Did you know? At Orant Charities we are committed to holistic development and supporting the educational aspirations of our staff. Thus, we offer educational loans to our staff because we love seeing them progress with their education and advance their skills and knowledge. Read our latest blog to learn more about how important this is, not only to our staff but also to the growth of the organisation.
Orant Ulemu Scholarship 2023
Steven's Story
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
Nutrition Education Improves Health Outcomes
At Orant, we recognise and value the critical role nutrition plays in human development and national economic development. We recognise that good nutrition is the backbone of a healthy community and its benefits extend beyond human health. Good nutrition is a contributing factor in reducing maternal and child health challenges, minimizing disease prevalence and promoting economic productivity.
A Visit to the Orant Agroecological Demonstration Farm
The Orant Agroecological Demonstration Farm produces strong, nutritious crops using natural farming techniques. See some photos from the farm here!
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.
As Big as the Sky Book Review
Read today’s blog about the children’s book, “As Big as the Sky”, a Malawian story about a brother and sister whose love for each other is as big as the sky.
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.