As the call to reach out to survivors of Cyclone Freddy has been reiterated Maranatha Academy students from the girls’ campus in Machinjiri on Sunday supported the displaced households camping at Nkolokoti Primary School in Blantyre.
A total of 40 families were reached with relief items valued at K2 million, according to Atikonda Nchingula a form four student who led her fellows in the donation exercise.
Nchingula said the survivors received maize flour, beans, fish, salt, and sugar among other relief items.
Speaking during the ceremony, Nchingula said as students they were concerned with the plight of people affected by Cyclone Freddy in the Southern Region and were compelled to offer support.
“Maranatha girls boarding school is based in Machinjiri and due to the proximity we are touched by the plight of Cyclone Freddy survivors just close to us. These survivors are in our neighbourhood hence our support.
“We mobilised resources on our own as girls and we also collected some relief items from staff members and our Managing Director, Dr Ernest Kaonga. Finally, we had enough resources to share with our friends,” said Nchingula.
One of the beneficiaries, James Kaonje, hailed Maranatha Academy for the timely donation.
“We are very thankful to Maranatha Academy girls for the donation, especially coming from students who also look up to parents or guardians for support. We urge other schools to emulate Maranatha’s example,” said Kaonje.
In his remarks, Kaonga said this was just the beginning as they are looking forward to reaching out to Cyclone Freddy survivors in Chikwawa and Phalombe where the cyclone also caused havoc to many families.
“As Maranatha, we thought it wise to compliment what the Head of the State, Dr Lazarus Chakwera appealed to the nation ‘Kuti tigwirane manja’ (Join hands) in this difficult time. We thought it wise to start with Machinjiri which is in our neighbourhood before reaching other areas,” said Kaonga.
Currently, several organisations are responding to the state of disaster as announced by President Chakwera and Maranatha girls have just followed suit.
#MBCNewsLive
