Our story
The Giving of Persons with Disabilities in Malawi
Persons with Disabilities of Malawi
In the world's poorest country Malawi, as in any other countries in the world, persons with disabilities are the most in difficulties. For persons with disabilities, we are running a welfare center in Nkhoma, 50km to the east of Lilongwe(the capital of Malawi). Of course, there exist welfare laws in Malawi as well as some organizations to carry out the laws. Yet, those are insignificant due to vastly insufficient budget. The practical movement was first taken in 2012 through newly formed Malawi workplace and what we now call Chisomo-Miral welfare center further opened in 2013. We have been offering services such as technical and basic educations for adults with disabilities, after school class for children with disabilities, day care center for children with severe disabilities, and visit and care for the resident persons with disabilities at home. Persons with disabilities come to the center every Monday, Wednesday and Friday to learn skills and at the same time, gain confidence by seeing the possibilities of themselves standing on their own feet if given the opportunity.
Helping hand to the Philippines typhoon victims
At the end of 2013, we had a meeting on how to spend the collected dues, 100 kwacha(about 300won) drawn every month. We make most of the decisions based on meetings to give persons with disabilities, the sense of ownership and responsibility. Admist many different opinions such as to buy rice and share it, or to divide the money evenly, I carefully announced about damage of typhoon in the Philippines, that many lost their lives and a lot of survived victims are waiting for help. I told them even with a part of the collected dues, we can help and by doing that we could in return give out what `we` have received so far without any conditions. I also told them that helping people who are in difficult situations without shelter and food will be a very meaningful act. Our good persons with disabilities embraced my opinion without any opposition and decided to send $100 for the victims in the Philippines. I felt really proud of them and that was a very thankful moment for me. Moreover, workers with disabilities, working for our center, brought some more money raised by them.
Person with disabilities of Malawi are indeed kind. However in the past, they always have been the ones getting the help and it was hard to imagine them giving it since they were the poorest in the world. Now they have changed. They gathered their hearts together to help other people and were in fact helpful. Small but precious $100 raised by workers with disabilities was passed to the manager of the Philippines workplace, Hwang Young Hee, who was helping the victims at the damaged district. Later we got a letter with photos, thanking our act. The letter said that she could help the victims with the fund. We posted the photographs on the wall in our center and proudly shared our achievement.
A grain of hope found
We are small community for persons with disabilities of the poorest country in the world where many people still seeks for help. However now we believe we can do more than just taking everything for given. A lot of change happened since Malawi workplace got established. Sometimes I was discouraged by the hopeless reality and at times I was cheered by the improvement of the conditions. The most joyful and hopeful thing above all is that minds of persons with disabilities are being changed. The most negative thing about Africa is about their perceptions. Even though we give endless support, it is no use unless they change the way they think. It is truly right. That is the reason why all the support until this time only brought unchanging poverty and corruption instead of development. Through, the change and action of the persons with disabilities in our center I can see the `hope`. Hope that we can win against the cognition. This grain of hope is being planted by persons with disabilities of Malawi.
Writing and photography by Mun Su Jung, The manager of Malawi workplace