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Orant Ulemu Scholarship 2023
Steven's Story
![Steven Chiundira portrait](https://orantcharitiesafrica.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/IMG_7385-scaled-e1675888769292-1024x736.jpeg)
Meet Steven Chiundira, one of our 2023 Orant Ulemu scholarship recipients.
Aged 24, Steven hails from Bweya village in Dowa, T/A Chakhaza. He is the second born in his family of seventeen siblings from his father and six siblings from his mother.
Challenges in Secondary School
Steven and his mother were excited when he got selected to Magawa Secondary School in 2016. However, this excitement was short-lived as his mother could not afford his school fees and supplies. Failing to pay school fees for two terms, Steven was chased out of school.
A Promising Student
“This felt like the end of the world for me. I had no hope of going back to school until I was considered for a government scholarship which supported me up to form four” Steven said.
Steven performed well on the Malawi School Certificate of Education (MSCE) in 2020 and was selected to Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences to pursue a Bachelor of Industrial Engineering.
New Challenges
“In the first year of my studies, I was so excited and lucky to be one of the students who were considered for a government loan. It was hard for me to get proper accommodation and food. It could take me an hour to walk to the school campus” Steven says.
Two weeks ago, Steven was so depressed because he was on the verge of dropping out of school as his mother could not afford his school fees and other school necessities.
“My parents separated when I was too young to remember. Life hasn’t been easy as I have been raised and supported by my single mother who depends on farming to take care of us” Steven narrates.
Orant Ulemu Scholarship
Steven applied for the Orant Ulemu Scholarship and after assessing his condition, he has been given a scholarship that covers his tuition, accommodation, food, and other education expenses.
The Orant University Fund was created in 2021 to help successful and passionate Malawian students to continue their education after secondary school.
“I am happy I am now back at school. I had no hope and I was about to withdraw. Thanks to Orant and its donors for their support. I am working hard so that one day I can support other students who will be in a situation like mine” Says Steven.
The other student selected for the Orant Ulemu Scholarship this year is Gibson Ketulo who is studying Culinary Arts at Mzuzu University.
So far, the Orant Ulemu Scholarship has 7 recipients.
The Orant Journal
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.
Evolution of Orant’s FEM Program
At Orant, we are committed to supporting local entrepreneurs, especially women. This is what spurred us to start our Financial Empowering Microloans (FEM) program in 2017. However, we came to realize that our program participants needed more comprehensive support to achieve sustainable growth. This is why we are excited to announce the evolution of our FEM program into what we now call Business Development Program!. Read our latest blog to learn more about this evolution.
Unwrapping the Flavours Of Malawi: Champunga Mkati Recipe
It's been a while since we last shared our Malawian recipes and we know you have been missing them. This week, we are back with yet another delicious recipe called Champunga Mkati. We are not sure of its English name but let's call it Malawian rice dumplings. Read our latest blog to learn more about this tasty snack recipe.
Of 20 Orant sponsored students who sat for the Malawi School Certificate of Education Examination (MSCE) last year, 18 qualified for University, and we are thrilled to announce that 14 have secured places at public universities! Of the 14, two are boys and 12 are girls. Read our latest blog and learn more about what this means to Orant.
Orant Nyali Yanga Poetry Competition: Unlocking Creativity
Some weeks ago, we opened our Orant Nyali Yanga Poetry Competition as a way of encouraging creative expression in Dowa Secondary School Students. We are excited to announce that the competition is still open and the deadline has been extended to July 15th! Read our latest article to learn more about the competition, what it means to us and how important it is to the schools and communities we work with.
Our Healthcare team is dedicated to improving the overall well-being of people. As part of this effort, this week we are conducting a nutritional assessment to all children aged from 6 months to 59 months and pregnant and lactating mothers in our catchment area. In this week’s blog post, we will explore the importance of this initiative and how it will benefit our community.
The End of Plenty Book Review
Recently, we read The End of Plenty by Joel K. Bourne Jr. An honest and sometimes scathing review of the Green Revolution, this book covers how monoculture crops have led to worsening hunger across the world. As the planet warms, the need is ever more urgent for us to find a solution to humanity’s desperate need to feed 9 billion people.
Poetry Competition
Let your light shine with our new poetry competition for secondary school students in Dowa district!