Child development centre under construction at NTCCA

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Lilongwe, Malawi

In February, a small team from the Eugene, Oregon, First Church of the Nazarene delivered funds, vision, and excitement to begin the construction of a child development centre (CDC) on the campus of Nazarene Theological College of Central Africa (NTCCA) in Lilongwe, Malawi. The center, a multi-purpose hall, will improve and expand the facilities for daycare of children whose families pay for morning childcare on campus. In afternoon hours it will be a protected and safe space for a program called "Friend-to-Friend," in which college students and the NTCCA staff work with children who have physical or emotional challenges. On weekends, the hall and the basketball court in the adjacent field can be rented for celebrations such as wedding receptions and other functions.

The NTCCA CDC is part of the financial strategy for NTCCA to become self-supporting, to give students opportunities to learn building skills, and to equip the students to gain experience in relating to people with physical challenges.

Students from NTCCA have been involved in every aspect of the project, from preparing the foundation to laying bricks, and working with the children. Antonio Manda is responsible for purchasing all the building materials for the CDC. He works for several hours each week with children who are physically challenged. Gilbert Zamini is a contractor who has patiently taught and guided the student labor force.

The foundation and four walls have been completed and the plumbing is installed. The NTCCA team is now waiting for the arrival of more project funds from the Puyallup, Washington, Church of the Nazarene, Roofs for Africa, and other private donors who have pledged funds for the floors. NTCCA hopes to open the new CDC in June 2010.
--Margaret Scott, NTCCA development coordinator for NCN News-Africa

 

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