ADRA Malawi staff mango’d

 By Elias Banda

ADRA Malawi staff have undergone an intensive training in financial management systems, courtesy of Management Accounting for NGOs (MANGO) an organization based in Oxford, United Kingdom. The five –day training which took place at Blantyre Adventist Guest House was aimed at building confidence and financial skills among ADRA Malawi staff so that they should operate financial management systems effectively.

The training was characterized by practical activities

The training drew 16 participants from ADRA Malawi projects and the Action for Social Change (ASC) Program. The training targeted coordinators from Tsogolo Labwino Project in Salima and  the Women Empowerment Project Manager in Mulanje.  ASC participants included district coordinators from Mulanje, Lilongwe, Mzuzu and Machinga . Other participants were the program technical officers, accountants and the Procurement Officer. 

A busy mango training session

Speaking in an interview, Jacques Lauruol,  Mango Financial Management Trainer said his organization helps non -governmental organizations particularly in Africa, Asia and other developing countries to improve their financial management systems.
The course module included the key financial management principles and concepts and the four financial building blocks such as the  financial planning, accounts records, financial monitoring and internal control systems.

Jacques presenting a certificate of attendance to Elsie Mwimba

One of the participants, Shadreck Bandawo from Tsogolo Labwino Project  said the skills acquired would go along way assisting him to budget and code items on the project chart of accounts.

Speaking on behalf of ADRA Malawi Administration, Emma Jakobo, Action for Social Change Program Manager described the training as a step ahead as staff would be able to improve their financial reporting.
At the end of the training, participants were awarded certificates of attendance.

ADRA Malawi staff mango’d

 By Elias Banda

ADRA Malawi staffs have undergone an intensive training in financial management systems, courtesy of Management Accounting for NGOs (MANGO) an organization based in Oxford, United Kingdom. The five –day training which took place at Blantyre Adventist Guest House was aimed at building confidence and financial skills among ADRA Malawi staff so that they should operate financial management systems effectively.

The training was characterized by practical activities

The training drew 16 participants from ADRA Malawi projects and the Action for Social Change (ASC) Program. The training targeted coordinators from Tsogolo Labwino Project in Salima and  the Women Empowerment Project Manager in Mulanje.  ASC participants included district coordinators from Mulanje, Lilongwe, Mzuzu and Machinga . Other participants were the program technical officers, accountants and the Procurement Officer. 

A busy mango training session

Speaking in an interview, Jacques Lauruol,  Mango Financial Management Trainer said his organization helps non -governmental organizations particularly in Africa, Asia and other developing countries to improve their financial management systems.
The course module included the key financial management principles and concepts and the four financial building blocks such as the  financial planning, accounts records, financial monitoring and internal control systems.

Jacques presenting a certificate of attendance to Elsie Mwimba

One of the participants, Shadreck Bandawo from Tsogolo Labwino Project  said the skills acquired would go along way assisting him to budget and code items on the project chart of accounts.

Speaking on behalf of ADRA Malawi Administration, Emma Jakobo, Action for Social Change Program Manager described the training as a step ahead as staffs would be able to produce credible financial reports.
At the end of the training, participants were awarded certificates of attendance.

ADRA Malawi joins partners in the International Candlelight Memorial

By Stanley Mpasa and Judith Kumwenda

The international candlelight memorial ceremonies have been conducted in several cities and town across the country. In Blantyre the activity took place on May 22, at Kachere Trading Centre, reflecting on the year’s theme; Promoting health and dignity together.  Earlier in the day, people marched  from Makheta, North-East of Blantyre to Kachere Township and carried posters while singing  songs  remembering  those who died due to HIV/AIDS.

The Blantyre function was graced by Honourable John Bande, Member of Parliament for the area and Minister of Trade and Private Sector Development who was als

The Guest of Honor ( left) lighting a candle

o the Guest of honor. 
Two days earlier, ADRA Malawi provided the Radio platform on Zatonse program where the Organizing Committee sensitized the general public about the function.

The Guest of Honour started by visiting the various pavilions holding exhibitions of items ranging from foods that are recommended for HIV positive people to the various herbs that have medicinal values and help the PLWHAS live a better life. Also exhibited were some of the services that that the Government and the various NGOs are providing in the fight against the HIV and AIDS pandemic, like the male and female condoms,  Ant Retroviral Drugs and Voluntary Testing and Counselling (VCT) .  During the function, people were offered free testing and counselling.

The Guest of Honor inspecting pavilions

There were also poem recitals, traditional dances and drama staged by a group of HIV/ AIDS Counsellors. The songs and plays contained important messages on HIV/AIDS like the importance of being tested, the importance of changing our sexual behaviour to conform to the current times and the prevention of Mother to Child Transmission of the virus. It was interesting  to see a group  of 10 blind men and women who had covered a distance of about  12km on foot from Bangwe, East of Blantyre to have their blood tested. Religious leaders from various denominations were not left out and they offered their prayers  to inspire those affected and their families and  those who are trying to make the life if the PLWHAs bette

spreading the message throu

r through the services they provide.
At the peak of the function, speeches, dances and poems reflected on the theme, emphasising on the need for united efforts to reduce the incidences of HIV/AIDS.  The Guest of Honor stressed on the need for people to work together to promote health and dignity for all sections of the community. He said  the Malawi Government was committed to provide good health and dignity through the provision of free Ant-Retro-viral Therapy .

ASC Program and partners share notes on best practices

By Elias Banda

ADRA Malawi, through the Action for Social Change Program (ASC) organized a two-day meeting involving district government officers. The meetings took place in Lilongwe and Blantyre, involving district planning directors, district agriculture offices, district social welfare officers, district AIDS coordinators, district monitoring and evaluation from the ASC Program targeted districts.
The  meetings were aimed at analyzing strategies that embrace  the ASC Program thematic areas of HIV/AIDS, food security, livelihood and communication.

Emma Jakobo, ASC Program Manager addressing stakeholders

Speaking during the official opening of the meetings at both venues, Claudio Sandoval, ADRA Country Director urged participants to utilize the meetings as platforms for sharing and learning. He said that through acting together, ADRA and her partners could achieve more to the advantage of the vulnerable people in the communities.
ADRA Malawi Deputy Country Director Michael Usi echoed Claudio’s sentiments and stressed on the importance of team work. He said that in a team, whoever scores a goal  makes the whole team to win, referring to the combined efforts of ADRA and her partners.
During the course of the meetings, ASC Program technical officers made presentations on the strategies and this was followed by discussions, reflecting on the issues in the strategies.  The district officers advised how best the ASC would implement the strategies to ensure that activities are in line with government plans and they point towards achieving intended objectives .

ADRA Malawi staff and partners during the meeting

The gathering further agreed that ADRA and her partners should conduct field visits as a way encouraging joint monitoring of activities.
Speaking when closing the meeting, Lilongwe District Planning Director Peter Jimsole  said he was happy with the ASC Program and urged ADRA Malawi to include remarks made by district officials in the strategies. He said though the program has no service delivery in its implementation, it could still bank on linkages with other partners to achieve the intended goals.
ASC Program Manager Emma Jakobo thanked district officials for their time and support and assured them that ADRA Malawi would make use of their input to perfect the strategies.

The Action for Social Change Program is being supported by Denmark to bring about society and individual change in Machinga, Mulanje, Lilongwe and Mzuzu.