Industry

News Update - July, 2007 The maize sheller at Kambona has been installed and is now fully operational...performing as vital community service as well as a good income-earner that'll help meet the cost of feeding 150 loccal AIDS orphans. These are the first photos just in.

News Update - June, 2007 A short distance from the Msema village which now has a very busy diesel maize mill (scroll down this page to see), is the village of Kambona where the Australian AIDS Fund has funded the building of the Australian Junior Secondary School. A building has now been built to house a maize sheller which would be a valuable income-earning addition for the Searchlight Orphan Care (SOC) organisation. It's currently storing a number of 50kg bags of maize from the recent bumper harvest. The machinery itself is quite elaborate as can be seen in one of these photographs. The income from a maize sheller could help feed as many as 150 needy orphans in the Kambona area

Msema's Shopping 'Complex' takes shape

The village of Msema is about to unveil its very first first shop...a general store to be known as the Searchlight Shop...which will also be supported by toilet and bathing room facilities. The Searchlight Shop will offer a range of goods including cooking and lighting oils, various foods and sauces, and, vitally, bicycle spare parts...a "must" in these parts!

It'll also have a paraffin-powered fridge so that it may also offer cold drinks!!!

The Searchlight Shop 'complex' is also about to be flanked by a Barber Shop and a 'Telephone bureau'.....the first public phone in Msema. Up to now, the nearest public 'phone was 10 kilometres away.

The Australian AIDS Fund also provided the money to buy a diesel maize mill from India and a building to house it...along with a toilet and urinary room for its clients.

This mill will not only save the people of Msema and surrounding villages from travelling miles on foot to a distant mill...carrying their crops on their heads....but will also excuse the poor from paying milling fees. Critically too, the diesel mill will provide self-sufficiency income that'll help Searchlight Orphan Care to feed and clothe the orphans in its care as well as meeting the cost of food needed for the school kitchen.

Just outside Msema, the Australian AIDS Fund Incorporated, with the help of very generous benefactors, has bought two new shops from a deceased estate and when the shops are shortly equipped with sewing machines, they'll provide welcome employment income for village women as well as Searchlight Orphan Care.

Pastor Duncan, the executive director of Searchlight Orphan Care who oversees the overall project, also now has his new home here...behind the shops. His former home was demolished by the drenching rains.

Just out of Msema, you'll spot the little tailors' shops....

Ten sewing machines have been installed here and three tailors are on hand to teach the ropes to the locals who are soon busy producing women's skirts. Then it'll be the women's turn to take a hand.

Pastor Duncan Nyozani, is the Executive Director of Searchlight Orphan Care which The Australian AIDS Fund Inc is partnering in this overall Malawi project. His sons are Mike and Ben. The Pastor's home is on the same site as the 2 shops which are being equipped with sewing machines to be used like a cottage industry.

Transport was a critical need for the Searchlight Orphan Care organisation, vital to link the various enterprises now underway in Msema.....the croplands...the diesel maize mill....the various shops....the school...the mini-orphanages of San Michel and Malawi House..and to bring in fresh supplies and fuel from Blantyre. This transport need is being met by the purchase of this 3 tonner lorry from South Africa, financed by The Australian AIDS Fund Inc. But if you want a ride..you'll have to look sharp. First in, best dressed!