The Orant Agroecological Demonstration Farm produces strong, nutritious crops using natural farming techniques. See some photos from the farm here!
“As Big as the Sky” Book Review
A Children’s Story Based in Malawi
Author: Molly Horn
“As Big as the Sky” Book Review
As Big as the Sky, written by Carolyn Rose, illustrated by Elizabeth Zunon, is an easy-to-read picture book for children ages 4-6. We checked it out from our local library and enjoyed reading this sweet tale!
Set in Malawi, this is the story of a brother and sister living in a rural village where money is scarce and the family struggles to provide for their children. Caleb, the older brother, is sent to live with his grandmother so that he can attend school. His younger sister, Priscia, misses him terribly!
She devises a plan to raise enough money to go visit Caleb, but her attempts are unsuccessful. The book chronicles everything Prisica must go through, including fetching water for the family, cleaning the house every day, hunger from a poor harvest, and making crafts to sell.
The story ends with Priscia and her mother finally being able to visit Caleb with the help of a kind friend, and the family is happy again!
We suggest reading this book if you would like to share with your child a little bit about life in another country. You can use a map or globe to show where Malawi is, and talk about how life is different across the world. We hope you enjoy this sweet story about a brother and sister whose love is as big as the sky.
Available for purchase from Amazon or check your local library!
The Orant Journal
The Bittersweet Harvest Follow-Up
Do you remember Cellina’s experience with drought and her story of perseverance? This week we visited Cellina to learn more and catch up on how she and her family have been surviving on the 15 bags of maize she realized from her 2 acre field. Read today’s blog article to catch up on Cellina’s journey.
A New Era for Kabuluzi Primary School
Some months ago, our Education Program surveyed all the primary and secondary schools in our catchment area. There were a total of 24 schools: 20 primary and four secondary schools. We are so happy to have successfully conducted the survey and analyzed the results from it, which have helped us to start implementation of some projects. Read our latest blog to learn more about this development.
The Culture of Malawi: An Introduction to Malawian Proverbs
Malawian culture has always been known as a treasure trove of wisdom, and proverbs being an integral part of our rich heritage. These timeless sayings have been passed on through generations, offering guidance, direction, and warnings that shape our values, beliefs, and daily lives. In our upcoming blog series, we will delve into the world of Malawian proverbs, exploring their meanings, contexts and significance. Read today's blog post which serves as an introduction to our journey.
How the Mobile Outreach Clinics Operate
For years, our Healthcare program has been making waves in rural Kasese with our Kasese Health Centre and our two Mobile Outreach Clinics, operating in parts of Dowa and Kasungu districts. But have you ever wondered how our Mobile Clinics operate? In our today's blog article, we are shedding more light on what Mobile Outreach Clinics are and how they operate. Visit the link below to learn more.
Celebrating World Breastfeeding Week
Every year, the first week of August is dedicated to World Breastfeeding Week. The goal is to highlight the importance of breastfeeding, to encourage and promote breastfeeding and to improve the health of babies and mothers all around the globe. The theme for 2024 Breastfeeding Week is Closing the Gap: Breastfeeding Support for All, which aims at celebrating breastfeeding mothers in all their diversity, throughout their breastfeeding journeys, while showcasing the ways families, societies, communities and health workers can have the back of every breastfeeding mother. In today’s blog, we are sharing Malita Yohane’s breastfeeding journey and how it has been a game changer for her son Benjamin Kambambe who was born prematurely.
Breaking the Chains of Noncommunicable Diseases in Malawi
Imagine a world where noncommunicable diseases no longer hold people back from living the fullest of their lives. A world where quality healthcare services are accessible to all, regardless of socioeconomic status or geographical location. This is what our Healthcare program envisions. Read our latest to learn more about noncommunicable diseases and what our healthcare program is doing to free communities around our Kasese catchment area from the grip of such diseases.
Orant’s Values
“Orant respectfully serves and collaborates with our community in a sustainable way.”
Water Well Maintenance
At the heart of Orant’s programs and initiatives is sustainability, which is also one of our values. We believe in not only implementing programs or initiatives but also in creating long-lasting change that will continue to serve our community. In today's blog article, we talk about why we perform maintenance on water wells and how it contributes to the sustainability of our Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) program.
The Village Chief’s Vital Role
Ever wondered why we always mention village chiefs and their involvement in Orant’s work? If yes, then today’s blog article is for you! In this article, we talk to Village Head of Kasese Village in Dowa, who tells us about her duties and why her involvement with Orant is important. Read today's blog article to learn more.