Vincent Gunde 
By Vincent Gunde
A charitable day – care organization – Great Minds Bright Futures ( GMBF) says it is committed to complimenting government efforts to improve the welfare of orphaned and vulnerable children in Dowa district.
Great Minds Bright Futures is operating in Dowa Central East and South East constituences providing child care, protection, nutrition support, and early childhood development sessions serving approximately 304 orphaned and vulnerable children in its three centres.
The organization is existing in Dowa district responding to the needs of vulnerable and orphaned children providing a safe environment where children can learn, grow, and thrive.
Presenting the recognition, coordination, partnership, and child – well being project to the District executive committee (Dec) in Dowa, the organization’s Operations Manager Emmie Suliwa, said Great Minds Bright Futures has a vision of seeing a society where every vulnerable child has access to quality healthcare, education, protection, and equal opportunities.
Suliwa said the goal of the project is to contribute to improved well – being and sustainable development of vulnerable children and their households in the district with a mission of improving the lives of orphaned and vulnerable children through Early Childhood Development, nutrition, child protection, and community empowerment.
She said the project is aimed to provide quality early childhood services, improving nutrition and health status among children,promoting child protection and safeguarding, strengthen household community participation in child welfare, contributing to poverty reduction and sustainable livelihoods.
The Manager said the organization is serving direct beneficiaries approximately 304 orphaned and vulnerable children from villages of T/A Mkukula in three centres: Chunzu, Funsani, and Tingathe Dzaleka and indirect beneficiaries such as community chiefs, guardians, caregivers, and households in the district.
Suliwa said the project has registered some remarkable achievements such as three centres successfully established, care and support being provided, increased access to nutrition and early childhood education, community participation strengthened, child welfare and protection mechanisms supported.
“The project has contributed to Malawi 2063 through human capital development, social, protection and inclusion, youth and population development, and inclusive wealth creation, among others,” she said.
However, Suliwa said the project is meeting some challenges in the course of implementation such as increasing number of children requiring support, inadequate teaching and learning materials, limited transport and operation resources, among others.
Suliwa called on partners, organizations and well – wishers involved in charitable work to join them in complimenting government efforts in improving the welfare of orphaned and children in Malawi through emmie@greatmindsbrightfutures.co.uk, info@greatmindsbrightfutures.co.uk +265888122645.
In his remarks, Dowa District Council’s Director of Planning and Development Phillimon Maseko, advised partners to share progress of the interventions they are implementing in the district to enhance cooperation, transparency and accountability.
