Mai Mbambande Foundation Transforms Lives of Elderly in Malawi
This project aims to provide shelter, clothing, and food to homeless and destitute elderly individuals in the area.
LILONGWE, Malawi — Gogo Nasitima Chikadwala from Dzama village in TA Chitukula, Lilongwe, is experiencing a new lease on life thanks to an innovative project led by the Mai Mbambande Foundation, writes Howard Mlozi.
This project aims to provide shelter, clothing, and food to homeless and destitute elderly individuals in the area.
Gogo Nasitima, a lifelong resident of a dilapidated kitchen, is now all smiles as she settles into her first-ever decent house, complete with an iron roof.
The keys to her new home were handed over to her during the commemoration of Mai Mbambande Foundation's three years of work in the community.
"I have been sleeping in a dilapidated kitchen all my life and never expected to have a house roofed with iron sheets and made of bricks," exclaimed Gogo Nasitima.
"Moreover, my house has been installed with solar power. I ask myself, is this really me sleeping in this decent house with lights? I thank God for this wonderful gift of a house because I now have a place I can call home."
Gogo Nasitima's life has been marked by struggle, lacking basic amenities like food and clothing. However, the Mai Mbambande Foundation stepped in to change her story.
"Mai Mbambande Foundation is bringing real transformation to the lives of the elderly people, including me, in my community," said Gogo Nasitima, affectionately known as Nana.
Deborah Mbale, the founder of Mai Mbambande Foundation, envisions giving hope to homeless and destitute elderly individuals.
In Malawi, many elderly people face discrimination and abuse due to age-related stereotypes, with some being accused of practicing witchcraft.
They are often abandoned by their communities to fend for themselves.
"A majority of the elderly persons in our communities are abandoned and accused of witchcraft due to old age. They have no place to sleep, no food to eat, and no proper clothing. The sad thing is that most of them are too weak to fend for themselves," revealed Mbale.
Currently, the foundation cares for 76 elderly individuals, and construction of an elderly hostel is underway to provide them with decent shelter.
Gogo Nasitima received her own house because she served as a model in her community.
As part of its third-year anniversary celebration on September 20, 2023, the Mai Mbambande Foundation constructed and gifted Gogo Nasitima a house, marking a significant transformation in her life.
"This is not just a building but a home to a once-rejected, homeless, and lonely elderly person in Malawi," said Mbale.
Mbale expressed gratitude to partners like Poultry and Solar Equipment Limited for installing a solar system in Gogo Nasitima's new house for free.
Regarding the construction of the female elderly hostel, Mbale revealed that 90 percent of the work has already been completed.
"We are remaining with the finishing phase—roofing, flooring, plastering. This is a dream come true for us, and we thank everyone who has been part of this transformation because together, we are a beacon of hope for elderly people in the country," said Mbale.
She urged more well-wishers to support her foundation in its mission to improve the welfare of elderly individuals in Malawi. 🏠🌟 #Malawi #ElderlyCare #MaiMbambandeFoundation