Cash Crops: Solar Irrigation Systems are Creating Opportunities - Malawian farmer celebrating his onion cash crops. For the first year, Malawian farmers in VIP’s partner villages are making significant profits. For those who are unaware of the seasonal split in Malawi, this is an unusual time for harvest. The rainy season ended back in March 2022 and they have not received rain since. However,… ... Continue Reading
Deirdre Ryan: A Symbol of Gratitude - Deirdre Ryan has been a VIP volunteer for over a decade including attending a trip to Malawi in 2011. Her years of volunteering have been spent serving on numerous committees, helping to organize events, and writing Thank You letters. Whether you know Deirdre personally or not, many of you have received one of her renowned… ... Continue Reading
The Shipping Container Arrived! - Our shipping container arrived! After running into delays at customs that required our amazing Malawian staff to get support from their Government, all of the supplies donated by our supporters have finally made it to our partners in Malawi. These donations have provided supplies that are not accessible in Malawi. They will go towards schools… ... Continue Reading
Cydney has Graduated! - Many of you have followed Cydney’s story throughout the years with VIP. His early life was filled with tragedy after his mother passed away, leaving Cydney orphaned at eight years old. He was left to care for himself and his younger sister without support. This is not uncommon in our partner villages. Cydney became involved… ... Continue Reading
Women Find Empowerment in Saving: The Story of Chrissy Paundi - Today, I got to meet with another couple from VIP’s impact area in Malawi, Chrissy and George Paundi. Chrissy, a beautiful woman with a wide smile, greets me over the zoom screen in Chichewa, the local language. We exchange the usual formal introductions. I know just enough Chichewa to make it through the first… ... Continue Reading
Worldwide Logistics Group Devoted To Partnership With VIP - By Beth Cohen and Jordan Heinzel-Nelson Bob Kloss (left) and Grant Stiles (right) work with Boy Scout Emmanuel of troop 53 (center) to load bee hives into the warehouse where WorldWide Logistics will store them until shipment Worldwide Logistics Group (WWL), a global logistics and supply chain management company, will donate warehouse and shipping services… ... Continue Reading
Overcoming Challenges – By Roseline Nambazo - My name is Roseline Nambazo from Teputepu Village. I am a student at the Malawi College of Medicine studying to earn a bachelor’s degree in the medicine of surgery. As a girl raised in the village, my life has been difficult as far as school is concerned. In my community, people believe that girls do… ... Continue Reading
Making Dreams a Reality – By Cydney Chikalema - My name is Cydney Chikalema from Kalupe Village in Malawi, Africa. I am the second born in a family of now only two, me and my brother. My life was not easy when I was growing up. Raised by a single mother, we were 3 children. It was difficult to get by. We depended on… ... Continue Reading
Prayers for the Hungry Season- By Liz Heinzel-Nelson - Malawians don’t call their seasons Spring, Summer, Fall, or Winter. They use descriptive words like Rainy Season, Cold Season, and Hungry Season. This time of year is often referred to as the lean, or hungry season. Many people have depleted their harvest from last year and their next harvest will not come in until March… ... Continue Reading
God’s Timing in the Villages – By Liz Heinzel-Nelson - The land cruiser bounced over the dusty roads, jostling Violet and me as we drove into the hazy morning sky covering the villages. We picked up Heswick, an orphan who was identified by our Malawian staff members as vulnerable, to take him to the clinic to have his wound redressed. The clinic asked us to… ... Continue Reading
Our Faith Can Move Mountains – By Molly Babb - There are no words to describe the feeling of exhaustion at the end of a long day of clinic or bouncing down the bumpy dirt roads in the back of a truck, or playing soccer in the hot sun, or worshipping at church in Chichewa, or sitting on straw mats in a village. There are… ... Continue Reading
My Heart is Changed for the Better – By Abby Huston - This trip to Africa has been one of the absolute best experiences of my life. I feel so blessed that I was able to use my nursing skills to serve the people of Malawi and meet amazing, life long friends along the way. There is really no way to fully describe Malawi, the villages we… ... Continue Reading
The Warm Heart of Africa – By Jaclyn Maushart - Going to Malawi with VIP and the medical team has absolutely changed my life forever. I can say first hand that the amount of love the Malawians have for each other and us is truly amazing. I now see why this country is called "the warm heart of Africa". This trip had a few changes,… ... Continue Reading
My New Malawian Friends – By Erin Joyce - We are created the same, yet somehow by a unique set of circumstances, we survive differently. I met a culture of people born into poverty with unimaginable suffering in Malawi, Africa. They are brilliant and happy and kind and beautiful. Their resilience and ability to laugh drew me to them, and their suffering is what… ... Continue Reading
Mkumbira Village Borehole – By Kathleen Grant, RN - I first learned of Villages in Partnership in October of 2019. I had the honor of giving Mr. Mwalabu and his team of VIP Malawian Staff a tour of St. Luke’s Hospital located in Allentown, Pennsylvania. As we walked around the hospital, which I have worked for 8 years, I watched as the eyes of… ... Continue Reading
Conservation Agriculture Field Day – By David Specca - On Wednesday, March 4th, I traveled with Wellings Mwalabu to the village of Disi to attend the Conservation Agriculture Field Day that was organized by VIP, for Disi Village and the surrounding villages. The purpose of Field Day is to give farmers the opportunity to see first-hand sustainable practices being used and to ask the… ... Continue Reading
Goat Drive for Malawi – By Grace Nemec - On a beautiful August afternoon during my Friendship Trip in Malawi, I traveled to a village for a goat deworming and goat pass-on ceremony. After this life-changing afternoon, I came home with a determination to tell my story and share my experiences. At my school, I am the head of the Hearts for Africa Club… ... Continue Reading
Saving in the Villages – By Liz Heinzel-Nelson - "Food secure" is a term we don't hear in America. It means that a family has enough food to last until the next harvest; they're not concerned about where their next meal will come. In VIP's Impact Area, where all people are subsistence farmers, I've never heard anyone say they are food secure. Until this… ... Continue Reading
A Bright Green Field – By Liz Heinzel-Nelson - The sun was rising over the flat Sakata region as I rocked back and forth in the Land Cruiser, swerving to avoid bumps and pot holes on the dusty roads winding through the villages. Wellings Mwalabu and I were heading to meet the TA, Traditional Authority, chief of chiefs to discuss the construction of the… ... Continue Reading
A Decade of Impact – By Stephen Heinzel-Nelson - Before - 2008 Kalupe Medical Clinic I am sitting outside of the Kalupe Clinic as hundreds of Malawians stand patiently in line to see the medical staff. It is another brilliant, beautiful day in Malawi; the temperature's in the 80’s under crystal blue skies. Healing is taking place all around me. Suddenly in my mind’s eye I… ... Continue Reading
Here I am Lord! – By Fadi Zanayed - Last year, I almost made the decision to go. But I did not. This year, in January, that call came again. This time I answered…"Here I am Lord". Our first day on our Christ Mission Trip to Malawi began on a Sunday—a day of worship. What a day it was! In a country qualifying for… ... Continue Reading
Dental Care in Malawi – By Scott Gradwell - We, meaning myself and two talented Malawian dentists, saw 96 patients in the dental clinic today. 96! And I am confident the next few days the numbers will be even higher and that’s because access to care and dental supplies is so limited here. The government dental clinics have not had any lidocaine for the… ... Continue Reading
A Day of Impact – By Devin Murray - I can only describe today as terrifying and honoring. After lunch, one of the providers named Sarah, whom I had formed a close relationship with the day before, came up to me saying we were being called away to see a patient. So, I grabbed a blood pressure cuff, my stethoscope, and a thermometer. We… ... Continue Reading
Cydney is my Mchimwene – By Noah Seelhorst - Words can’t begin to explain the bond and friendship that I have made with Cydney. I am going to attempt to explain how much he has impacted me this past 10 days as well as our team. Cydney has a dynamic and impactful personality. He is well respected among his village. He comes from humble… ... Continue Reading
Inoculating Chickens – By Dr. Barbara Edwards - This morning, eight of us woke up at 4:45 AM to go help the village of Ntambo inoculate chickens against Newcastle Disease. This is a virus that has ravaged the chicken population in Malawi. Because of Newcastle Disease, VIP has had to suspend its program of chicken distribution to the most vulnerable families until they… ... Continue Reading
Addada, One of Endearment – By Katie Hulit - Villages in Partnership works in conjunction with each of the villages’ “VIC”, Village Implementation Committee, to identify the most vulnerable families in the area to visit. This allows our American team to gain some insight into the daily lives of those they are serving. Today, I travelled to the village of Disi and was welcomed… ... Continue Reading
A New Vision – By Timothy Golden - On my second visit to Malawi I was asked to take on a new venture. VIP had acquired a package of eye glasses and lenses through their partnership with Global Vision 2020. This consisted of 250 pairs of frames and a variety of corrective lenses. But the key feature was a device which is worn… ... Continue Reading
A Life-Changing Impact – By Elizabeth Hughes - Today was an amazing day that I will never forget! For many years at Cornerstone, I've enjoyed being a part of the annual Water Walk and helping to raise funds for their mission in Malawi. I've encouraged others to donate, talking about the "life changing" projects that were underway. Today I had a chance to… ... Continue Reading
We Are All The Same – By Matt Hammell - Coming to Malawi, I didn’t know how much of a connection I could have with someone who lives in a remote, rural area of Malawi. The travel to arrive at this place was over 24 hours. Surely that means the distance between New Jersey and Sakata would influence the differences between myself and a VIP… ... Continue Reading
Unbridled Joy – By Dr. Sarah Vick - This is my second trip to Malawi— the first time I came was for only 5 days in 2016 on a medical mission trip. This time, I am lucky to be able to stay for three whole weeks, participating first in a Friendship Trip and staying for the following medical trip. It’s impossible to comprehend… ... Continue Reading
Zomba Central Hospital: Struggling To Serve The Poor - VIP's medical team is seen touring Zomba Central Hospital Going into Zomba Central Hospital, we had no idea what to expect. It was an eye opening experience that we will never forget. Walking up to the buildings, they looked run-down compared to the medical facilities we have in the United States. There were people walking… ... Continue Reading
Taking Vitals on a Chief - Today at Clinic I had the wonderful opportunity to care for a Chief of one of the villages that we were serving. All of a sudden this woman was brought to the front of the line and sat down right away. I was then informed by my interpreter that she was a chief. Knowing how… ... Continue Reading
Grateful Through the Storm – By Tessa Mills - After church we hopped in the truck to go and visit some people around Sakata whose houses had melted (literally) from the rain and floods of Malawi’s rainy season. The houses are made out of mud bricks, that are hardened from being in the sun, but unfortunately they simply don’t stand a chance against the… ... Continue Reading
Agape-Experiencing the Highest Form of Love during Worship - Rachel's Worship Experience Written by: Rachel Hesse, Xavier Nursing Student Going to church for a 3 hour worship service was never a desire of mine, but I have never laughed, smiled, danced, and sang at the top of my lungs (not well, mind you) as much as I did that day. The happiness, the joy, the… ... Continue Reading
A Malawian Village Experience – By Jessica Spady - Today was my first initial day in a Malawian village called Liti. Here, I am pictured with a group of amazing children who thought I spoke Chichewa, the Malawian language, because of the color of my skin. They were eating pumpkin and offered me some, and wondered why I wasn’t responding. I told the translator… ... Continue Reading
Uncovered Beauty – By Lauren Deddens - The first day of clinic is always a mix of emotions. There has been such a build up leading up to the moment we open and see our first patients. Pulling up to the clinic site and seeing all the people sitting under the tree waiting for us to start is always a nerve wracking… ... Continue Reading
First Day of the Clinics – By James Reist - 5 am start to the day. It's the first day of clinics and we need to load all of the supplies for the clinics. We carry hundreds of pounds of supplies from storage and await the truck which we are to load. As the truck arrived I find myself doubtful that we will be able… ... Continue Reading
A Moment of Impact – By Katelyn Wnek - When I woke up this morning I had zero idea of what kind of day I would be having, and the incredible people that I would be encountering. While touring the Sakata school I met this incredible little boy. At first he was very shy and content with just watching the group from afar. Once… ... Continue Reading
Give Malawi Some Thought - Pastor Andy Odom from Canyon Creek Presbyterian Church in Richardson, Texas joined VIP on a Friendship Trip in 2015. His rich experience in Malawi gave him insight into the true meaning of partnership. Since his return, he views life through a new perspective. With this appreciation of our mission, he encourages members from his congregation… ... Continue Reading
VIP’s 2018 Highlights - As this year comes to a close, we want to recap the amazing work God has done through you and the VIP family in 2018. Your dedication to our mission and compassion for the people of Malawi is helping us fight poverty every day. Through our mission trips, your gifts, and the lasting partnerships, we’re… ... Continue Reading
A Medical Miracle – by Kaitlin Duncan - This July, I returned to Malawi with VIP for my second medical trip. As a nursing student, I had experience with patients and hospitals, but never imagined a healthcare system like Malawi’s. When you don’t know where your next meal is coming from, it’s hard to fathom why you should care about a mosquito net… ... Continue Reading
New Secondary School in Malawi - Education is highly valued at VIP and we embrace opportunities to make schools more accessible in remote villages. This past year, we partnered with Valley Presbyterian Church and The Rob and Melani Foundation to build a secondary school (high school) in a location where there is great need. These two organizations are involved with work… ... Continue Reading
Giving Hope to the Vulnerable - During my trip this past summer in Malawi, I had the privilege to meet with Mrs. Chimenya from the Kalupe Village. A VIP staff member mentioned she had tremendous success with conservation farming practices she learned from Villages in Partnership. After hearing this news, Jordan Heinzel-Nelson and I made a visit to speak with her… ... Continue Reading
VIP Attends Annual Malawi Mission Network Conference - Over the weekend of August 10th, VIP attended the Malawi Mission Network’s (MMN) fifteenth annual conference held in Dallas, Texas. This year’s event was hosted by Preston Hollow Presbyterian Church. Organized in 2003 by the PCUSA and the Pittsburg Presbytery, the MMN is an affiliation of non-profit organizations who share a call to help our… ... Continue Reading
Shawna Whitford - I have a dream. My dream is to make a positive difference in someone's life and that the act will be remembered. That's hard to do when you are a person who is perfectly happy to be in the background. I won't be front and center. I’m not an adrenaline junky. If life was a… ... Continue Reading
Agogo (Grandmother) – by Randa Nelson - On this my 4th time to Malawi I still find my heart leaning in with the Agogos. I love these women. They have already had a long full life and yet here they are caring for their grandchildren and orphans as well. Life here is not easy. These women have been gathering water for their… ... Continue Reading
A Life-Changing Trip – by Carissa Rea - Malawi leaves an unforgettable imprint on the hearts of everyone who takes the journey to walk alongside our brothers and sisters. Trip participants leave learning much more than they ever imagined. Through singing, praise, and an unshakeable sense of hope, the power of the human spirit is revealed. Love is exchanged with every smile as… ... Continue Reading
A Happy Man Lives Long – By Jordan Heinzel-Nelson - When we walk into the dusty clearing surrounding a quaint little hut, an old man hobbles out to meet us. He calls something in rapid Chichewa to a couple boys nearby. They run and grab some burlap sacks on which we sit to avoid getting our cloths too dusty. After we are seated, he totters… ... Continue Reading
The Warm Heart of Africa – by Justin Laudick - I first agreed to the medical mission trip this spring during our Nurse Practitioner white coat ceremony at Xavier. As far as I knew at that time, we were treating Malawian patients at four remote clinics who would normally not receive any form of healthcare. In the trip information it mentioned unfathomable volumes, extremely ill… ... Continue Reading
Expectations – by Gabrielle Whitford - Walking into the Malawian airport, I didn’t know what to expect, what smells or what sights I’d be experiencing. I did not expect drawn on licenses plates or the forever lingering smell of fire wood. I would not expect the rocky roads that lead up to Namin'gazi Farm or the local food that would be… ... Continue Reading
A Celebration to Remember – by Carissa Rea - Filled with singing, dancing, and celebration, graduations are a lively part of Malawian culture even at preschool age. As we pulled into the ceremony, there were hundreds of parents, teachers, and students gathered to witness this exciting occasion. Over 18 preschools were in attendance with 200 children who will now be moving to Standard 1… ... Continue Reading
Landing on my feet in Liti – by Scott Batterson - I was barely aware that she had a baby with her, much less that she was breast feeding while she quietly handed over her medical passport. She spoke to my translator and described her reasons for seeking care for her baby and he turned and carefully chose the English words to translate her Chichewa (the… ... Continue Reading
Joy in the Midst of Sickness – by Sarah Herr - I close my eyes and listen to my fellow Malawian VIP team member recite a prayer in chechewa at the start of my first day of clinics. All I could think about was that I, an American nursing student, would be providing care for the sickest of sick and I had no idea what I… ... Continue Reading
A Helping Hand – by Allie Schumacher - This medical mission trip has proved to be one incredible journey. This is my first time in Africa, first time doing a mission trip, and my first time being a part of the Villages in Partnership. To say I was overwhelmed, at first, is an understatement. I had moments of pure doubt in myself, but… ... Continue Reading
Grocery Store - The team splits into three groups in the morning. The first group is going to harvest honey with village bee keepers. I was originally intending to travel with them but my newly acquired cold makes me fearful of being stuck in a bee suit with no way to reach my nose. The second group is… ... Continue Reading
A Partnership Brought to Life – by Carissa Rea - Joy is the best word I can use to summarize the past few days here in Malawi. With every visit to a new village, we are welcomed with open arms and thankful hearts for our partnership. It’s so powerful to see first hand how our churches back home in America have impacted the Sakata Region… ... Continue Reading
Weird Rhymes as Recorded – by Anne Diebel - We visited a preschool and were serenaded by approximately forty of the sweetest three to five-years-olds I’ve ever encounter. As with all of our excursions I did my best to sing and dance along. What we were singing in one case was what sounded like a good old-fashioned playground song, but since we were singing… ... Continue Reading
Love Changes Everything – by Carissa Rea - Waking up to the call of a rooster was a gentle reminder of how different life is here in Malawi. We started our first day at breakfast together reading a passage of scripture and talking through the message’s impact during our time here. The verse was reflective of the power of love through hospitality and… ... Continue Reading
A Negotiation – by Jordan Heinzel-Nelson - We drive over rocks, bumps, decayed wooden bridges that look on the verge of collapse, dirt roads that look as though no vehicle has ever driven there before. When we finally stop, we are deep in the village of Phetembe. No other vehicle in sight. No other white person in sight. An older man greets… ... Continue Reading
Stress Free Packing for Malawi - Packing is one of the most important steps when preparing to go on a trip to Malawi. Proper planning will ensure you have all the items needed to make your experience the best it can be. The trips also give us the opportunity to bring over supplies, gifts and clothing to vulnerable families. To avoid… ... Continue Reading
Worry Free Vaccinations for Malawi - Are you thinking about joining a trip with VIP to Malawi? You may be feeling called to join; however, questions are filling your mind from logistics of travel to the culture. Friendship and Medical Trips allow us to come along side our brothers and sister in Malawi to develop lasting connections and provide healthcare to… ... Continue Reading
Giving Tuesday: Choose Education! - Coming on the heels of the commercially driven Black Friday and Cyber Monday, Giving Tuesday (this year falling on November 28th, 2017) is the international day for giving. Last year VIP's Giving Tuesday campaign was a huge success, as we raised tens of thousands of dollars which we used to build a life changing large-scale… ... Continue Reading
Chifundo Kamwendo and the Power of VSLs - A lot is made, rightfully so, of VIP’s large-scale infrastructure and development projects. The building of schools, bridges, maize mills, and solar irrigation projects has a huge impact on the people of rural Malawi and these projects are concrete examples of the progress that we are making in combating poverty in the villages of Sakata.… ... Continue Reading
My Trip to Malawi by Tom Marrero - My trip to Malawi started well before I set foot at the airport. It started as I watched my father’s life be taken away from him by an aggressive lymphoma and with his unfortunate passing in December 2015. He was a great father and someone who always gave me support to push further in life,… ... Continue Reading
Changing The World Through Education - "Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world." -Nelson Mandela Without education there can be no sustainable development. Education is the key to unlocking the potential of millions of young Malawians, currently trapped in poverty. Knowing this, VIP works to empower students in Malawi throughout their entire educational… ... Continue Reading
Day 23: One Person at a Time - As night closed in around us we hugged the kids goodbye and made our way back to our rooms to wash up, have dinner and enjoy a night of bonding over “Catch Phrase” and poker. We kept Robbie up until the wee hours of the morning, which was only a problem because he was preaching… ... Continue Reading
Day 22-Building Bridges Redux - Tory, Terra, Trudy, Sandra and John Anderson woke up early on Saturday morning as they accompanied Frank on a trip out to Mpoola village, the heart of VIP’s beekeeping initiative. VIP currently has 16 hives in Mpoola Village and when the beekeepers harvested in June, these hives produced enough for 25 bottles of honey. The… ... Continue Reading
Day 21: Hope - On Friday morning the team members and the VIP staff and interpreters squeezed our way into 3 vehicles and drove out to one of the furthest villages that we work with, Ngwalangwa, which approaches Lake Chilwa, the eastern-edge of which forms part of Malawi’s border with Mozambique. We were driving out to take part in… ... Continue Reading
Days 19 and 20: The Second Team Arrives! - Wednesday morning was a bit more chaotic than usual as our growing group was breaking off to go to four different locations. John and Sandra Hurlbert were going with Vincent and Joe to begin working on the installation of solar panels and lights at the Chimpeni and Sakata Schools, Trudi and Sydney were finishing teaching… ... Continue Reading
Days 17 and 18: Reflections From Zomba Plateau - On Tuesday morning I woke up to find myself in an unfamiliar position in Malawi: I was alone. For the preceding two weeks I had been in the constant presence of other people: Liz and Jordan, Terra and Stephen, my fellow team members, the VIP staff and translators, our partner villagers, even my sleep was… ... Continue Reading
Day 16: Stephen’s Birthday - Sunday July 23rd was a special day in many respects. Most obviously, it was Stephen’s birthday, and I could tell how excited he was to be able to celebrate it with his wife and his two youngest children, both of whom had been away in South America for most of the year, and in Jordan’s… ... Continue Reading
Days 14 and 15: Let There Be Light - Friday morning found the 6 of us (The four Heinzel-Nelson’s, Trudi and me) driving in the Landcruiser to Sakata School. Trudi had been teaching 7th grade science classes there all week and today we would be stopping by to observe her classes and to meet with a group of students to learn what the school… ... Continue Reading
Day 13: Sydney’s House - On Thursday morning Liz, Stephen and I headed to Liti village for a meeting while Terra and Jordan went down in the villages to reconnect with old friends. The meeting was held in what was by far the largest building I had seen in the villages of Sakata. Built in the 90’s by another NGO,… ... Continue Reading
Day 12: Goodbye, Hello - Everyone was tired as we piled into the Landcruiser for our drive to the Blantyre Airport on Wednesday morning for the team’s flight to South Africa. Liz always packs a lot into the friendship trips and our team was exhausted, both physically and emotionally. The last minute change of plans hadn’t helped the team get… ... Continue Reading
Days 10 and 11: Safari! - Liz knows that for many of the friendship team participants (including me) this is their first trip to Africa. Because of that, and as a little break from their emotionally and physically exhausting week, Liz always sends the friendship teams on an overnight safari. When Liz told me that I would be accompanying the team… ... Continue Reading
Day 9: Home Visits With The Most Vulnerable Families - We woke at 7:00 on Sunday morning and donned our nicest shirts, ties and dresses and headed off to church. Meeting us at the church would be all of the VIP Senior Staff, as well as several VIP community workers. Liz had been invited by the pastor of the church to preach in front of… ... Continue Reading
Days 7 and 8: Building Bridges - Everywhere you go in Malawi you will find piles of bricks. Stacks of bricks formed into kilns waiting to be baked into completion. Hardened red bricks tossed into piles to be shaped into new buildings.Bricks from destroyed buildings laying in ruins, some perhaps destined to find new life after being reclaimed from their former structures. And… ... Continue Reading
Days 5 and 6: The Friendship Trip Begins! - On Wednesday morning after dropping Trudi off at the Chimpeni School for her daily lesson, Liz, Jordan, Kwondani and I drove into Blantyre to pick up the first of our friendship teams this July, from their flight from JFK. On this first trip we have six people joining the four of us who are already… ... Continue Reading
Day 4: The VIP Family - Over the next several weeks VIP will be hosting two friendship teams here in Malawi. Humanitarians and missionaries from Texas, Illinois, New York and New Jersey will be traveling here and coming alongside our partner villagers as we work together to eradicate extreme poverty. I am already learning why Liz has always used the term… ... Continue Reading
Day 3: The Power of Education - We woke up bright and early on Monday morning so that we could take Trudi to her first day as a guest science teacher. Trudi is taking a month off from her research job with a pharmaceutical company so that she can provide hands on science lessons and experiments for students in the Sakata region.… ... Continue Reading
Day 2: New Friends - As I am quickly, and at times painfully, discovering, Malawi is very much a morning culture. Because the sun sets so early, between 6 and 7 all year long, and rises around 6 every morning, people begin their days very early. It is just so much more difficult to get things done at night, particularly… ... Continue Reading
Day 1: From Malawi With Love - As I stepped out onto the tarmac at Blantyre airport and looked up at the bright blue Malawian sky, I didn’t feel like I had just been traveling for the past 20 hours. I felt refreshed and excited. Excited that I was finally in the country and amongst the people that have been such a… ... Continue Reading
The VIP Health Initiative: Addressing The Malawian Health Crisis - Malawi is in the midst of a public health crisis. HIV/AIDS is an epidemic in Malawi, with over 10% of the adult population infected. Largely as a result of this crisis there are over 1 million orphans in Malawi. The people of Malawi are also at extremely high risk of Malaria, with roughly 6 million… ... Continue Reading
VIP Donors Give The Gift of Sight! - Last month our medical team treated a young boy with bulging, watery eyes. He was diagnosed with glaucoma, a build-up of fluid and pressure inside his eyes. If left untreated, the pressure would end up damaging his optic nerve, rendering him permanently blind. He was already experiencing deteriorating vision when our team examined him, and… ... Continue Reading
International Widows’ Day: Stories from Sakata - Today is international widows' day. It is not a day for celebration, but a rather a day of recognition and empowerment for a group of women struggling with a myriad of unimaginably difficult issues. While becoming a widow can be an emotional trauma that lasts a lifetime, for millions of the world’s widows it also… ... Continue Reading
The Looming Climate Refugee Crisis - Earlier this week we observed World Refugee Day. This day offered us a chance to pause and reflect and hopefully do something to help the over 65 million people around the world who have been forced from their homes; the most displaced people since the catastrophic upheavals brought about by the end of the Second… ... Continue Reading
A Sweet Story From Mpoola Village - For the past several years VIP, under the leadership and guidance of VIP Board Member and New Jersey State Apiarist Tim Schuler, has worked to train some of our farmers in Malawi to become bee keepers. This year, our catchment area has been blessed with steady rainfall throughout the growing season. This not only meant good… ... Continue Reading
VIP School Quiz Competition - One of the 6 critical needs of human development that VIP seeks to address in Malawi is access to, and improvements in, education. In pursuit of this, since 2014 Villages in Partnership has sponsored and run an inter-school quiz competition in the villages of Malawi. The quiz competition is one of the ways that we… ... Continue Reading
Xavier Nursing Student Maria Hill Shares Her First Day in Malawi as a Member of The 2017 VIP Medical Team - Greetings from the beautiful country of Malawi! Our first full day was filled with organization, team collaboration, prayers, and meeting new people. We began our day, at least I did, to the rooster calling bright and early. The first half of our day we unpacked all of our generous donations and organized them. Then the… ... Continue Reading
Katie Hulit’s Med Team Experience - Katie Hulit was one of 26 participants on the 2017 VIP Medical Trip to Malawi. Our team made up of Doctors, Nurses, Nursing students and other medical professionals, along with support staff, treated nearly 6,000 patients in 4 rural clinics last month. Katie, a Registered Nurse, treated hundreds of patients suffering from malaria, respiratory infections,… ... Continue Reading
The Beauty of Differences - As a Frenchman of Jewish origins married to an American Presbyterian, Jean Chaumont lives at the intersection of different cultures and beliefs. Jean’s unique background and embrace of multiculturalism provide the first clues as to why he has titled his debut Jazz Album “The Beauty of Differences.” But more than simply looking backward, Jean’s new… ... Continue Reading
Ailey’s Playground - Even the smallest person can make a huge difference! Read Ailey’s inspiring story: “I can’t believe you kids are complaining that you have nothing to do! You have so much, the kids in Malawi have nothing!” Megan Smith was frustrated that her kids were complaining about being bored again. Little did she know that she was… ... Continue Reading
Solar Irrigation - Weather conditions in Malawi have become more unpredictable than ever. Severe flooding destroyed much of the harvest in 2015 and was followed by a prolonged drought in 2016. Families have been unable to harvest enough food to survive. Because of this, Villages in Partnership is investing in solar powered irrigation technology. This will allow the… ... Continue Reading
Ed Rhoad’s Story - We are honored that Ed Rhoad, the father of VIP President Bob Rhoad, shared his story with us. In 2008, at the invitation of Stephen and Liz Heinzel-Nelson, my son Bob Rhoad and I traveled to Malawi. There I saw the staggering depth of poverty unlike anything that I had ever seen or imagined. So… ... Continue Reading
Fighting Poverty in Malawi
“The universe is made of stories, not of atoms.” —Muriel Rukeyser, poet and political activist
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