Malawi maize
GENEROUS donations from the people of Mid Argyll have helped feed hundreds of families in Malawi.
PERHAPS you came to a fund-raising coffee morning last year or donated via one of the local churches to Mid Argyll Malawi twinning group?
As a result of the tremendous generosity of the people of Mid Argyll, the group sent £4,000 to twin congregation Kasamba for them to buy supplies of maize for families most in need.
A total of 489 households were helped in this way between December 2016 and March this year, with most receiving 25kg of maize.
Those families experiencing serious hardship received double that quantity.
Serious food shortages have occurred in rural areas to the south east of the central African country, around Cape Maclear on Lake Malawi, and it was in this region that most of the larger bags were distributed.
Mid Argyll Malawi twinning group’s partners in Malawi have expressed their gratitude that people in Argyll who do not even know them have shown such care and generosity and made a huge difference to the lives of hungry people.
Ruth Carruthers of Mid Argyll Malawi twinning group said: ‘The prospects for the maize harvest this season look better than last year and we hope and pray sufficient maize will be harvested to provide enough food for households.
Harvest
‘However, the area around Cape Maclear has once more experienced low rainfall and the harvest there is in jeopardy.’
Kasamba congregation still has some funds remaining from the gift sent from Mid Argyll and this will be used to augment food supplies to needy areas.
This year the group hopes to continue to develop the growing relationship between the people of Kasamba and Mid Argyll by inviting another group from Kasamba to visit, perhaps next spring.
Ruth continued: ‘With this visit in mind, our next priorities for fundraising will be focused towards providing assistance with travel costs for our visitors.
‘Mid Argyll Malawi twinning group will be very glad of your interest and support at forthcoming events.