Jamaican-Canadian philanthropist makes a difference in Malawi

TORONTO:

A Jamaican-Canadian philanthropist has been supporting educational, economic, and development projects in a community in Malawi for the past seven years.

In 2016, Kamala-Jean Gopie was visiting Cape Town, South Africa when she met Happy, a young man who was selling items in a market to support his family in Malosa, Malawi – a four-day bus trip from Cape Town. She found out that he wanted to become a teacher and was the breadwinner for his family which then comprised six siblings and mother; his father had died.

As a former educator, Happy’s aspiration sparked her interest and, after checking out his story, Gopie decided to help him achieve his goals. Happy completed a teaching programme and is a teacher in his community.

This October, she made her eighth trip to Malawi since June 2017 when she first went to see where Happy lived.

“So much has changed for Happy, his community and me since that time. Here is a brief recap: a school built for preschoolers, wells dug, houses rebuilt after hurricanes, skills centre built with sewing machines and carpentry tools, solar panel installed, maize mill purchased and operated by a few young people, trees planted by children, and support provided for primary, secondary and post- secondary students,” writes Gopie in a report.

She said these achievements happened because many of her friends responded positively to her request for support.

“Furthermore, the progress has been incremental, based on the needs and desires of the community. According to the local chiefs, the community is among the best in the district because so many children are getting an education.”

CONSTRUCT NEW CLASSROOM

Gopie’s friend and colleague, Charis Newton-Thompson, accompanied her to Malawi for the third time. While there, they met Happy, his wife, Tamala, and visited the village of Mitusi where the project is located.

“We took suitcases of school supplies, generously donated by Dr Gagan Bhalla of Mississauga. We are most grateful for this support,” said Gopie.

Last year, Happy took them to see two new locations where preschoolers, sitting on tarpaulin under trees, were being schooled.

“He saw the need and realised that the school at the project’s main campus was already full, with over 100 children and that the distance was too great for three- to-six- yearcolds to walk. So, in May, as a result of donor support of the project, we were able to construct a new classroom at one of the sites. The local chief donated the land for the classroom. What joy to see the excitement for learning on the faces of these young children. As is my practice, I sang action songs with them. The children receive a lunch which, for some, is likely their only meal of the day,” she said.Happy took them to the second site where the children were learning under a tree. Gope is hoping to build a classroom at this site during this school year. One of the instructors donated the land for the classroom.

“When we arrived at the main campus, we were met by students, parents, young people, women and chiefs. These groups all made presentations of songs, dance, poetry, speeches and a performance by the young people dealing with the issue of early marriage of girls. We were also entertained by masked dancers, one on stilts. This was enjoyed by all, especially the young children.”

Gopie and Newton-Thompson also met young people who repaired the road to the village, students who had been successful in the Malawian national school-leaving examinations, and they provided a meal for them.

They also heard requests for help from parents and villagers for a variety of things: fees for primary, secondary school and post-secondary school students, fertiliser for crops, and food.

There is now a young man attending university in Lilongwe, two young women doing nursing at St Luke’s Hospital in Malosa — not too far from the village — a young woman at teachers’ college in Blantyre, and a young man has completed an electrician’s course and is working in Blantyre.

“With your help, we hope that we can continue to support the education of students. There are now over 200 preschoolers, 110 primary students, and over 40 secondary school students in the project, in addition to those involved in post-secondary programs as mentioned above,” Gopie wrote.

She is encouraging donations to be forwarded to the Namwera Malawi project at People Bridge Charitable Foundation. Donors will receive a tax receipt for the full amount of their donation.