High malaria rates in Malawi caused children to miss school. Upon their return, students like Halima struggled to keep up. After World Vision’s Indoor Residual Spray initiative, class attendance rose.
Why World Vision is in Malawi
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, sponsors may experience delays in communication from their sponsored child. We are actively working to keep you updated as the situation changes.
The drought spreading through much of Africa has caused severe food shortages in Malawi since 2016. Destructive foresting practices are also worsening the drought conditions—as the soil absorbs water less effectively, farming becomes more difficult.
Because Malawi uses hydro-powered electricity, the drought also caused blackouts and power shortages. With no power, small-scale businesses often had to shut down, and dairy farmers in particular were affected, since they couldn’t refrigerate their products. These factors didn’t help the chronic malnourishment and lack of food that stunt a third of Malawian children’s growth.
Your support is helping us provide short- and long-term emergency assistance to the families hit hardest by the drought’s effects. Working with partnerships, we brought emergency resources of food and water to those most in need, so families and communities can get back on the path to flourishing. Your support also means our work is transforming education and health for children in vulnerable communities. As we’re improving water and education together, kids are given tools to fulfill their God-given potential.
We never give up on people
World Vision child sponsorship looks at all the things that prevent children from surviving and thriving in their community, and then works with that community to bring all the pieces of the puzzle together to build a better life for all children. For sponsors, it’s a personal way to show God’s love to a child in need in a life-changing way.
Sponsor a child in Malawi ❯
Progress in Malawi
Thanks to the generous support of donors, we’re making great progress toward the well-being of children and their families.
Healthy Children and Families
Children and families are well nourished, protected from infection and disease, and have access to essential health services.
- Community members received information on how to use measures like handwashing and social distancing, helping to protect children and families from COVID-19. Most schools now have somewhere students and teachers can wash their hands with soap, helping to keep them safe from disease.
- Girls and boys under 5 years old had their height and weight checked, helping to identify malnourished children so they can get the treatment they need. Most malnourished children made a full recovery after attending our program, helping to prevent child sickness.
Education for Better Lives
Children have opportunities to learn and to develop their talents, young people are equipped for the future, and families and communities support children's education.
- Most children now go to after-school literacy activities, helping them to improve their reading skills. Some children, parents, and caregivers were given education kits or training as part of our COVID-19 response, helping children to learn at home during lockdowns.
- Over 13,000 young people took part in life skills activities, empowering them with social and emotional skills and confidence for the future.
Love of God and Neighbors
Children and families are growing spiritually, local churches are strengthened to demonstrate Christ's love in practical ways, and people are living at peace with their neighbors.
- Faith leaders were trained to lead parenting workshops and support groups, strengthening families to care for their children, and supporting them to know, experience, and show God's love. Faith leaders then trained parents on positive parenting skills, including how to discipline children without physical or emotional punishment, helping to protect girls and boys from abuse.
Prayer Requests from Malawi
World Vision's staff in Malawi are asking us to join them in prayer for the following:
Children's protection from cholera.
Children's protection from hunger, made worse by the drought and recent pest infestations.
News from Malawi
From the Field
12 reasons to have hope in 2022
While progress on ending global poverty and boosting development has slowed or stalled because of the pandemic, we still have many reasons to be hopeful. As we see progress in clean water, mother and child health, advocacy work, and more, we can trust that our sovereign God hasn’t stopped working. Read evidences of God’s mercy to His people with these 12 reasons to have hope in 2022.
Special Features
Called by God: The Every Last One campaign
In late 2015, World Vision launched Every Last One (ELO) — a $1 billion capital campaign over eight years to make life, hope, and a future possible for 60 million people. Explore the work that has already been done, and help us make an even bigger impact faster.
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