World Vision Hands over Infrastructure Projects worth $6.2 million
By Wezi Nungu, Communications Officer, Malawi.
World Vision Malawi has officially handed over 512 infrastructure projects that have been built from the financial years 2022 into 2023. The ceremony, which was held on 18th April, 2024, attracted officials from various government ministries, the CSOs, donor community and corporate world.
In her opening remarks, World Vision Malawi Board Chairperson, Dr. Lucy Kachapira highlighted the significance of the infrastructure projects which contribute to higher productivity and growth within communities.
“Every year the ministry embarks on construction projects that focus on sectors in education, water, sanitation and hygiene, livelihoods and resilience, as well as maternal and child health. For this cycle, the projects we are handing over are in 16 districts of Malawi and these include classroom school blocks, village clinics, resource centre, solar powered water systems, boreholes, latrines, washrooms and CBCCs,” she said.
Dr. Kachapira further said: “We believe the generation that is coming is also going to enjoy these infrastructures, and our aim is that more people benefit over the years. We are so thankful for the generous support we have received from our donors, making it possible to build and furnish these structures.”
Minister of Local Government, Honorable Owen Chomanika, commended World Vision for the relevance of the development work they do. “Your work is relevant because it complements the work of the government of Malawi; it is also the relevance of the projects, which speak into solving the problems that communities are facing.”
“In pursuit of the vision Malawi2063, the situation of the people is becoming harder in the midst of climate change. There is a great need for transformative development and that is World Vision is doing. If you were not aligned to the vision of the republic, we would not be here. This is within industrialization, innovation and infrastructure, and you are dealing with the infrastructure part; you are dealing with what the people need. The 512 infrastructure you have given are the bedrock of progress,” said Chomanika.
The handover event was aimed to also increase accountability of the organisation, and ensure that the responsible government ministries commission the projects as fast as possible for people to begin using them.
The guest of honor, Minister of Water and Sanitation, Honorable Abida Mia was pleased with World Vision’s projects which are keeping up to date with her ministry’s agenda, especially in bringing innovative ideas.
“The projects especially in WASH have contributed to economic development. My ministry is aiming to ensure that CSO and NGOs are aligned to the Malawi 2063 which are crucial for national development goals. These projects are an example of the collaborative spirit for the people of Malawi.” She said.
Anne, a student at Nkhoma Community Day Secondary School expressed her gratitude for the various projects. “As a young girl, some of the challenges we have been facing was lack of proper washrooms and toilets in schools, and such that meant we would miss classes, and sometimes even leave earlier so that we could go and take care of ourselves.”
The completed projects handed over include the following: 9 2-classroom blocks; 268 new boreholes; 136 rehabilitated boreholes; 37 solar powered reticulated water systems; 8 village clinics; 9 washrooms; 1 vocational skills centre; 1 guardian shelter; 8 incinerators; 6 placenta pits; 33 7-hole latrines; 1 2-hole latrine; 1 library and finally 3 community based childcare centers.