Elderly Given New Lease On Life
Georgina Phiri, 87, shares her plight saying her life was a mess in the past years, sometimes missing meals for an entire day due to poverty.
NKHATA BAY, Malawi- Two hundred elderly people from across Nkhatabay are sharing a blissful moment as their lives have been transformed from extreme poverty with a monthly stipend of K50,000, writes Ellah Chirwa.
Georgina Phiri, 87, shares her plight saying her life was a mess in the past years, sometimes missing meals for an entire day due to poverty.
"My age could not allow me to do farming, and I lost many of my children who could help me," Phiri said.
Phiri expressed gratitude for the support she receives through the Gogo Ananale project, saying her life has completely transformed and she never skips a meal unless unwell.
"I receive 50,000 kwacha every month which helps me buy food and run a small business," she said.
She thanked the project director, saying "he has come like Christ to redeem the walking corpses."
Chrissy Chirwa, from Nkhatabay, also expressed gratitude, saying she was waiting for death until the project came to her rescue.
Despised by relatives and neighbours who thought she was a witch, her life was unbearable.
"I thought of death to rest from everyday talks that gave me high blood pressure," Chirwa said. She thanked the director for rescuing her from the grave.
Chirwa says she now freely eats nutritious foods to strengthen her weak bones.
In his speech, project director Jacob Mtambalika said his love for the elderly compelled him to start the project.
"Many elderly are perceived as witches, causing discrimination," he said.
Mtambalika spends $1,100 monthly to help 200 elderly across Nkhatabay, aiming to end discrimination.