Newsletter January 2006

Dear all,

The people from the Bembeke area and the board members of MIM wish you a good and healthy 2006.

What has happened in the last months of 2005? We sent the final accounts for building the community center next to the Moonekeraschool to the NCDO. These accounts have been approved which gave us the opportunity to submit an application to double the amount for building the R.C. Primary School in Bembeke. We received that promise from NCDO.

On December 17th the MIM attended a public day organised by the ICCO. There were 36 participating foundations. The MIM and its projects were awarded the 3rd price by the public which we really appreciated.

Sandra van Zeijl has been an active MIM member this past year. As of January 1st, she will be the second secretary in the board.

As you perhaps have read in the newspapers, there’s a famine in Malawi again. In Bembeke this involves especially the families with orphans, elderly people and chronically sick people. We received and approved an application from Mr. Nkhani concerning emergency food aid. An amount of $5.000,- has been transferred. Mr. Nkhani will send a report in April about the way this farming project goes.

We did receive good news from Mr. Nkhani about previous farming projects. The farmers participating tried to work on the land the best they could despite the hunger and no rain. ICCO contributed a large amount for the costs of this project. We hope we can count on ICCO again this year.

Building the infant center next to the health center is almost finished. It’s already being used. Simavi is going to grant the application for bikes, raincoats, boots and scales for the volunteers of the infant center. These volunteers go to rural areas to weigh the babies and give advice.

The Secondary School VMBO De Rooi Pannen is going to help us raise enough money to start building the first phase of new classrooms for the R.C. Primary School in Bembeke. The total amount for building this school is $98.000,-. Because of this huge amount we have decided to build in phases, two classrooms at the time. The amount to built that is $12.500,-. Depending on how much we raise, people there can build classrooms.

For 2006 we have plans already:

·         Starting with building the first three blocks of two classrooms at the R.C. Primary School in Bembeke. The whole school has 18 classrooms.

·         Farming project/ emergency aid for the people in the Bembeke area.

·         Get bikes and other supplies to the volunteers of the infant center.

·         Continue to finance the maintenance and insurance of the ambulance of the health center.

·         Conclude the support in cost of studying from Richard Kaposa. In February 2006 he hopes to receive his degree in Agriculture and Natural resources Management.

·         Continue to support the study costs of Memory Chalira and Steven Tembo.

We already have done so many things for the people in the Bembeke area, but we’re not there yet. We hope we can count on your support again this year.

A big THANK YOU for continuing to support our projects.

Members of the board and active MIM members

Mirjam Wouters-van Tilburg

Evert de Goeij

Sandra van Zeijl

Corry van Tilburg

Maartje Vosters

Moniek Simons