Holy Christians Church builds homes for poor in Nsanje and Chikwawa districts
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Holy Christians Church builds homes for poor in Nsanje and Chikwawa districts
Holy Christians Church's charity department provides hope to elderly, poor in Malawi , writes Moses Thole.
Chikwawa, Malawi– The Holy Christians Church’s Department of Charity has become a beacon of hope for the elderly and underprivileged households in Nsanje and Chikwawa districts, writes Moses Thole.
Through its ongoing house construction project, the church has provided shelter to those who have been struggling to find suitable living conditions.
Since its inception in 2018, the project has focused on assisting the elderly, particularly those who have faced long-standing challenges in securing proper housing.
Anafi Jerejere, an 89-year-old resident of Rabu village in Chikwawa district, is one of the beneficiaries of this initiative. For years, she endured an unhappy life, sleeping on neighbours’ verandas due to a lack of resources to build her own house.
Expressing her gratitude, Jerejere shared, “When I was selected as one of the beneficiaries of the housing project by Holy Christians Church, I couldn’t believe my ears.
Since 2020, I now have my own house, and I no longer experience the problems I went through, like harsh weather conditions.”
Jerejere encouraged church leaders to continue the programme, emphasising the positive impact it has had on the lives of underprivileged individuals.
She remarked, “This is a good initiative that other stakeholders should emulate. It is very good to take care of the elderly because most of us really lack support.”
Yusuf Mateyu, a visually impaired resident of Konzere village under Traditional Authority Ngabu, also expressed his gratitude for the housing project.
After losing his house to Cyclone Idai in 2019, Mateyu spent months in a ramshackle structure.
However, he found solace when he approached the Holy Christians Church and was included as a beneficiary in 2020.
“I don’t have any housing problems now as I sleep in a well-roofed and ventilated building, thanks to the church,” Mateyu enthused.
He not only found physical comfort but also spiritual fulfilment, joining the Holy Christians Church congregation in Chimbembe Branch every Sunday.
Bishop Josephy Josen of Holy Christians in Malawi acknowledged the dire living conditions faced by many underprivileged individuals in Chikwawa and Nsanje districts.
He explained, “It pains me to see many elderly people lacking shelter, which puts their lives in danger. As a church, we decided to embark on the housing project to look after the welfare of the less privileged through house construction.”
Since 2018, the church has constructed 26 houses in Chikwawa and Nsanje districts, with seven in the Senior Group Konzere area alone. However, despite the increasing demand for housing, the church is facing financial challenges in meeting these needs.
“Sourcing funds is a serious challenge. We rely on support from well-wishers, but it often takes time for people to respond, causing delays in our plans,” lamented Bishop Josen.
In 2021, the church had aimed to construct 10 houses but could only manage eight due to resource constraints.
Looking ahead, Josen disclosed that the charity department plans to construct at least 50 houses for the needy by 2025 in Chikwawa and Nsanje districts.
The church is actively seeking partners to collaborate with in order to achieve this goal.
The Holy Christians Church’s commitment to providing shelter to the elderly and underprivileged in Malawi has not only improved living conditions but has also offered a spiritual lifeline to those in need.
With ongoing efforts, the church aims to extend its support and bring hope to even more individuals in the years to come.