By Mtisunge Gwedeza

Blantyre, August 17, Mana: Makazi Foundation, a charity organization has extended a helping hand to the communities at Chigwaja in Chilomoni Township, Blantyre with the aim of reducing the effects of Tropical Cyclone Freddy (TCF) which disrupted livelihoods in some districts of the southern region last year.  

In an interview with Malawi News Agency (Mana) on Friday, Makazi Foundation Head of Programmes, Tatenda Makondetsa said the initiative aims at providing support to the community which was greatly affected by TCF. 

“We want to work with the community in areas of psychosocial support and holistic support whilst empowering them for the future.

“Last year we donated relief items to 192 families after the cyclone and now we plan to do another donation in September, tailored for 30 families and 700 students,” he said.

According to Makondetsa, his organization collects non-perishable foods, clothes, personal hygiene products, blankets and toys, among others from well-wishers to donate to the community.

Makondetsa also said   collaborating with local leaders and chiefs has been helpful in coordinating the availability of different community members.

Chigwaja Village Development Committee Chairperson, Thomas Lembetu said Makazi Foundation has given the community hope to bounce back stronger after the cyclone.

“The Foundation is not only helping with relief items but also empowering us with entrepreneurial activities so that we don’t rely on donors alone but learn to be independent in such times; for example, now we have more than 20 carpenters just because of them.

“Being a rural area where education is a problem, the Makazi Foundation is also encouraging the youth to go to school, teach them preventive measures against HIV and AIDs and educating young adolescent girls on the dangers of early pregnancies,” Lembetu said.

The Makazi Foundation was founded in 2021 by Mwayi Diana Kalitera with the aim of providing psychosocial support, a holistic education and vocational skills training to shelter vulnerable youths and children from poverty.