Last visit to Namachete
For World Vision Campaigns Coordinator Rohena, managing project closure updates was personal as she was one of many sponsors who had to say goodbye to their sponsored children. However, before she said farewell she visited Josephy in Malawi to see the changes brought about by 15 years of sponsorship.
By Rohena Latif, Marketing Campaigns Coordinator
It was an early morning start travelling to Namachete in southern Malawi. We reached the village by 4x4; on the road that morning we passed simple homes made of brick and thatching, surrounded by lush green maize and banana trees as chicken and goats skittered across the sandy tracks.
Trundling along I thought about all of the achievements I was about to see. As coordinator for this year’s project closure updates, I had read through reams of reports, and the list of changes wrought by 15 years of child sponsorship now seemed second nature. I was keen to meet representatives of the community I had learnt so much about and excited to see how the community had made progress for itself, knowing how important these changes are for the future as World Vision leaves.
When we arrived at the local village office we were greeted by happy smiling faces of the community change agents. They are so knowledgeable about the sponsored children that they look after and obviously take great pride and care in ensuring that the letters and gifts sent to the children are delivered safely. While we were in the office, they showed me the file that belongs to Josephy, my sponsored child. It was amazing to see copies of the letters that I had been sending and the ones I always looked forward to receiving, kept here safely in the sponsorship room.
It was now time to visit Josephy! I had always heard how far agents had to travel but seeing the area that they had to cover on a regular basis was a real eye opener. When we finally pulled up to Josephy’s small brick house surrounded by a grass field and maize plants, I began to feel anxious and nervous. As we got out of the car we could see a group of community members waiting for us and as we approached we could hear the sound of a welcome chorus. The sound was so pure and joyful that it literally brought tears to my eyes. A tall boy came up to me apprehensively and put his shaky hand out to meet mine; I knew at once that he was Josephy.
We were taken to a mat just outside of the house for family introductions. Josephy is an only child, brought up by his aunty and grandma. It was really nice to finally meet the people who had done so much for him. It must have been hard for his aunt and grandma to bring up this lovely boy, and I felt an instant appreciation towards them. In amongst the excited noise from family and members of the community I could also hear the interruptive bleat of a goat. I was later told that the goat had been bought with the gift notification I had sent the family only a couple of months ago.
Gifts were exchanged between Josephy and myself as members of the community and family continued to cheer. My face was a picture when they took out a live chicken as my gift! I knew that this was a traditional but it really makes you feel humbled to know that they want to give you something so precious to them.
I can still hear the delight of the family and community meeting us that day. Josephy was shy from the attention of everyone around him but he began to open up the more time I spent with him. He kept looking down at the sparkle on my bag and playing with its strap as we sat on the mat. When it was time to leave, he voluntarily picked up my bag for me and put it on his shoulder, reaching out his hand to hold mine as he carried my bag to the car. It was extremely sad to leave him knowing that I would never write or see him again. He had tears in his eyes as I mouthed to him “please don’t cry,” I know that he understood what I was saying as I shook my head and made a happy face at him. I told him through Steve, our sponsorship coordinator that I will always, always think of him and he must continue to do well at school. As we drove away I cried my heart out for the little boy who I had only met for a couple of hours but felt I knew so well.
During our time in the community we were lucky enough to be taken around various projects supported by sponsors like you and me. Everywhere I looked I could see children and mothers busily pumping water from boreholes which were dotted around the village. We were taken to the village school and met by hundreds of excited children. On meeting the head teacher he proudly told us that forty girls and boys in the community have been able to make it on to college and university.
The community of Namachete has built up a strong farmer’s group and I was also able to meet some of its representatives. Members of the agriculture committee were keen to tell us about the success of the pass-on goat and pig project. Many families in the community have benefited; the animals’ offspring can be used for food or sold to earn incomes so that parents can afford to send their children to school.
However, the community has also had real struggles over the years. The impact of flooding in the region has been crippling for many families - washing away homes, crops and livelihoods in an instant. We were taken to the remains of a bridge which had been built over a river; it had once been a lifeline for transporting goods and allowing children to walk to school. As a sponsor and someone who cares greatly about the community, it was hard to see the bridge before me in ruins, chunks of construction lying on the ground. As I looked, I could see that the community had begun to construct their own makeshift bridge made from branches, reeds and other materials, and had started to charge community members for the privilege of crossing. My feeling towards this was mixed; most were not able to afford the crossing, but I admired the sense of entrepreneurism and determination that the makeshift bridge represented. I couldn’t help but smile.
Still now as I write this, the emotions of the day I met Josephy come flooding back to me. I miss him terribly. I was made to feel so welcome by him, his family and the whole community. It gives me great comfort to know that even though I only met Josephy for a short while, the memory will remain with all of us for a very long time. Through my sponsorship I have given Josephy and his family a better life. The community have been given a sense of purpose and the confidence to go forward despite the challenges they face. I felt a real unity amongst everyone I met; they will meet any obstacles standing tall like the wall of the dyke World Vision has built to prevent future flooding. I feel sad, but I also feel immensely proud to work for a well respected organisation like World Vision and to know that I have helped in my own small way. I have seen the transformational difference made to children’s lives with my own eyes.
Going forward, I will treasure the memories of Namachete, and I know that Josephy will be OK. He is strong and determined and I know that the encouragement and connection we made through years of letter writing will spur him on.
