SOS

Here in Malawi they simply say “sose”.

SOS is the world’s largest orphan and abandoned children’s charity. They sponsor orphanages in 124 countries, including Malawi and the United States. There are 126 orphan villages in Africa alone. One of them is located right here in Mzuzu.

The Mzuzu SOS village recently expanded and there was now room to welcome several more infant orphans. But, they needed help compiling a list of eligible babies. So, SOS put out an S.O.S. Accompanied by Social Welfare, they came to a place they trusted—Mzuzu Crisis Nursery.

And did we have a list for them! When they left the Nursery that day, they had a referral list and a stack of files for 6 babies who we believed would benefit from a move to the SOS Village.

Chawanongwa

In Malawi, moving a child to an orphanage is usually a decision of last resort. Family is first, fostering second, and orphanages last. Most orphans here are not what we normally imagine. They are not usually the abandoned, isolated, social outcast street urchins we often picture in America. The Malawi extended family system functions as a social safety-net. Most orphans do have some connection with a relative who takes charge of them.

This does not mean they have an easy life. On the contrary, they are often treated poorly and literally find themselves at the bottom of the pecking order. Nevertheless, most orphans receive enough care to at least survive (except for vulnerable infants during the crisis period of their first year or so). And of course, some orphans grow up in situations where they actually thrive. However, where poverty is widespread life is a struggle for everyone.

The SOS village is an excellent model. The children live in a house with a “mother”and 7 brothers and sisters of differing ages. They eat, play, laugh and squabble as a family. They also have regular contact with their extended family in their home village.

Elvin at SOS

After home assessments were complete the decision was made. From our list of 7: Alick, Rejoice, Chawanangwa, and Elvin made the cut. Chawanangwa (12 months old) and Elvin (17 months old) were discharged directly from the Nursery to SOS. Rejoice had been discharged from the Nursery in January 2009 and Alick was discharged in December 2009. Both were languishing in their home village and the families agreed to send them to SOS.

All “our” babies received a V.I.P. welcome when they arrived at their new home in SOS Village. We are still working on behalf of those babies who did not make the cut.  Hopefully they will be placed in a better situation soon.  For they too are V.I.Ps.