I traveled to Malawi in 2007 to teach mathematics to teachers. During my stay I was touched by the beauty of the landscape and the people. Upon returning to Canada I couldn’t get Malawi out of my mind or my heart.

After a lot of thought and discussion with colleagues in Malawi, I decided that I wanted to form a closer relationship with this place of tremendous beauty and persistent hardship. Of course I value education and believe it to be the key to a successful and peaceful society. I learned that because elementary education in Malawi is now free many children register for school. The schools are full at the beginning of the school year but enrollment quickly decreases as children become unable to attend school. Children are often forced to stop attending elementary school because they are suffer from hunger and related illnesses that impede their learning.

I have started a day care for orphans, Itatu Orphan Care. This home is a place for orphaned children between the ages of 8-12 to come for two meals a day. The children also receive some tutoring after school. At this point, because the funding is coming solely from my pay cheques, family and friends, I can only support eight orphans. These children live with extended family and do not sleep at my Orphan Care home. It is my hope that in providing food to these children I can relieve the financial burdens placed on their caregivers. Often grandmothers, aunts and uncles care for up to twelve orphaned relatives.

Staple foods, maize and beans, surprisingly cost only about $500 for the eight children for a year. I have secured a home and we raise chickens and plant a garden to supplement the food we buy at the market. In the future I hope to buy some goats which we can use for milk.

I continue to be excited about this project. I hope will grow so I can support more children, but I know that the people of the village are grateful for the assistance I can provide.

The word “itatu” is the word for three in Chichewa, the local language. This orphan care would not have come to be if not for the three Jennifers involved: a baby girl, named after me, born in October of 2007 who died of malaria on Christmas day; my close friend Jennifer who died from cancer 2 years ago leaving a small child without a mother.

This orphan care facility is intended to honour the memories and lives of these Jennifers who could have become so much more.

Jennifer Douma