By Ahmed Sunka, Country Manager

The distribution of food parcels to families is an important programme for GOTG. The Gift of the Givers Foundation distributes food parcels in various areas of Malawi targeting child headed families, the elderly and other vulnerable groups of people. Food parcels may be regarded as a “handout”, but for the beneficiaries, it is a vital intervention that alleviates hunger, pain and suffering, and ultimately saves lives. We aim to cater for current needs while the beneficiaries wait for anticipated harvests.

The programme started in Malawi in December 2005 and continues until today. We have worked with various Members of Parliament, Ministers and tribal elders to accomplish this. The distribution areas included:

• Soche, Ndirande, Mpemba, Bangwe, Limbe, Machinjiri in Blantyre
• Chiradzulu, Zomba, Mangochi, Chikwawa, Nsanje,
• Lilongwe, Salima, Balaka, Machinga, Thyolo

Most of the areas assisted were ones affected by drought, bad crop and/or dire poverty.

Beneficiaries:

• 2005: 15,000 families
• 2006: 18,000 families
• 2007: 15,000 families
• 2008: 10,000 families
• From January -May 2009: 500 families