Kansas City, MO - January 2, 2018 - Malawi, Africa is one of the poorest countries in the world where most children lack a quality education. Two non-profit organizations are partnering with several groups and individuals, including the Malawi Ambassador to the United States, to address the crisis by challenging students to bring real change to this African nation.
The Global Orphan Project and Moving Windmills Project announced today that they are sponsoring the Malawi Challenge, a community service project to support education in Malawi. The event is scheduled from January 1 – May 31, 2018. The Malawi Challenge is open to all K-12 schools and students across the globe. There is no cost or minimum fundraising requirement to participate.
Chuck Wolfe, a volunteer advocate with The Global Orphan Project, developed the Malawi Challenge to help bring change to this African country. “The future of Malawi depends on education,” Wolfe said. “Currently, less than 20% of all students continue beyond primary school. The Malawi Challenge will help provide a meaningful secondary school experience for hundreds of students each year. One of them could be a future leader of the country. It’s all about opportunity. This could literally alter the course of history for this nation.”
The Malawi Challenge will support the expansion of two different schools – the Mtunthama Community Day Secondary School outside of Wimbe, supported by the Moving Windmills Project, and the Pothawira Academy in Salima, supported by The Global Orphan Project. The two non-profit organizations hope to raise at least $100,000 which will be shared equally between the groups.
Moving Windmills was inspired by the life story of William Kamkwamba, who had to drop out of school at age 14 because he could not afford school fees. He turned to self-education to create a wind-powered device out of unconventional materials to bring electricity to his home in rural Malawi. He recently graduated from Dartmouth College and is an international speaker, blogger and author.
The Pothawira Academy is part of a community-based orphan project managed by the family of Dr. Anne Alaniz, who grew up in the remote village of Tonje. Through the efforts of a medical missionary, she came to the United States as a senior in high school and began an educational journey that has taken her to the top of her profession. She is a graduate of Dallas Baptist College and North Texas Medical School.
Alaniz, a gynecological oncologist at Houston Methodist Hospital, knows first-hand the impact this project can have for her homeland. “The education of children in the developing world is the fundamental building block to creating a culture of independence and equity,” she said. “I am a product of that very concept. Someone gave me the gift of education and I am now a doctor and the co-founder of a school, medical clinic, birthing center and orphanage in Malawi.”
In addition to the fundraising campaign, the Malawi Challenge will include online assemblies for students to learn about life in Malawi. The list of scheduled speakers includes Kamkwamba and Alaniz. The final assembly will feature Edward Yakobe Sawerengera, the Ambassador of the Republic of Malawi to the United States. A series of podcasts will also help educate students on Malawi.
Another key feature of the Malawi Challenge is the project-based learning contests. Students will compete against each other in five contest areas: STEM; Architecture; Artistic Expression; Entrepreneurship; and Non-Profit Development. There are two separate age categories for the contests – High School and K-8. The three top winners in each contest category will receive cash prizes. A panel of nationally recognized companies and individuals will help judge the student contests. Some of the judges include HOK (a global design and architecture firm), Savvy Shields (Miss America 2017) and Ben Higgins (former TV star from The Bachelor who is now a social cause entrepreneur).
The ultimate contest prize is an all-expense paid trip for two to the Africa this summer. Every student who enters a contest and submits a completed project by April 15 will be entered into a raffle for this prize. The trip is scheduled from June 30 – July 10 in conjunction with the Malawi 100, a related 100K charity bike ride.
Registration for schools and students opened January 1, 2018. The kickoff online assembly is scheduled for January 25, 2018.
More information can be found at www.malawichallenge.com.
ABOUT THE GLOBAL ORPHAN PROJECT
The Global Orphan Project, a 501(c)(3) organization based in Kansas City, Missouri, is focused on international orphan care and prevention, including foster care support in the U.S.
More information can be found at www.goproject.org.
ABOUT THE MOVING WINDMILLS PROJECT
The Moving Windmills Project is a 501(c)(3) organization that supports rural economic development and education projects in Malawi.
More information can be found at www.movingwindmills.org.
Media Contact
Company Name: The Global Orphan Project
Contact Person: Chuck Wolfe
Email:Send Email
Phone: 8135455441
Address:6122 S. Russell Street
City: Tampa
State: FL
Country: United States
Website: www.malawichallenge.com
