FEDERATION OF DISABILITY ORGANIZATIONS IN MALAWI is a non-profit local NGO Based in Blantyre
Currently, there are 12 Organizations of Persons with Disabilities OPDs under FEDOMA
Post Address: P.O.Box 797 Blantyre Contact Details: Phone: +265 888 894 287/994 340 153. E-mail: Swmunde@gmail.com
The Federation of Disability Organizations in Malawi Fedoma and Sightsavers Malawi takes on government institutions to task as these NGOs invaded Mitundu and Kabudula Health Centers in Lilongwe District with a three day Access Audit Exercise to see if such institutions are accessible to persons with disabilities.
The exercise which started on 16th March and ended on 18th March, 2021, faulted the facilities as some of the structures like toilets are not accessible. The access audit team which was led by Malonje phiri, FEDOMA’s Project Coordinator and Naomie Kaluwa from Sightsavers Malawi requested the managements of these two public institutions to make there toilets accessible to persons with disabilities..
As it says “leaving no one behind,” FEDOMA hsa teamed up with Sight Severs Malawi in accessibility task.
May 4th, 2021
History has been written in the books of Malawi as the country has seen a person with disability, Scader Louis being elected as chairperson of the Malawi Human Rights Commission MHRC. Loius is among the two from the disability sector saving at MHRC as she goes along with Boniface Massah, a person with albinism who is currently saving as a commissioner at that Human Rights body.
Sending his congratulatory message that was posted on FEDOMA Facebook, FEDOMA’s Acting Executive Director, Simon Munde, wishes Louis a good life as she works tirelessly to advocate for the rights of minority groups. He therefore, assured her that Organizations of Persons with Disabilities in Malawi OPDs will give her moral support so that human rights issues should be advanced.
Louis’s election comes at a time when FEDOMA and its affiliates are lobbying for the advanced inclusion in all aspects.
Apart form being elected as chairperson of MHRC, Louis is also currently saving as the Vice Chairperson of FEDOMA Executive Council
National Economic Empowerment Fund (NEEF) limited has seen some parents of disabled children in Phalombe as eligible loan beneficiaries after going through business and loan management training.
Speaking when awarding NEEF Forms to successful clubs of parents of disabled children at a function held in GVH Manjslende in the area of Traditional Authority (T/A) M’khumba in Phalombe, NEEF Loan Officer, Chris Kanyoza has commended parents of disabled children for their effort to become loan beneficiaries saying the loans will transform their lives. He however advised the clubs to repay the loan once they access it saying failing which they will not have another loan opportunity in the second phase.
“Let me congratulate all disability clubs that have made it to this far. Nothing is impossible in business, please work hard in your business activities and later, you will be able to repay your loan to NEEF limited failing which, will deprive your integrity, “said Kanyoza.
Speaking at that approval meeting, Group Village Head Manjalende expressed his gratitude to FEDOMA for linking up all disability clubs to NEEF limited saying the lives of such people shall be transformed once they get the loans.
“I would like to extend my profound gratitudes to FEDOMA for the job well done as you have linked up these clubs to NEEF limited. For so ling, we have been hearing stories of other people elsewhere getting loans and nobody from my area was considered by then. Now this is our time for that you have recognized these parents of disabled children in my area,” said GVH Manjalende.
Manjalende also shared the same notes with Kanyoza as he urged his subordinates to repay the loan but he was quick to assure the Loan Officer that the villagers will repay the laons as he trusts them.
“I shall be vry happy if you repay the loan and my village will not wear negative image. However, let me assure you NEEF Officefrs that I trust these people please give them loans quickly as this is the harvest season and businesses are at their pick and they (loan beneficiaries) will indeed repay believe you me,"he said.
Two disability clubs each having a total of 10 parents of disabled children from that area will benefit from the loan thisy year.
Standing voice Malawi has donated a house to Alfred Chigalu, a person with albinism living in Makonja Village in the area of Traditional Authority (T/A) Jenala in Phalombe who was survived from the hands of evil minded people who wanted to kill him in 2015 in suspicious to use his body parts for rituals.
According to the Standing Voice Country Director to Malawi, Boniface Massah, the Organization is on the mission to contain the barbaric abduction of persons with albinism countrywide hence the donation.
“Our organization is on the mission to reach out to the various parts of the country Phalombe inclusive, with various initiatives that will see persons with albinism supported and that is why today we are here donating this house to our colleague (Alfred Chigalu) who by the Grace of God, he survived from dearth and we are very happy for that we have constructed this house for him,” said Massah.
Speaking after receiving the donation, Phalombe District Council Vice Chairperson, Councilor Bernard Komwa, expressed gratitude for the timely donation saying it will help to put up a gallant fight against the barbaric abduction. He therefore called on various stake holders in the district to emulate the gesture set by the Standing Voice Malawi saying more lives of persons with albinism would be saved by such initiatives.
“Let me start by giving a round of applause to the Standing Voice Malawi for constructing such a beautiful house and I know community members are also expressing gratitude as well and it is my hope this boy (Alfred Chigalu) will never face another bad moment since he will be living in a secured environment. I plead with other stake holders in this district, please emulate what your colleague (Standing Voice Malawi) has done so far as together we can end such malpractice in this district,” said Komwa.
A two bed roomed house has been constructed with a tune of about 4.5 Million Malawi Kwacha.
