Peace Corps’ Post

Breaking the Cycle: A Journey to a Brighter Tomorrow On a lazy Sunday drive to the outskirts of Lilongwe with an old friend brought back nostalgic memories. We reminisced about a time when Malawi was thriving, with progress and innovation on the rise. It was as if we had already lived in the future of Malawi in the past. Fast-forward to today, and the reality is stark. Malawi's economy is stagnant, infrastructure is crumbling, education is lagging, and social issues remain unresolved. It feels like we're stuck in a cycle, unable to break free and adapt to the evolving world. But amidst the challenges, in our conversation, we agreed that we hold the key to unlocking our future. As a bridge between generations, it's our collective responsibility to drive progress, foster innovation, and ignite positive change. On our return, we made a commitment to stop our Sunday drives but instead spend such time joining forces and reignite the flames of progress and innovation that once defined our beloved Malawi. I invite you to share in this vision and contribute your part towards this transformative journey. 💪🌍 #Progress #Innovation #BrighterFuture #TogetherWeThrive

We are excited about the insights from the just-ended side event organized by the Community Health Impact Coalition on the margins of #UNGA78. Here are some takeaways that deeply resonate with our mission: 1. #CHWs are the backbone of the health system. In Malawi, CHWs are no more volunteers. They are formally recognized as civil servants from their communities. - Hon. Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda, Minister of Health, Malawi 2. We have seen #CHWs work in Kenya, Liberia, and Mali and understand their essential role in achieving #UHC. That's why The Global Fund invests in Africa Frontline First to help build system readiness, scaled funding, and country leadership for #CHWs in Africa. - john fairhurst, Head, Private Sector Engagement, The Global Fund 3. The time to invest in #CHWs is not tomorrow, it's not soon, it's NOW! - bupe sinkala, #CHW from mothers2mothers in Zambia The time has come to establish #CHWs as the standard in healthcare. Let's make this change together. - Dr. Madeleine Ballard, CEO of Community Health Impact Coalition Learn more about Africa Frontline First as it seeks to increase financing to scale #proCHWs. https://lnkd.in/dSxmbZcv Photo credit: Last Mile Health

Honorable Minister, Dr Betta Edu visited the Ichiwa Internally Displaced Persons [ IDP ] camp in Makurdi Benue State with the company of His Excellency Reverend Father Hyacinth Alia Governor of Benue State. Dr. Edu assured the IDPs of President Tinubu's unwavering determination to find lasting solutions to their plight, noting that if urgent and immediate actions were not taken, the situation could degenerate into unmitigated humanitarian crises. A house hold of 6 living in a small shanty that can’t even accommodate the width of her arm, made of light tapoline, when it rains mothers and children are out there in the rain, etc “We are here to build low-cost houses (two sites at the same time) for the displaced persons. It should be a matter of emergency for all agencies and all stakeholders in humanitarian responses to urgently deploy to Benue to help remedy the situation because the condition I see here is unacceptable, "she said. Speaking further, the Minister said: "The federal government of Nigeria, requests, as a matter of urgency, for all international partners, donors agencies including the UN and indeed everyone in the humanitarian space to deploy to Benue State; the situation is an emergency " On our part, the government is providing shelters for them and several other interventions including water, sanitation, and hygiene programs as well as educational learning programs. We can not allow this number of children to be unschooled. #renewedhope #benuestate #idps

💡In order to truly reflect our model and how we work with our local partners, we have recently restructured how we introduce ourselves💡   Here's a quick overview: 🤝 We partner with trusted Ethiopian local civil society organisations, to provide sustainable support for people in Ethiopia who need it most at a time when it will make a real difference.   Through our 15 implementation partners across Ethiopia, we aim to improve access to and quality of maternal healthcare and education, promote the rights of women and girls, and provide treatment and protect dignity for people with terminal illnesses, neglected tropical diseases and people living with disabilities.   Our partners' depth of local knowledge, combined with technical understanding, means their programmes are responsive to local culture and have strong community engagement and ownership.   Our model is based on trusted relationships and strong communication. 100% of grants we receive reach our partners as we are able to cover our own costs. Through bi-annual monitoring and evaluation we facilitate agile partnerships, that mean projects can be continuously developed, with flexible funding and re-allocation of budget when needed. 🤝   💭 How does your organisation envision impactful partnerships? 💭   #PartnershipApproach #StrategicImpact #CommunityInvolvement  #LocalKnoweldge  #StrongCommunication  #FlexibleFunding

Uganda alone is home to more than 1.5 million refugees. Seed Effect is committed to bringing Christ-centered economic empowerment to the hard places. With access to better and more reliable financial tools, members of Seed Effect's savings and loans groups sustainably empower each other out of extreme poverty and into better relationships with God, self, and each other. These groups meet weekly to build Christ-centered community and pool their savings. Members can provide loans to each other for investing in businesses, education, health, and assets. At the end of each annual cycle, the savings and interest earned is distributed to each member. With no outside funding, the average member experiences an increase in their savings, income, assets, meals, electricity, medical care and education. On average, members experience a 29% annual return on their savings and a 103% increase in the livestock they own. 37% of members who were not Christian before the program place their faith in Jesus and 99% of members report that their relationship with God, self, and others have improved. You can learn more about Seed Effect's work in Uganda and join us in supporting their work by becoming an All Access Member today: https://lnkd.in/gZnv8Qza.

What We're Reading 📚: The urgent need for Malawian CSOs to #ShiftThePower 🇲🇼 The morning after tropical cyclone Freddy made landfall in February 2023, Malawians living closest to the locations that had been hit were the first responders. However, their swift response and contributions were soon completely overshadowed by mainstream narratives driven by international humanitarian responders. In Malawi, CSOs have brought about tangible changes, such as improved access to healthcare, education, and sanitation. However, while they have been successful in addressing specific issues, there is a need to ensure that the progress achieved is not only maintained, but also continuously built upon over time with an implicit wariness of “quick and universal solutions” driven from the outside. https://ow.ly/Pk1K50PwJwm The Global Fund for Community Foundations

An estimated 64% of 10-year-olds globally cannot read for meaning in any language - in Sub-Saharan Africa, it's 89%. This is an unprecedented learning crisis. Join the conversation on how to fix this problem, with Human Capital Africa, Association for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA), UNICEF and Dangote Group. Join here -> https://lnkd.in/eMkyZgrW #Foundationallearning, #AUYearofEducation Foundational Literacy and Numeracy Hub

I have attended several conferences, but the #unique thing about #IMNHC2023 is linked to outcomes and continuity of efforts. Joint in-agency #UN team prepared countries with their draft priority action plans... the preparation tracks back to our Kigali, Rwanda #EPMM-#ENAP meeting. 🌍💚🤝 #sustainability #globalhealth #collaboration #progressustainability In #Eastern and #Southern #Africa, 13 countries are involved in these concentrated efforts. These countries include 🇰🇪 Kenya, 🇪🇹 Ethiopia, 🇲🇼 Malawi, 🇸🇴 Somalia, 🇿🇦 South Africa, 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe, 🇿🇲 Zambia, 🇹🇿 Tanzania, 🇺🇬 Uganda, 🇷🇼 Rwanda, 🇲🇬 Madagascar, 🇲🇿 Mozambique, and 🇧🇮 Burundi, 🇺🇬 Uganda, 🇷🇼 Rwanda, 🇲🇬 Madagascar, 🇲🇿 Mozambique, and 🇧🇮 Burundi. And they are part of it because they wanted to be! All 13 countries submitted their Expressions of Interest to AlignMNH and went through a comptetative process. The joint work of UNICEF, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), UNFPA East and Southern Africa, World Health Organization and #partners, including development and humanitarian will have a multiplier effect. Their combined efforts are now focused on finalizing the ENAP and EPMM priority action plans, exemplifying the power of collaboration in achieving #EveryNewbornActionPlan and #EndingPreventableMaternalMortality 🎯 goals. #neonatalhealth #maternalhealth #collaboration

As an organization, we are deeply moved by the profoundly heart-wrenching video we recently came across. Filmed in South Sudan, it has opened our eyes to the harsh realities faced by the people in this region. The innocent children in the video are crying out, voicing their pain and disappointment over the broken promises made by their leaders. They were assured of a better future—improved education, healthcare, and essential infrastructure. Tragically, these promises remain unfulfilled, leaving behind devastating consequences. Witnessing the suffering these people endure on a daily basis fills our hearts with empathy. Sick individuals are forced to seek medical treatment abroad, while crucial pillars of society, such as soldiers and teachers, are left to bear the burden of neglect. As an organization driven by compassion, it breaks our collective heart to witness such injustice and despair. We fervently wish for immediate action from the government, to wipe away the tears of the homeless, orphans, and widows who deserve better acknowledgment and support. Now is the time for our leaders to prioritize the development of infrastructure, hospitals, and schools. It is not just about fulfilling promises; it is about providing hope and forging a brighter future for these children and their communities. Standing together, we can make a difference. Let us unite in demanding change, uplifting the next generation, and building a nation that cherishes its youth and delivers on its commitments. Together, we shall sow the seeds of hope and inspire a legacy of transformation that resonates through generations. As organization, we're empowering young people in South Sudan to Trailblaze New Horizons. #SouthSudan #BrokenPromises #HopeForTheFuture #CompassionInAction #UnitedForChange #BuildingABetterNation YALI Regional Leadership Center East Africa YALI Africa Mastercard Foundation USAID Martina Möllers Ayina Think Tank Rwanda

🎂🎂🎂🚩🚩🚩 Happy East African Community Day! The East African Community (EAC) comprises six countries: Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda. These nations collaborate to promote regional integration and socio-economic development. Economically, the EAC aims to create a single market, increase trade, and boost industrialization among member states. The region has made strides in implementing common policies to facilitate trade, investment, and infrastructure development. Efforts such as the elimination of tariffs on intra-regional trade and the development of common infrastructure projects have contributed to economic growth. Socially, the EAC focuses on improving healthcare, education, and human capital development. Member countries work together to enhance access to education, healthcare services, and address social challenges like poverty and inequality. Collaboration in areas such as health information sharing, joint disease control efforts, and education initiatives have been emphasized for the collective benefit of the region. However, challenges persist, including disparities in economic development among member states, infrastructure gaps, and occasional political tensions. Nonetheless, the EAC continues to strive for greater integration, fostering cooperation, and leveraging the strengths of its diverse member nations for mutual growth and development. #EACDay #EastAfricanCommunity #RegionalIntegration #EconomicDevelopment #SocialDevelopment #TradeInAfrica #InfrastructureDevelopment #HealthcareInitiatives #EducationForAll #CollaborationForChange #UnityInDiversity #MutualGrowth #AfricaRising