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Temwa is a UK-based organisation that raises funds to implement community-based projects in Malawi, southern Africa.
The first project is based in an area called Nkhata Bay North, on the north shore of Lake Malawi. This remote region of 28,000 people has no electricity, no running water and is severely affected by the AIDS epidemic. There are no other NGOs (non governmental organisations) working in the region and the local government strongly encouraged Temwa in the selection of this area, due to its strong need for basic development.
Overseen by a programme and project manager in Malawi, Temwa consists of a series of programmes that are aimed at providing sustainable community-driven development in four key areas:
We have 23 full time employees in Malawi including an extremely experienced Programme Manager and Project Manager, who manage and ensure the safe keeping of the projects in Malawi. The UK team consists of a dedicated group of volunteers, an experienced board of trustees, and a UK Manager and UK Project Administrator, who are employed on a part-time basis. This means minimal costs, with the majority of funds raised going directly to the programmes in Malawi. |
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The Temwa mission is to create hope for the future among the people of Malawi by:
Providing an infrastructure to support Malawian families facing financial and humanitarian hardship, irrespective of religious orientation.
Creating partnerships and programs to equip the local population with the skills and resources to ensure ongoing health, education, and financial stability for families and the wider community.
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The idea behind Temwa began in 2000 when Jo Hook and Sophie Elson were running a backpacker's lodge in Malawi.
Whilst there, they came face to face with the many hardships that the people of Malawi deal with on a daily basis. Particularly close to Jo and Sophie was the plight of Lotti - a member of staff at the lodge. The girls watched Lotti loose his fight against AIDS: a disease that had already claimed the lives of his wife and many of his close family. His death left his sister to look after and provide for all of his six children, plus her other brother's and sister's offspring, who were all orphaned by either AIDS, cholera, malaria or typhoid.
Sophie and Jo were so moved by the desperate situation that, on their return to England, they decided to send out the equivalent of Lotti's monthly income to support his family. It was apparent that this story was not unusual in this part of the world and the girls felt empowered to do more. They spent time researching the specific problems Malawian's were facing and how to best tackle them. They then began a three-year fundraising programme that would not only raise awareness, but also the targeted amount in order to start their planned projects. |
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