Background
The John C
Thomas (JCT) Children’s Foundation is a local non-governmental organisation charity,
registered under
the trustees incorporation act in
Malawi. The charity was founded by Emlyn "John" and Pastor Michael "Thomas"
when they met on the border of
Malawi
and
Tanzania
in August 2000, whilst Emlyn was travelling through Africa on an 18 month world
trip. After visiting Michael’s village for three days in
September 2000, the two agreed to form The JCT Children’s Foundation, along with Michael’s wife
"C"hrissie, with the aim of providing continuous support and care for the
orphaned children of
Malawi
.
Vision
The main objective
of the charity is to alleviate the poverty of orphaned children
within the rural
communities of
Malawi
who have been infected or affected by HIV/AIDS,
and then enabling them to build a sustainable future from the projects and work
we carry out. The foundation shall
work with the people of
Malawi
, enabling them to become self sufficient and giving them hope for their family’s
future.
The projects will be based on improving health and medical treatment for child-headed
households, to enhance education standards, habitat, livelihood and ad-hoc solutions
which will have an immediate and long term impact on the deprived lives of these
children.
Over time we would like to incorporate projects such as setting up mobile clinics,
setting up HIV/AIDS
Education and conducting vocational training.
For the immediate future the focus will be on supporting the orphans directly.
History of
The John C Thomas Children’s Foundation
In September 2000, Emlyn John, Chrissie and Michael Thomas agreed to form The John C
Thomas Children’s Foundation. Our local knowledge means that
all funds raised through
the foundation go directly to charities controlled by local people supporting with
the foundation. A site was identified in Chiladzulu district in the Southern part
of Malawi to build an orphanage.
In June 2001, The Foundation was registered with the Government of Malawi under
the trustees incorporation act and is currently working with the Ministry of Gender
and Children’s Social Welfare.
In January 2003, The Foundation established an orphan centre in Nsanje District
at Chief Tengani’s area, in the Southern Part of Malawi and near the border between
Malawi and Mozambique. The centre has 1000 registered orphans and vulnerable children:
the centre is manager Austin Chirwa. Since 2003, the centre has been run using funds
from The JCT Children's Foundation and other well wishers including Shefani and Niparm from
India and Joanne Jerissen from the United States of America. These funds have assisted
the foundation to buy Agricultural inputs.
Today the orphans of Tengani have a maize and vegetable garden which helps them
to get money and maize. Five treadle pumps have been bought with the same money
and the families are able to have maize throughout the year. The money has also
been used to buy cartons of soap, sugar and salt which have been distributed amongst
children.
These small donations also used to raise awareness of HIV/AIDS amongst community
leaders. Two children were sent to Lilongwe to learn modern methods of agriculture.
In January 2005 another centre was opened in Lilongwe, at Mutu village. The centre
has 250 registered orphans and runs a nursery school. Another centre was opened
in Chitipa. Chitipa is in the Northern part of Malawi bordering Malawi and Tanzania.
The centre has 700 registered children. Pastor Silesi Mtambo is the centre manager
in Chitipa and Martha Mkandawire is the centre manager in Lilongwe.
In November 2005 Martha and Michael went on a training course in monitoring and
evaluation organized by Action Aid Malawi. In October 2005, Michael and Austin went
attended a training course in management of people living with HIV/Aids.
On 17th November 2005 The Foundation received funding from Action Aid Malawi amounting
to MK 742, 190 (£3130.46). The money was put to good use in raising HIV/AIDS awareness
amongst local leaders. The funding also helped us to buy agricultural supplies.
We bought 160 packets of maize seed and 110 bags of fertilizer. These were distributed
to the children to help them have high yield. The crops are doing very well and
they are expecting to experience a difference in their harvest this year.
On 16th January 2006 The JCT Foundation received funding from the Nationals Aids
Commission through World Vision International Malawi, amounting to MK 314, 000 (£1324.41).
With this funding The JCT Children’s Foundation conducted training for local leaders
on HIV/AIDS Awareness, Child Abuse and the care of orphans. We bought agricultural
supplies, namely 200 packets of maize seeds, 200 packets of vegetable seeds and
30 water canes for the community garden.
