustino Trusardi for his projects at Toleza.

buckets of paint: To be used at the Community hospital and girls hostel

This has been made possible by Orizzonte Malawi Association and friends in Italy. We would like to thank them for their material support.

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A Judicial Officer Lectures form One Pupils

Posted on 16/02/2012 by admin

His Worship Damson Banda, an experienced Balaka Magistrate, gave a lecture on Judicial Systems to a form one class of Andiamo Secondary School at the invitation of the school’s Department of Human Sciences. The lecture, which lasted nearly 2 hours, was invoked by a Social Studies topic on Judicial Systems in the Junior Certificate syllabus.

Damson Banda, First Grade Magistrate of Balaka (sitting on a chair) posing with Form 1 students after presenting a paper on "The Judicial System in Malawi"

Much of the talk focused on the types of laws implemented by courts in Malawi, the roles of various judicial officers, and the hierarchy of courts in Malawi and the function of each of them.

Speaking at the end of the lesson, the Head of Department of Human Sciences, Mr. J. Banda, expressed gratitude to His Worship Banda for a well prepared presentation, which he believed, would leave an academic imprint on the pupils. He further urged magistrate Banda to do the same with other form one classes in offing.

One of the pupils, a 12 year old Immaculate Chingota, did not hide her joy for being taught by a “visiting lecturer.” She implored the school to invite more professionals to provide such lectures.

Last year, a form two class had an education visit to Balaka Magistrate Court where they had an opportunity to listen to three cases (one criminal and two civil) heard by Magistrate V. Sibu. This was followed by a brief introduction of the judicial processes in Malawi.

His Worship Banda’s visit complements the school’s regular invitation of highly experienced professionals in different fields to talk to the pupils to shape their careers.

 

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Andiamo students in tree-planting exercise

Posted on 16/02/2012 by admin

The Nation News paper of February 15, 2012

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Hostel block at roofing level

Posted on 14/02/2012 by admin

After 23 days the  girls hostel block has reached the roof level and contractors have started working on the second hostel block. Thanks to Franco and Marandimo Building Contractors for their dedication.

girl hostel

The construction of the second hostel has started

 

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AEI in tree planting

Posted on 14/02/2012 by admin

Andiamo Education Institutions (AEI) students planted 1000 trees in Balaka at Andiamo Campus on 11 February 2012 as one way of restoring the natural beauty which was carelessly destroyed. The function was organized by Wildlife Club of AEI, and in attendance were representatives from all the sections of Andiamo Youth Cooperative Trust.

one of the students planting a tree

Isaiah Kaliponda, the Chairperson of the club said that it is the aim of the club to make sure that the natural resources are being taken care of and where trees were cut down should be replanted. He added that trees play a very important role in human beings by providing good oxygen and also makes our country looks beautiful.

Balaka District Forest Officer Mr Kamwendo, who was the Guest of Honour at the function, thanked the students and Andiamo Youth Cooperative Trust for being concerned with the way people have carelessly cut down trees.

“40 years back people were living healthy lives. Trees were everywhere and they were breathing clean oxygen but because of industrial revolution, the good air has been polluted and people are not protected to this bad air.Because of this problem, babies are being born with different abnormality and people are experiencing some strange health problems but we can restore the good environment we had years back by planting more trees in our areas,” said Mr Kumwenda.

Andiamo Executive Director Andrew Galeta, encouraged youths to continue taking part in tree planting as it also attracts tourists and also help in the formation of rain. He took time to advise those who are pursuing Carpentry and Joinery course to be in the forefront in planting more trees as their job involves the use of timber which comes from these trees.

Also present at the function was Don Cesare and the Coordinator of AEI.

In a related development, Fr Mario lost his cool on 13 February when he noticed that some of the ground workers mistakenly cut down a big mango tree that had survived for some years in the AEI campus. Like in the “Lost Sheep” parable, Fr. Mario wondered how some people could think of cutting a matured mango tree when the Trust is busy planting more trees.

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The Sunset

Posted on 11/02/2012 by admin

“Look at that!” This was one of the volunteers from Italy pointing to the sunset. I looked and saw nothing. “It is beautiful,” she said with a smile. I smiled too. I pretended I saw the beauty but I was lying.

From that day, I have been trying to see this beauty but I am afraid that the more I look at it, the more I get frustrated. The time the sun is setting, I begin to think of the continued blackouts. Almost everyday we have black outs. The sunset goes together with electricity!

Business people have looked at the blackouts with sadness because this affects their production. Here, it is the future of the nation. Students learn the whole day hope to study at night. Unfortunately, this is not the case.

This is not the only problem. How do we instil discipline to students in total darkness?

What can change my attitude towards sunset? I don’t know. Can we try solar energy? I think with solar energy, I would look at the sunset with satisfaction. I would look at it and say, “Thank you Mr(s) Sun for creating electricity for this evening.”

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Welcome back Padre!

Posted on 09/02/2012 by admin

Fr Mario Pacifici, the founding trustee of Andiamo Youth Cooperative Trust arrived back from Italy on Sunday 5 February.

Coincidentally, 5 February is the day he first arrived in Africa. Fr. Mario arrived in Kenya on 5 February 1977 before proceeding to Malawi where he has stayed ever since.

Fr.Mario Pacifici

Speaking at a dinner organized for his coming, Fr. Mario talked about how special this day was to him because it reminded him of his first days in Africa.

Unlike in 1977 when he did not know really what he would face, this time Fr. Mario knows why he is in Africa and in Malawi particular. His passion for the poor was clearly manifested when he asked about the updates of the new Community Hospital that Andiamo Youth Cooperative Trust has built right close to Andiamo. It is expected that the hospital will serve not only people around Andiamo campus but also the whole district and beyond.

Takulandirani Bambo!

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Let’s share

Posted on 03/02/2012 by admin

Students from different areas playing on BAMABA Basketball court

When Andiamo Youth Cooperative Trust thought of naming the street kids project “Tigawane” (Let’s share) the name made sense. We surely must share the little that we have.

But little did we know that “tigawane” would spread to everything. In the picture, primary school students from the surrounding areas playing on the new basketball court of Andiamo Education Institutions without even asking for permission.

Such is life here. Everything that Andiamo Youth Cooperative Trust has belongs to the community around!

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