For every 100,000 births that occur in Malawi this year, more than 800 mothers will die during delivery or shortly after because of complications.
Right now, 1 in 18 women in Malawi will die during their lifetime due to complications and the lack of medical care during pregnancy and delivery. Through education, these children will have the resources necessary to provide a better future for themselves and for their families-one where they are never faced with the decision of whether or not to abandon their own children. Once children progress to secondary school (9th grade), they attend boarding school and return home during school breaks. All of the school fees, uniforms, and supplies are paid for through our sponsorship program. The children attend a local primary school and receive afterschool tutoring at home in the afternoon. 100X has also built a library and multipurpose building on the property-giving the children a place to gather together, learn and build community. This family environment is one that many of the children have never previously experienced. Mtendere Village is home to 134 children, living in 16 homes with a housemother and several brothers and sisters. The heart of the program is to be His hands and feet by caring for the children at Mtendere, and meeting their spiritual, physical, academic, and emotional needs. Dana Blanchard, or Mama Dana as she is more commonly referred to at Mtendere, lived on site during the initial development, and she returns each summer to spend the season with her Malawian family. Chief Napoleon conveyed the desperate need for a program to intervene and care for the orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) in Malawi, and John committed to help.Įstablished in honor of John & Lindy’s son, Christopher Blanchard, this particular program is very dear to the Blanchard family. Mtendere Village was inspired by the vision of Chief Napoleon Dzombe, which he shared with John Blanchard during his first visit to Malawi.