The Dignity Project

ENUKWENI

Is one of the small towns in Mzimba District located almost 52 km away from the administrative city of Mzuzu.

Most of the people in the area are farmers depending on tobacco as their main cash crop and maize as their cash crop 80% of the population depend on farming for their survival socially and economically. Due to farm pressure, people depend on foreign labour force from other district this bring problems with a temporary workforce in terms of foreign cultural practices, leading to abandoned wives and children and increased risk of aids amongst the community adding to an increasing burden of orphans. This has forced the community to set up a community group to sensitise all village groups to embark on disseminating information in human rights, childhood development home based care food security, orphan care, and support.

In the areas of health 80% of the population do not have access to improved medical services due to lack of government and donor support of the established clinics and health services due to inadequate trained staff and sparse equipment this leads to a higher mortality rate. In addition to this HIV / AIDS has greatly effected a high number of people in the area especially the children six community based centres have been set up but lack resources and staff trained on child development. Other areas of need for education are girl and mother groups within the schools on life skills Aids prevention, advocacy, along with human rights, and entrepreneurial skills.

The communities trying to take ownership of these groups including Home Based Care in terms of mobilizing the community in volunteer work, to help HIV Positive people with house hold tasks and psychosocial care of their children. In support of community participation they have tried to mobilise youth clubs, women’s groups, community Home Based Care, care groups, childcare support groups, and HIV groups. These have formed an important and positive strategy as group formation can transform the marginalised population.

The community leaders came to us and asked us if we could help them.