CARE FOUNDATION

Malawi

Rumphi District

Concept on supporting most vulnerable children living in and on the street to prevent further spread of COVID-19

Compiled By: George Mlowoka

Executive Director

Cell: +265 999 940 159

Email: mlowokageorge041@gmail.com

1. Introduction

Care Foundation (CAFO) is a local Non Profit making Organisation established in October 2018 in response to the alarming number of vulnerable children who were identified in the streets and beaches around Boma Point and along the lakeshore areas. The aim of its establishment is to empower street orphaned and other vulnerable children and creating opportunity for such children to have access to basic education, health and nutritional needs while promoting the rights of all children ensuring fulfilment of their potential and participation in the development of their country. The organization is registered with the government of Malawi through social welfare department and operating in the district Rumphi from northern part of Malawi.

2. Rationale or Problem Statement

Children living in and on the Street face different form of abuse as they are fighting for survival, most of these children are vulnerable who are subjected to hazardous and unhygienic condition putting them at risk of infections, drug and substance abuse and introduced to crime. A lot of children have been seen working and begging in the streets of many cities in Malawi and most of them are out of school with undecided future. These children are mostly seen selling commodities like clothes, plastic bags and agricultural products in order to get money to meet their needs. It is of major concern to observe how these children live, some live under bridges, unfinished houses and vacant places.

Major issues forcing these children in the streets includes domestic, economic and social disruption which include poverty, breakdown of families sexual, physical or emotional abuse, domestic violence mental health problems, substance abuse, sexual orientation or gender identical issue. Some children may end in streets due to cultural and religious factors for example girls are forced to engage themselves in sexual activities for the benefit of families economically

With great concern, these children are very at risk of COVID-19 as they are vulnerable due to unfavorable conditions being exposed every day, they are working and begging in the street, it should be noted that most of these children interact with a lot of people each day who may be a great threat to the society if some of them can be infected with COVID-19, culturally children are very close to their grandparents as most of them lost their parents due to HIV/AIDS. If these children can catch the virus may destroy the whole community within a short period of time as they are too mobile moving from one point to another trying to make ends meet. Old people are very at risk of COVID-19 due to weak immune system hence the need to prevent the spread of the virus among children who may easily transmit the virus to them.

3. Main Activities and Approach

Care Foundation would want to address grassroots issues contributing to increased number of children living in and on the street. The organization is intending to withdraw, prevent and protect these children from COVID-19 and other form of abuse, sensitize communities on providing care and support to vulnerable children, support identified vulnerable households with an income generating activity to reduce number of children going to the street trying to make ends meet, provide direct support to children identified in the street to stay in school, procure and distribute COVID-19 sanitary materials and distribute among parents and guardians of children identified in the street, sensitize the communities on COVID-19 and preventive measures, provide ongoing psychosocial support services to children and guardians to rehabilitate from psychological trauma.

4. Target Communities and Reasons

Care Foundation will target 4 communities in Rumphi district which includes Rumphi Boma, Bolero, Chitimba and Chiweta. In brief these communities are the main business hubs of Rumphi district and market places, the 2 communities of Chiweta and Chitimba are along the lake shores of northern part of Lake Malawi. In these communities children are forced to go for fishing while most of the girls are seen selling dry fish who are out of school, these children may be the great threat to the communities around them if they are infected with COVID-19. Children travel from different places within the districts and other district to work around these communities to make their ends meet. Most of these children living in these markets places are those who travel from the southern region of Malawi with their parents who came to work in tobacco farms and mostly those who lost both parents and lack parental care and support.

5. Target Groups

Care Foundation will target children living in and on the street not less than 4 hours per day, will also target vulnerable household heads who some of their children have been identified in the street. The organization has so far identified 50 children at Rumphi Boma and is yet to identify at Bolero, Chitimba and Chiweta, likely the number will increase to more than hundred.

6. Implementation Period

Care Foundation will carry out this program for a period of six months and shall recruit social workers to facilitate implementation of all the activities at community level.

7. Program Approach Strategy

The program will strengthen strategies and scale up withdraw of children from the street and prevent those on the verge of being in the street through different interventions at Boma point and other trading centres within the district where children work in the street. The approach will strengthen systems for protecting boys and girls from COVID-19 and different form of abuse, exploitation and violation. The project will work in collaboration with community development structures, key district stakeholders and other partners of the same interest for experience sharing and capacity building.

If You or Anyone You Know Can Help Reach These Goals Please Cotact:

George Mlowoka

Executive Director

Cell: +265 999 940 159

Email: mlowokageorge041@gmail.com

Get in the groove and feel like a scoundrel

Groove Scoundrels is a band of friends from around the world who make music that grooves from all genres. Nothing and no one is safe from their pounding beats and vicious guitars. Led by Steve Kinetic Roberts who writes and co-writes the music and lyrics with Danny Flanagan, all our music is produced in house in a small studio in West Bradenton FL.

Here is what the One World Blue Songwriter Review by Talent Director Russell Johnson, Renowned and Acclaimed JRJ Productions Founder, has to say:

"Steven is not your average musician and his band Groove Scoundrels is not your average band. They are not necessarily interested in genre, they are after the “groove” {or “in the pocket” if you understand}. This makes categorizing the band almost impossible. Is it Rock & Roll? Most definitely, but it is also jazz, zydeco, blues, country with an R&B influence, and an undefinable classical characteristic that causes irritable leg syndrome. Steve doesn’t want his band pigeon-holed other than one characteristic – “It’s got that groove.” Just a sample from their website, groovescondrels.com will prove this true. It’s why they call it a “hook” – it grabs you and never lets go."

"Over the years Steve has assembled an eclectic and very talented group of musicians that fulfill many roles. Thes include Wayne Ridenhour on guitar as well as flute, tuba and synthesizer; Danny Flanagan, a multi-talented vocalist who can be heard tearing it up on the bands lastest single “Sleepless” – very reminiscent of Dr.John with a New Orleans funk, and Jerry Bohannon on a delicately screamin lead guitar. Rounding out the core band is Jarno Luhtanen, a roadwarrior from Finland who ads chops on guitar, keys, and percussion. All contribute at times to Steve Kinetic’s incredible writing."

"That brings us to Steve Kinetic – the driving force behind Grove Scoundrels. Steve not only writes and arranges the vast majority of the Groove Scoundrels music but also arranges and produces all of their songs. And the variety of music is astounding, from straight ahead rock and roll to jazz/zydeco fusion to rambling instrumentals; one thing remains true: they all have that GROOVE."

LISTEN AND GET YOUR GROOVE ON

About the Groove Scoundrels

The Groove, feelin' groovy, gettin' groovy with the groove, findin' the groove then a scoundrel walks in…

Hi, I'm Steven Kinetic Roberts.. I'm a musician, I make music. I dig the groovy music which can be from any style or genre. The groove is a feeling and for me I feel it most when playing music. I’ve described it to others as being “gonzo” so wrapped up in the groove I lose all sense of self but not of my surroundings and other musicians all connected via the groove.

Some people don't or can't dig what I do with music, especially trained musicians. I seem to irritate them the most. I’m really not sure why. A character in a book once exclaimed: “Life is so constructed, that the event does not, cannot, will not, match the expectation.” – Charlotte Bronte

Currently the band consists of myself and the fine musicians below: Steve Kinetic Roberts on guitar, synth guitar, djembe, bass drums, percussion and keys. Kinetic writes most of the songs with help from the rest and is the owner of the pro home studio in Bradenton Florida where the heavy lifting is done.

Wayne Ridenhour

Groove Scoundrels is about the groove and paying little to no attention to the “rules” or genre, mixing elements and instruments from all around the world and through time and making groovy music.

Wayne Ridenhour on guitar, drums piano synthesizers. Wayne states “My other main instruments include flute & tuba … I know how to play other wind instruments but not so well.” (SKR: I happen to think he is one heck of a mojo man on the guitar!)

We like to incorporate musicians from around the world to collaborate, innovate, and educate music and that anyone can be a musician is a musician. We think that's the definition of being groovy.

Danny Flanagan

Danny Flanagan of Bradenton Florida. Danny has an incredible voice that Axle Rose and Steve Perry would envy and he is a damn fine kit drummer. Danny and his 2 daughters were featured vocalists on the Kindred Souls track Slow Walk Home and has since cut track with us as a founding member on several songs including Somethin in the Air, Off The Cuff/Gettin Caught up, Got Me Runnin, and our newest singles Sleepless & Few Miles From Home

Jerry Bohannon

Someone we are extremely proud to have joined us is Jerry Bohannon of No Excuses on lead guitar. Jerry's style of total shredding gives his guitar parts a ferocity that can't be touched by mere mortals. Jerry plays on an Ibanez Steve Vai in bright yellow through a Line 6 Spyder 5 amp. He is a true master of the shred and can seriously improvise on little to no info on a song. Simply play it and he goes to work. I personally believe he was sent here by aliens…

Jarno Luhtanen

Jarno Luhtanen of Koskenkorva Western Finland is an amazing musician and brings not only unearthly Godlike guitar chops but writing, keys, drums and percussion and a very cool way of looking at music.

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