At the beginning of this year our team in Malawi went north to distribute much-needed food parcels to the families of primary school students. During the food distribution we collected stories on the ground from their parents. We encourage you to read further and hear their stories.

Note: Malawi’s schools re-opened on January 4th for the new semester. Seibo began food distribution to the schools and CBCCs but within 2 weeks an order was issued for schools to close for 3 x weeks. After that period elapsed schools re-opened but on the evening of February 4th the government announced a further closure of 2 x weeks which applies to all schools, nurseries, etc in Malawi. At time of writing all schools in Malawi remain closed.

THERESA’s Story

Theresa is a mother of 2 children who both attend Kanyerere Primary. Theresa is a farmer who grows vegetables & maize which she sells to raise money. Her husband now lives in South Africa and is no longer supporting the family. If she has any money it goes on school fees which cost 60,000 kwacha/term and it’s hard to impossible to meet all basic needs.
– “Thank you so much for the flour for it will have me covered for quiet some time in terms of breakfast. I will be able to direct money to do other things needed in my family other than breakfast. The flour will also help my son and sister to grow healthy”

MADESS’s Story

Madess is a mom of 6 children, 4 of whom attend Kanyerere Primary. She sells ‘Zitumbuwa’ (banana fritters) as the main source of income for her family. Until the pandemic struck her husband worked as a night-guard but his boss could no longer afford to pay him so the family are struggling. They only eat when food is available and often go without food all day.
– “My family and I are very thankful for the flour you have given us; our kids will be having a proper breakfast before going to school every day. You have lifted the burden we had as parents.”

KENNETH’s Story

Kenneth, father to 5, lives in Kamsombeni Village. He does ‘piece-work’ like ploughing gardens and molding mud bricks but work is hard come by since the pandemic. All five of his children attend Kazomba Primary and he was delighted to receive the Likuni Phala. He told our team that as a parent receiving this food has taken a burden from him as during the ‘lean season’ it is hard for him to provide the kids with a proper breakfast.
‘Thank you Seibo for your support even in these challenging times’

MACKREEN’s Story

Mackreen is a father of 4 children who all attend Chabere Primary. He has a garden where he grows sugarcane and vegetables which he sells. During the ‘Covid period’ sales have declined making it hard to feed 4 children every day.
‘I am very thankful to Seibo for providing them with the Likuni Phala. I do not take this for granted. I wish the donors a long and healthy life’.

CHARLES Story

Charles, a father to 8 children, is a local carpenter. His last born Charles Junior attends Kazomba Primary.
‘I am very much thankful to Seibo Maria for providing our children with Likuni Phala’.

EDWARD’s Story

Edward is dad to 3 children who all study at Kanyerere Primary and received 15 kgs of foodstuff on this day. He mentioned that most days the children don’t have breakfast so the Phala is a great help.

FELISTER’s Story

Felister is mother to 4 children who all attend Kanyerere Primary. The family have a small farm and the father works also as a watchman at Mzimba Boma. It is challenging to provide breakfast for the children so the family have prioritized lunch and supper- but now they will be cooking Phala because of Seibo.
‘I would like to thank the Donors for providing all this’

NORMAN’s Story

NORMAN CHIRWA
Norman is dad to 2 children who attend Kazomba Primary. He relies on ‘piece-work’ at Mzimba Boma to earn a living. ‘Thank you Seibo’

ALENGENI’s Story

Alengeni is a mom of 3 kids. Her eldest attends Davy Primary, the middle child is in nursery and the youngest is still at home. Her husbands sells charcoal and the family are dependent on his income for all their needs.
– “The flour will help my child have breakfast everyday and he will grow healthy. May you not stop doing this for us and you have come to our rescue just in time when we did not have any money with us and the kids were just crying because of hunger”

LILIAN’s Story

Lilia is the grandmother of 4 children. She is a vegetable farmer who recently won a tender to supply vegetables (worth MK 120,0000/month) to a teacher training college in Mzimba. However, due to school closures, the work was cancelled. In addition Lilian is raising 4 x grandchildren as the parents left for South Africa to find work. On the day the photo was taken she was collecting Likuni Phala for 4 and expressed her gratitude as most times children don’t take breakfast.
“Thank you Seibo for this nutritious porridge that help our children grow healthy”

ROSEMARY’s Story

Rosemary is a mom of 6 children, 2 of whom attend Kazengo Primary. Her husband is a guard at one of the shops at Mzimba Boma. She was very happy to have received Likuni Phala. It will help the family a lot as it is not possible to have breakfast every day.

TAFANJI’s Story

Tafanji is a mom to 4 girls that all attend Kazengo Primary. Delighted with the Likuni Phala she is also taking the initiative to home-school her girls while schools are closed.

THOKOZIRE’s Story

Thokozire has 2 boys, one of whom attends Kazengo Primary. Since her husband left her she lives with the children. To make a living she sells ‘Mandasi’ (deep-fried snacks) and also relies on help from her brother. She thanked Seibo for providing her children with Likuni Phala.