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Setting the Stage for Malawi’s Future
By Mphatso Thole, Malawi
Survival in Africa is not easy - especially in Malawi, one of the poorest countries in the world. As a 33 year old father caring for a beautiful wife and three daughters, I try my best to make sure my family gets the food they need to be free from hunger and malnutrition.
"I consider myself to be one of the most blessed people on earth. Being born into one of the poorest families in the village, I still managed to go to high school." -Mphatso Thole
My country has one main food called msima. It is a thick porridge prepared from the fine ground maize flour. To have a balanced diet, different kinds of soup are prepared for each day. Since Malawi is so poor, food is not always sufficient in the house.
I work in an office about five kilometers from my house. I head the communication office at the Lutheran Church. At the end of each month I budget for transportation. If the budget allocation is not enough I walk to work on foot. With the dusty roads in this country, shoes and clothes easily get dirty. I take it as part of my survival.
Being a communicator, I need to be strong to protect my integrity, which is a big challenge in a poor country. I consider myself to be one of the most blessed people on earth. Being born into one of the poorest families in the village, I still managed to go to high school. I found a job while I was still young and I have since been able to visit many countries like South Africa, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Kenya, Botswana and the U.S. As I travel to different places I see how much children and needy people suffer in my country.
Inflation contributes to our problems here. Living standards have become expensive. Despite the rise in the price of commodities, my monthly salary remains constant.
However, it is the drop in life expectancy in some parts of Africa, including Malawi that is my biggest concern. With HIV/Aids, children are becoming orphans every day. The future of Africa looks dark. If HIV/Aids ended today, life would change.
Global warming is another issue. My fear is that without constant environmental campaigns the future generation is at risk. The whole world needs to act as a global village, working hard to reduce global warming.
Malawi has a large number of people who have not gone very far with their education. Through studying I hope to set an example to my family and society. I want my children to prove that the country can develop through education. I want to live long enough to see my children become independent.
My vision is to see a transformed Malawi through my work with the church. I believe that a drop in the ocean can make a difference. I might be just a single person but there will be a difference through my contributions.
