Islamic Relief has extended its One-to-One Orphan Sponsorship programme to Malawi, one of the poorest countries in the world where more than 70 percent of the population live on less than $1.25 a day.
There are around 1.5 million orphans in Malawi, many of them having lost one or both parents to HIV/AIDS. Their extended families are usually too poor to take care of them and the burden of responsibility often falls on elderly grandmothers who cannot provide them with adequate food, water, shelter or healthcare.
In a country where only 26 percent of children enrolled at school complete their primary education, the dropout rate amongst orphans is even higher. Children are forced to work from a very young age if they are to survive, limiting their opportunity to gain an education and decent employment later in life.
Islamic Relief’s Orphan Sponsorship programme in Malawi is reaching out to the most vulnerable children in Blantyre District, including children with disabilities, those who are cared for by an elderly relative and children who are the main breadwinners of their families.
Once sponsored, these children will have access to nutritious food, clean water, safe shelter, healthcare and a quality education. Islamic Relief Malawi will also provide specialist care to children with additional needs through psycho-social services, as well as help guardians provide better support for the children in their care.
Islamic Relief has been working in Malawi since 2006, delivering food and clean water, helping communities earn a living and improving the lives of children.
Our One-to-One Orphan Sponsorship is a global programme that allows individual donors to sponsor an orphan and their family, ensuring all the child’s needs are met. Currently, over 55,000 orphaned children are sponsored by Islamic Relief donors around the world.
Find out more about Islamic Relief’s Orphan Sponsorship programme.