THE Kondanani motto, goal and mission
Our Motto "We don't keep children, but love and care for them."
Our Goal
To hear the children say when they have grown up: “I had a happy childhood in spite of being an orphan. I have had a great education, I am a stable and whole person in spirit, soul and body.”
Our Mission
To create within the child an awareness of belonging, to promote an environment of love and care. Giving them an opportunity to be educated, which leads them to self-reliance and self-respect, so that they may take up the responsibility of their own identity as they grow towards adulthood.
WHAT WE DO
We at Kondanani are passionately driven to give a safe haven to all children entering the gates of our premises. We provide food and shelter to the children in a loving and caring atmosphere, at the various homes and villages we have at Kondanani. We educate our children at Kondanani to have them grow not only in reason and intellect, but also spiritually and in moral conduct. We also provide health care for our big family, so we all grow healthy and strong physically as well.
The activities of Kondanani were launched by the former President of the Republic of Malawi, His Excellency Dr Bakili Muluzi. Kondanani has various children’s homes and villages: There are 166 children in total (92 Boys and 74 Girls), currently all below the age of 18.
The need for the establishment of the orphanage arose due to the high rate of HIV/Aids infection in the country, which is continuing to rob many children of their parents.
The extended family system in Malawi has largely collapsed, and HIV has become the single biggest cause of death among Malawians between the ages of 15 and 49 years old (the child-bearing years for women).
Due to the fact that many other orphanages would not admit babies because of the cost, and the fact that it is labour-intensive, Kondanani embarked on admitting such babies rather than leaving them to die in the villages. The first baby was admitted to Caring Hands Infant Home on 7 November 1998.
FOR THE FULL BACKGROUND STORY
of Kondanani Children’s Village, be sure to read “Mother of Malawi”, an inspirational testimony to the grace of Christ shown in the life of Annie, and in turn the orphans of Malawi.
MOTHER OF MALAWI:
Kondanani’s Executive Director, Annie Chikhwaza has become known as ‘Mother of Malawi’ through her work with orphaned children in Africa. Get a copy of her biography and find out how the Dutch media came to give her this title. Read how she grew up in the Netherlands and moved to South Africa where she stood against the apartheid system to help the poor and marginalised. Find out how she came to marry a Malawian pastor, Lewis Chikhwaza and how they founded Kondanani together in 1998 as an Oasis of Love.
Throughout her life Annie has had to face many obstacles, from abuse as a child to depression, suicide and divorce to name a few. Her greatest trial came when she was brutally attacked in Malawi and left for dead. Everything she had built up was destroyed and she could easily have given up. She could have embraced bitterness and hatred, but she chose the path of love. Annie’s story is one of overcoming trial after trial and it will inspire you to never give up.