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.
What does mudzi mean?
Orant Charities has named its annual gala mudzi. Mudzi means village. Orant’s mudzi is the global village of people united for our common mission in Malawi.
At Orant, we work together.
Whether we live in rural Malawi or urban USA, we know that our destinies are bound. We share one mudzi, one village, one planet.
We aim to dismantle the structures separating the helper from the helped.
We are all both the helper and the helped. When we dissolve what separates us, we see how much we are in fact the same. We all experience poverty, though perhaps in different ways. We all suffer. We all have dreams. We are all deserving of respect and love.
How does Orant live out our values of respect and community?
Great question! There are three main ways.
1. We value our beneficiaries’ input.
Orant Charities Africa maintains close relationships with local businesses, village savings and loan groups, chiefs, and other stakeholders who are impacted by our programs.
Before launching new programs, we first make sure our community really needs and wants them. To do so, we interview community members. We listen to their feedback. Their participation is integral to our success.
2. We tell stories that honor our participants’ dignity and intelligence.
If our beneficiaries see their stories in 5 years, we want them to feel proud. We never want to exploit someone’s struggle to raise awareness or money. Of course Orant’s community faces struggles. But those struggles don’t define them. Rather, they are defined by their hearts, their courage, their patience, their humor, and their kindness.
3. We collaborate internationally.
The majority of our donors live in the US, but our 100% African staff runs all our programs in Malawi. Our US and African teams meet weekly to discuss goals, developments, and program operations. Everyone brings something unique to the table. Our collaboration is successful because we respect each other. We belong to each other. We share the same mission.
Join the mudzi.
Celebrate with us at the Orant Mudzi Gala Sep 23, 2023 at the Perot Museum of Nature & Science in Dallas, Texas. Learn more and buy your tickets here.
Interested in more ways to get involved from the US? Check out this blog post. No one’s to young to contribute! Learn about Orant’s Young Ambassadors Program here.
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The Orant Journal
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.
“Orant respectfully serves and collaborates with our community in a sustainable way.”
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.
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.
As we have discussed in some of our past blogs, Malawi Vision 2063 has three key pillars that guide the focus of the Vision. These three pillars are meant to build on each other to create the inclusively wealthy and self-reliant nation that they envision. In this blog, we will look at the third pillar of MW2063: Urbanisation.
Whether you are planning an African trip or just curious about the things we love about Malawi, read today’s blog to see the best things to do in Malawi!
Holidays are here again and we are so excited! Most of our team is taking time off with their families and loved ones, so please enjoy this blog while we are away. Celebrate the holidays with us the Malawian way!
Introducing you to the culture of Malawi through a series of articles! The culture of Malawi is strong in spirituality and most people are active in religious groups. We’ll tell you about Malawi’s main religions and the people who practice them. Read on for more.
As we have discussed in some of our past blogs, Malawi Vision 2063 has three key pillars that guide the focus of the Vision. These three pillars are meant to build on each other to create the inclusively wealthy and self-reliant nation that they envision. In this blog, we will look at the second pillar of MW2063: Industrialization.