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Yamikani House
Background
Malawi is one of the poorest countries in the world. The AIDS epidemic has caused a tremendous increase in children left with no parents. The life expectancy for people in Malawi has decreased to 35 years old. In the past Malawians have depended on extended family to care for the children, however the burden stress on families is overwhelming. Many families have to care for 5 or more children. They do not earn sufficient money to meet the basic needs of children. The growing number of orphans is evidenced everyday as there are more children on the streets begging, committing juvenile crimes and prostitution.
There are few organisations that are able to assist these children and the demands have been heavy on government and local donor organisations. Hence, the existing organisations have not been able to handle the orphan crises alone. Yamikani House networks with other organisations that address the needs of orphans and destitute children with the aim of assisting the growing demands on the government and the community.
Yamikani House Orphan Home
An American Missionary founded Yamikani House in 1994. The home started with just one child found wandering on the streets of Blantyre. He named the home Yamikani as it means grateful and he was happy that someone took him in. Since its humble beginnings Yamikani has grown into a well established home for children.
We like to think of Yamikani as a home and not an institution we aim to promote an environment that is dedicated to the physical, spiritual emotional and mental-well being of children. The primary goal of Yamikani House is to provide a loving nurturing home, in which children develop to their fullest potential. Thus, becoming healthy, independent and contributing members of the community.
Location of the Home
Yamikai House Orphan Home is located in an urban area. The house has the capacity for 24 children. There is a free standing Learning Centre and small flat for volunteers.
In 1997 Yamikani became part of the Ana A Malawi project, which was sponsored by the children of Denmark and administered through ADRA Malawi. The project comprised of 5 different organisations working with children and ran for three years ending in the year 2000
During the life of the project Yamikani purchased a home, mini bus and built and opened a nursery school program for orphans living in the community. We also built storage shed and housing on the farm for workers.
Children
As stated above our aim is to keep Yamikani as home like as possible. We attempt to keep sibling groups together. The children go to school, church and other activities in the community. We encourage extended family members to visit the children as often as they can. The children also go for visits to their respective villages. One of the strengths of Malawi is the nurturing extended family system and cultural values. Thus we strive to maintain those ties for the children as one day they will leave Yamikani House.
We now have 23 resident children ranging from age 4 to 15. Once our children reach secondary school they go to a boarding School and return home on holidays. From Boarding School the children either attend higher education or vocational training depending on their educational ability.
While at Yamikani the children are taught many life skills and we try to keep the environment as family and home life as possible. The children live with two housemothers and participate in household chores, attend private and government community schools and church as well and are involved in community activities.
Many of the children that have left Yamikani House have done very well. We currently have one boy in University in Zimbabwe, studying Agriculture. Another boy is at the Polytechnic studying Engineering. One of our girls is at Skyway Business College in Lilongwe studying Marketing. Two boys recently completed a cane and wicker furniture making course and are now living on their own and working. Some of the other children that have left Yamikani have started small businesses and are now on their own.
Nursery Program
The nursery school program is for orphan children living in the community with relatives. The children range from age 2 to 5. The children receive two substantial meals per day and basic health care as well as a good foundation in early education. Currently we have 105 children in this program.
Mpemba Farm
The Malawian Government awarded Yamikani House a 8.8 hector acre farm in a rural setting. Currently the farm is being utilized for growing maize and vegetables that we use to feed the children and any excess we sell to buy other food items for the home. We also raise goats for selling and again the money is used to buy items for the children. The farm has a borehole that would allow us to grow more crops as water is not a problem. However we would need a full irrigation system and security on the farm.
Funding
Since the ADRA project has ended our main source of income is from CHER Canada. They sponsor individual children that live in the orphanage. The primary purpose of CHER Canda funding is health and education. Thus, we rely on donations to pay our day-to-day operational costs.
The nursery school is supported from the donations within the community. Also to help ourselves we grow vegetables and our own maize. Growing maize is a substantial savings as maize flour is the staple food in Malawi.
Projects
Every year we identify a project/s to improve the home. In 2005 we completed the following with assistance from Denmark:
- Purchased an industrial washer/dryer
- Tiled and put shower in boy’s bathroom
- Tiled girls shower room
- Installed new geyser in girl shower room
- Two new septic systems
- Repaired and installed new ceiling boards