Lilongwe, Malawi … “It just seemed to take forever,” reported Richard Stephens of the Malawi Project, in referring to the long-awaited transformer installation and electrical connection at the Action for Progress site. These two items were necessary before the block machine could be turned on to begin making the blocks needed for the protective wall around the AfP distribution center.
“Over and over, just as we thought installation was about to begin something would stop it. An example of this took place just as we thought installation was about to begin earlier this year. Malawi suddenly suffered what has been called ‘the worst natural disaster in its history’ They were referring to Cyclone Freddy that struck Southern Malawi in March. After everything else that has slowed progress at the AfP site, this one especially seemed to suck all the energy and supplies from every other project as the overworked and financially strapped ESCOM (Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi) attempted to cope with the national disaster.”
Finally in early July AfP again reached the top of the schedule for the transformer installation and electrical hookup that would open the door to block production. The block machine that had waited patiently in the giant AfP distribution center for several months was moved into place inside the newly constructed block manufacturing building, and a shipping container used for supply storage was moved in place beside the block building. It will serve as a storage site for concrete and other building materials. The electrical lines were finally installed, and the transformer moved into place.
A few days earlier funding had been assured for the manufacture of the block wall, and everything was now coming together for the first blocks to become reality. It had been a long time coming, but now the day was becoming a reality. The safety of millions of dollars in medical, agricultural, and educational supplies could now be secured as shipment after shipment of needed resources pass through the Lilongwe distribution center.