Residents urged to embrace saving culture
Communities around Traditional Authority (T/A) Mponda in Mangochi have been urged to cultivate a culture of saving their earnings to boost their socioeconomic status.
Direct Connections to Africa founder (DCTA), Mary Carter, made the remarks on Wednesday in Mangochi when her organisation handed over 10 bicycle ambulances and 48 kabaza bicycles worth MK4.7 million to local businesswomen from 10 villages in T/A Mponda.
Cater observed that the saving culture among most Malawians living in rural areas is low due to lack of proper training and access to banking facilities, a situation which forced her organisation to invite bank officials to train the locals in savings before they embark on their various business.
“We have been working with the communities for seven years and our observation is that the people are hard working. What they need is necessary support in terms of how they can invest their earnings which in turn can improve their economic status,” Carter said.
Speaking on the bicycle donation, Carter said her organisation, with support from its international donors, were satisfied with the interest people have shown to support themselves with various business ventures, adding that the bicycles intend to ease their mobility challenges.
“We believe that a healthy community can contribute to the development of a country that is why we also decided to support the 10 villages with bicycle ambulances to help them easily access health facilities which are mostly located at long distant,” said Carter.
in his remarks, Group Village Head Matuwi thanked DCTA for the donations which he described as timely considering how people have been struggling to reach health facilities.
“Hospitals are located at long distances from most of the villages that have received the donation. We have been struggling for a long time such that pregnant women have been delivering in homes because they could not reach hospitals in time due to long distances,” said Matuwi.
A vibrant writer who gives a great insight on hot topics and issues
