MALAWI: Irish Bishops Inspects CADECOM Projects in Balaka-Malawi
Bishop Stima (middle) interacts with bishops Fintani and Dempsey
Thokozani Chapola
On 14th November 2023, two Catholic bishops and other officials from the Republic of Ireland visited Chimpakati Village in the area of Traditional Authority Chamthunya in Balaka district to appreciate the efforts being made by the Catholic Development Commission in Malawi (CADECOM) in uplifting lives of rural Malawians.
The bishops; Paul Dempsey of Achonry diocese and Fintan Gavin of Cork and Ross diocese were accompanied by other officials from Trocaire to appreciate the implementation of Village bank and loan saving schemes by the CADECOM.
Speaking during the event, bishop for the Diocese of Mangochi Rt. Rev. Montfort Stima expressed happiness saying that CADECOM is trying its best to uplift lives of rural Malawians and observed that it is possible for people to become independent through such initiatives.
“This is so impressive. We have come here to appreciate what is happening on the ground because we just hear that CADECOM is doing this and that but today we are here to see the real things being done. We have seen what these villagers are doing in terms of village banks and loan saving groups. I am happy as well that there is an element of gender; men and women are now working together in maximizing their profits unlike in the past when this was only being done by women.
They are doing a lot which is helping their families. I am certain that these kinds of initiatives can change Malawi to a better country as long as we just know what is suitable for our particular area. As they are doing these village banks and loan savings groups, they should not just use the money for their daily needs but they should invest it in business,” the bishop said.
Speaking on behalf of the delegation, bishop Paul Dempsey, indicated that the delegation is impressed with the work being done by CADECOM in the area saying that the testimonies that women gave out during the gathering, showed that they are really benefiting from the initiative.
“I am very happy that they have already started benefiting from this initiative as we have heard their testimonies saying some have bought livestock and some have started businesses. I believe they will become independent little by little and we thank CADECOM for the job being done,” said bishop Dempsey.
In her remarks, one of the members for Tavomereza Village bank and loan savings group, Mercy William said that she has now started business through the money raised from the village bank and loan saving scheme.
“At first, we didn’t have the ability to do business but now we have started. We are also managing to pay school fees for our children and others have even bought livestock and built houses through this same initiative. After these five years we believe that our village will not be the same as today, as we will be developed because we will manage to sustain ourselves even after this project,” she said.
CADECOM with funding from Ireland through Trocaire is training members of village savings and loan groups, training farmers in agro-ecological farming practices as well as capacity building on gender policy, leadership and gender roles, in the areas of Traditional Authority Phalula and Chamthunya in Balaka district where it is reaching out to 1,200 people, in which 720 are women and 480 are men. The project is for 5 years running from 2023 to 2027.
