Our Programs
Transforming lives and empowering communities through comprehensive programs in nutrition, health, education, gender equality, youth empowerment, support for widows, pastoral care, safe motherhood, and community development.
Orphans & Vulnerable Children
Fortified Porridge Feeding Program
Early Childhood Education
Child-Headed Homes
As a means to enhance nutrition, we operate community feeding centers led by dedicated local leaders and volunteers. In 15 communities, children receive nourishing Likuni Phala five days a week through our early childhood development program. This initiative, supported by 65 trained community volunteers and caregivers, has fed up to 13,000 children, though funding shortages have reduced this number. During the critical hunger gap from November to March, children are provided with an additional meal. We also extend our care to 14 child-headed households, comprising 51 children in total, ensuring they have access to food and education, protecting them from a life of crime or becoming victims of gender-based violence.
Why It’s Important
Supporting orphans and vulnerable children in Malawi, is crucial for breaking the cycle of poverty and ensuring a brighter future. With over 1.2 million orphans in Malawi, many children face malnutrition and limited access to education. By providing consistent meals and educational support, SCM’s programs give these children a chance to grow healthy and attend school, laying the foundation for better job opportunities and a stable, self-sufficient life. This not only transforms individual lives but also strengthens the entire community by nurturing educated, empowered future leaders.
Home Based Care
HIV Support Groups
Home-Based Care for Critical Patients
Patient Transport Assistance
Community Pharmacies
We provide vital health services in rural and peri-urban communities, supporting families and caregivers of individuals with chronic diseases like TB, cancer, and HIV/AIDS. Through our dedicated efforts, we offer medication support, community pharmacies, transport vouchers for accessing ARVs, emergency food packs for critically ill patients, mosquito nets, blankets, and pastoral counseling. Our 170 trained community volunteers reach out to 3,845 patients, encouraging those who recover to join local HIV/AIDS support groups that meet weekly. Additionally, we provide prescription medication from Canadian charities to local clinics, benefiting over 45,000 patients.
Why It’s Important
Home-based care is essential in Malawi, where access to healthcare facilities is often limited, especially in rural areas. With approximately 10% of Malawi’s population living with HIV/AIDS, programs like SCM’s are crucial. They ensure patients receive necessary medications and support, improving adherence to treatment and reducing the spread of disease. By providing comprehensive care and resources, SCM helps patients manage their conditions better, preventing complications and hospitalizations. This not only enhances the quality of life for patients but also eases the burden on Malawi’s overstretched healthcare system, ultimately contributing to healthier, more resilient communities.
Gender-Based Violence
GBV Counselling
House of Mercy (HOMe)
Dinah’s Legacy for young survivors
Chief-to-Chief Training
We have developed a program designed to speak out (“Silent No More”) against gender-based violence, especially towards women and children. This is achieved by building the capacity of 526 counselors in 18 communities who act as ambassadors of change in their villages, providing support to survivors of violence. This operates through the establishment of a network between communities and available victim support police units, hospitals, and traditional courts. The program also seeks to empower women on their rights and those of their children, and how they can enforce these rights. “Silent No More” calls all churches and traditional leadership to take action, highlighting the way churches have perpetuated a culture of silence around sexual violence and how they have largely failed to respond to the crisis. This silence may even worsen the impact by reinforcing the stigma and discrimination experienced by survivors. Through community awareness campaigns, we educate chiefs, churches, and community leaders to take a stand against violence towards women and children. A House of Mercy (HOME) in Mtsiliza provides a place of refuge for survivors to find temporary safety and a means of developing skills.
Why It’s Important
Gender-based violence remains a significant issue in Malawi, where nearly one in three women experience physical or sexual violence in their lifetime. Programs like ours are crucial for providing immediate support and long-term solutions for survivors. By empowering women and educating communities, we help dismantle harmful norms and reduce the prevalence of violence. Our network of counselors and community leaders ensures that survivors receive the care and justice they deserve, fostering safer and more equitable communities. Additionally, providing refuge and skill development at places like the House of Mercy equips survivors with the tools they need to rebuild their lives, breaking the cycle of violence and contributing to a more resilient society.
Pastoral
Community Evangelism
Bible Distribution
Grace Community Bible Training Centre
Marriage Seminars
We are founded on biblical roots, and thus we incorporate pastoral teaching in all our programs. Our Ministry’s mandate is to reach individuals on a holistic level, paying specific attention to their spiritual wellbeing. The Pastoral department ensures that pastors step out of the four walls of the church to effect real change in their communities. Pastors support Home Based Care by bringing the Word of God to the sick, teaching the children in the feeding program, providing mentorship in family values and ethics in the Youth program, and serving as counselors in the Gender-Based Violence program, ensuring the message of intolerance towards violence is preached in churches. Most pastors do not own a Bible, making Bible distribution a crucial component for ensuring transformation in village communities. We also provide biblical foundation training, a two-year program, to community pastors and church leaders who would otherwise never be able to attend quality, accessible biblical teachings (Grace Community Bible Training Centre).
Why It’s Important
Pastoral care is vital in Malawi, where spiritual guidance is central to community life. With over 80% of the population identifying as Christian, faith-based interventions can significantly impact social issues and personal development. Our pastoral programs ensure that spiritual support complements physical and emotional care, promoting holistic healing and resilience. By equipping pastors with Bibles and theological training, we empower them to lead their communities with knowledge and compassion. This not only strengthens individual faith but also fosters community cohesion, reducing issues such as violence and neglect, and contributing to overall societal stability.
Women & Widows
Maize Distribution
Fortified Porridge Feeding Program
Community Banking Groups
Skills Training
The main goal of this program is two-fold: to ensure widows know their value and that they are loved by God, and to help them help themselves. The Grey Matters program unites nearly 4,000 widows and elderly in the community by having them come together weekly for spiritual and social support. It also helps the widows become self-sufficient by providing them with different materials and small care packs of basic household needs. One of our initiatives is “Gogo loans” (granny loans) where younger women access loans without interest but instead adopt an elderly man or woman and help support them monetarily or in kind. This has ensured the community looks after its elders and has reduced the dependency of widows on programs.
Why It’s Important
In Malawi, widows and elderly women often face severe economic and social challenges. Many widows are left without any source of income and are vulnerable to poverty and neglect. Statistics show that in rural Malawi, up to 70% of widows live below the poverty line. Programs like Grey Matters provide crucial support, helping these women to regain their independence and dignity. By fostering a community of support and providing resources such as “Gogo loans,” we help break the cycle of poverty and social isolation. This not only improves the lives of the widows but also strengthens community cohesion and ensures that the elderly are valued and cared for.
Youth
Youth Conferences
Skills Training
Girl Empowerment Programs
Community Evangelism
YAFORCE (Youth Alliance for Change) was birthed out of an understanding that if lasting change is to take place, the main target of capacity building and community transformation must be the youth. Unemployment, early marriage, and high rates of school dropout plague youth in villages. We provide spiritual and vocational training to over 900 youth trainers in 18 communities. The youth are encouraged to be self-reliant through attending training in tailoring, building, carpentry, and agri-business for capacity building. The youth encompass more than 50% of the volunteer workforce in the ministry and community leadership, serving in critical roles that ensure the success of all programs. One vital component of the youth’s impact is community health evangelism, ensuring that Jesus is preached to every person but also targeting developmental areas such as malaria prevention, clean water, and good sanitation.
Why It’s Important
Empowering the youth in Malawi is essential for driving sustainable development and breaking the cycle of poverty. With over 50% of the population under 18, addressing issues like unemployment, early marriage, and school dropout rates is critical. Our YAFORCE program equips young people with practical skills and spiritual guidance, fostering self-reliance and leadership. By investing in the youth, we not only provide them with better opportunities but also cultivate a generation of empowered individuals who contribute to the economic and social progress of their communities. This holistic approach ensures that young people are prepared to tackle challenges.
Safe Motherhood
Fortified Porridge Feeding Program
Pregnancy, Birthing, & Breastfeeding Education
Skills Training
We, supported by government Health Surveillance Assistants and community leaders, work with lactating and pregnant women in 16 communities to ensure healthy pregnancies and safe deliveries. This is achieved through growth monitoring, nutrition training and food demonstrations, access to fortified porridge (which greatly reduces malnourished births), and encouraging VCT testing for all pregnant mothers and their spouses, as well as exclusive breastfeeding. We also advocate for a husband’s full involvement in the pregnancy process and the raising of children. Women are taught skills in sewing, crocheting, knitting, and small agri-business to encourage self-reliance and financial independence.
Why It’s Important
Safe motherhood is critical in Malawi, where maternal and infant mortality rates are among the highest in the world. According to UNICEF, the maternal mortality ratio is approximately 439 deaths per 100,000 live births, and neonatal mortality is about 27 deaths per 1,000 live births. Programs like ours play a vital role in addressing these issues by providing essential health services and education to pregnant women and new mothers. Ensuring proper nutrition and healthcare not only reduces the risk of malnourished births but also promotes healthy growth and development. By involving husbands in the pregnancy process and teaching women valuable skills for economic independence, we empower families and contribute to the overall well-being of the community. This holistic approach helps to create a supportive environment where mothers and children can thrive.
Community Development
Boreholes
Leadership Capacity Building
Sanitation | Road Repairs
Community Centres
This is a structured intervention that gives communities greater control over the conditions that affect their lives. We conduct capacity-building meetings with community leaders, chiefs, and traditional authorities, equipping them with the knowledge and skills to effectively manage and participate in their community development. With support from individual partners, we have drilled and repaired over 50 boreholes in areas where clean drinking water was not available, recognizing that access to clean water is a basic right. Our ministry has improved community landscapes by constructing safe and secure feeding centers for all community activities. We have also built pit latrines to promote good hygiene and encouraged the maintenance of roads to improve access to markets and goods. Additionally, community development ensures villages participate in reforestation by planting trees.
Why It’s Important
Community development is crucial for sustainable growth and improving living conditions in Malawi. Access to clean water, sanitation, and infrastructure significantly impacts health and economic productivity. According to WHO, lack of clean water and poor sanitation contribute to high rates of waterborne diseases, which can be deadly, especially for children. By drilling boreholes and building latrines, we directly reduce these risks and promote healthier living environments. Moreover, empowering community leaders with skills and knowledge fosters local ownership and accountability, ensuring that development initiatives are sustainable and tailored to the community’s needs. These efforts lead to more resilient communities capable of driving their progress and improving their quality of life.
