Dear Kudimba Friends
We’re glad to share some updates from Kudimba and Sandulika as we move through a busy year.
Kudimba has been doing really well in recent months. One of the main reasons for this progress is that this year our land did not flood during the rainy season. While we did face some sanitation issues due to the high water table, the absence of flooding made a huge difference. It allowed us to continue our work without major disruption and helped our organisation to move forward.
Another reason we’ve been able to progress is our strong, committed team. The Kudimba staff is now well-established and working seamlessly together. This team spirit is noticeable in every part of Kudimba.
However, it’s also been a time of sadness. We had to say goodbye to Frankie, one of our young children, who passed away after an accident at home.
Frankie was 11 years old and a cherished part of the Kudimba family. Despite living with both physical and learning disabilities, he had a strong spirit and a joyful presence.
He loved playing ballgames and was always excited to come to Kudimba on the bicycle transport.
We will miss him very much and hold his memory close.
Frankie
On a brighter note, we’re so excited that our long-awaited circus project has finally started. After a year of delays, we’ve welcomed Elza, Aiko, Sander, and Sam from Circolito Circusatelier, a Belgian circus project.
We have only just started and it’s already been a fantastic experience for everyone. Whether it’s our youngest children or our most athletic young adults, every participant is getting involved. The activities are inclusive, encouraging and a lot of fun and we’re seeing everyone go beyond what they thought they were capable of.
Circus Monocycle
Circus Trampoline
Circus Diabolo
Circus Slackline
Circolito & Kudimba
We’re also pleased to announce that our new project, Sandulika, is now officially registered in Malawi. This is a big step forward and opens the door to new opportunities and partnerships in the future.
We’re happy to welcome two new staff members to the Kudimba team: Victoria, who prepares meals for the children and staff, an essential and much-valued role, and Veronica, who has joined our hospitality team. Together with Annette, Veronica is looking after our guests and visitors with care and enthusiasm.
Veronica, Victoria and Annette
Life in Malawi remains extremely tough. The cost of living continues to rise to unsustainable levels. It’s a daily challenge but we’re doing our best to support our staff through these difficult times and try to help them provide for their families.
We’d like to share the story of Peter, a 13-year-old boy from Lifuwu, and the difficult circumstances he and his family are facing.
Peter lives with a severe learning disability and autism. He needs support with nearly every aspect of daily life and is highly sensitive to his environment. Even though we hoped Kudimba could be a good place for him, the noise, activity and number of people made it extremely distressing for him. He was overwhelmed and it became clear that Kudimba, as it is now, could not meet his unique needs.
Even in the best of circumstances, caring for a child with such complex needs can be challenging, but in a low-resource setting like Malawi, it becomes a near-impossible task.
We spoke with his mother to understand how we might support Peter at home, where he feels safer and less stimulated. Her story was heartbreaking.
Peter’s mother is a single parent of five children, and they live in extreme poverty. There are days when she cannot feed her children. On those days she asks for leftover maize husks – which have no nutritional value – just to cook something to fill their stomachs.
When she needs to leave the house and has no one to care for Peter, she has no option but to tie him to a tree to keep him safe. His 10-year-old sister has had to stop attending school to help care for him.
Their story has moved us deeply and we are committed to make a plan to help them move forward.
We want to build them a modest, safe home, where Peter can live with greater comfort and security.
We aim to provide the family with a small number of goats, creating a sustainable income through low-maintenance livestock farming. This will allow the mother to remain close to home to look after the children while still earning an income.
Peter
We also want to support Peter’s siblings to return to school, ensuring they have the opportunity to build a better future.
Peter’s mother shows strength and resilience every day. With some support, we believe this family can move from surviving to living with more dignity and stability.
If you feel motivated to contribute to this project, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. Any donation or form of support will go directly into improving the lives of Peter and his family.
With gratitude,
The Kudimba Team