Friends of Balaka intensifies charity works
A charitable and humanitarian grouping, Friends of Balaka, has said the depth of poverty among the poor is appreciated much better during the cold season when orphans and vulnerable children (OVCs) have nothing to cover themselves with at night.
Friends of Balaka interim chair, Davison Kumpama, said OVCs face the full harshness of the elements at night as most of them do not have effective blankets to keep off the cold.
Speaking when the humanitarian grouping donated blankets to 123 OVCs and disabled children worth K300,000, Kumpama called upon well-wishers to extend a helping hand to the needy.
“We neither have political ambitions nor affiliations but we exist to help the less-privileged to live a dignified life through contributions from group members,” he said.
Kumpama also said his organisation was not attached to the First Lady although she comes from Balaka but that they receive help from all people with good intentions Group Village Head Mwalabu said HIV and Aids was responsible for the high number of OVCs in her area and this was causing untold suffering.
“Most parents have died of HIV and Aids leaving behind children who are being looked after by poor and elderly people with no means of earning income,” Mwalabu said.
She said people should stop being promiscuous to avoid being infected with HIV and leaving behind children with no means of survival.
A community-based facilitator, Angella Likati, said poverty was so high in her area and OVCs are the ones at the receiving end of it because people don’t care for them.
“People do not feel touched by the plight of the needy anymore and orphans are suffering because of irresponsible parents,” Likati said.
The needy children came from Mwalabu, Chatama and Amidi community-based organisations
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