Lilongwe, Malawi … With an inflation rate running rampant, the devaluation of the Kwacha dropping rapidly, unemployment over 50%, a severe famine leaving village people suffering, and no resources in either the public or private sector strong enough to turn the tide, an estimated 39% of the population of Malawi are expected to suffer severe food shortages in the months to come.
At the present time it seems far too many people are spending too much time focusing on the causes, and not enough time on the solutions.
Dick Stephens, of the Malawi Project observes, “While we have always been involved in programs designed to help people get on their feet, we are also aware sometimes a person who cannot walk needs a wheelchair, not the encouragement and instruction on how to take a few steps. A person that is bleeding from a serious wound needs a band-aid, not a lecture on how to avoid falling down.”
Stephens continued, “Successful change comes when aid, education and programs on how to use the aid are combined. In such a poor country the aid is definitely needed, but at the same time it should be aid that helps people improve their lives. We feel to go to either extreme (aid without some focus on the receiver getting on their feet, or lessons on how to get on their feet that leave off needed aid). Bouncing to and from these opposite extremes has led to many of the problems that face Africa today. Too much aid without addressing ways to become independent, and use the aid to propel one’s self forward, creates only dependency. On the other hand instruction without a hand up will bring only hopelessness. We believe aid, instruction, and offering hope must be combined if one is to move forward.”
Stephens continues, “It seems that many (or most) major moves in any direction have a tendency to swing from one side of the pendulum to the other far side. On either side is a dangerous ditch where humanity often suffers. It is our desire to move carefully down the middle as we combine aid packages, and incentive programs in ways that both will help Malawi realize a successful and prosperous future. We welcome your thoughts and comments. Send them to info@malawiproject.org. All of them will be forwarded to the Board of Directors.”
Since it’s beginning the Malawi Project has focused on assisting Malawians to use resources as a means with which to move forward more successfully on their own when this is possible. For this reason Malawians, and/or other Africans run almost all program sites, and aid is dispensed through their guidance, support and wisdom.