Artisans Get Building Tools from IOM in Chikwawa District
Chikwawa District Council Housing Officer Thandiwe Ngalande advised the Chikuse artisans to take ownership of the received building tools and be responsible for their care.
CHIKWAWA, Malawi -- The International Organization for Migration has donated building tools to 20 local artisans from Group Village Chikuse in the area of Traditional Authority Makhuwira in Chikwawa District, writes Noel Chimwala.
Speaking after the handover ceremony, IOM National Shelter Officer Innocent Chalera said the donation supports the "Durable Solutions for Populations Affected by Tropical Cyclone Freddy" project.
"This project is being funded by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Accelerator Fund Humanitarian Window to support this community (Chikuse) which has voluntarily relocated to a safer place, moving from a flood-prone area," Chalera said.
He said the organization first trained the local artisans on safe construction guidelines and is now providing them with tool kits valued at 120,000 kwacha each to construct safer new houses for Chikuse Village.
"We have provided each artisan with a pack containing tools like a builder's knife, pick axe, shovel, tape measure, panga knife, hammer, builder's rope and hoes," Chalera said.
He commended the District Shelter Cluster, traditional leaders, Ministry of Lands and communities for ensuring coordination in implementing the project.
Chikwawa District Council Housing Officer Thandiwe Ngalande advised the Chikuse artisans to take ownership of the received building tools and be responsible for their care.
"As the council, we advise local artisans to take responsibility in taking care and making sure these tools are used for the intended purpose," she said.
Ngalande also commended IOM for empowering the local artisans, emphasizing that the building tools will help them construct better houses at the new safer location after being affected by Cyclone Freddy in 2023 in their previous village.
Agrery Mtambo, the foreman for the Chikuse Artisan Group, praised IOM for the support, which he said will help them build their new village.
"As community members, we are going to make sure that these tools are taken care of and that they are being used for intended purposes," Mtambo said.
He appealed for other well-wishers to assist them as they face challenges at the new place, including a lack of a school for children and lack of food.