Solace Projects

Malawi

In the fall of 2005, Solace joined with the Malawi Children’s Village (MCV) a local non profit to build a secondary school for orphans of HIV/AIDS. The primary goal of the MCV is orphan survival and welfare.

As the disease takes it’s toll among Malawi’s adult population, the numbers of AIDS orphans is rapidly rising. Education and is a lifeline for many of these abandoned children.

Malawi Children's Village:
(MCV) High School Mangochi: a small town on the Southern tip of Lake Malawi.
400 students
28 Staff

MCV is an orphanage and campus providing education to children orphaned by the AIDS epidemic. Existing facilities include a health clinic, library, and a vocational training school for woodworkers, tailors, metal workers, and bricklayers. The workshops serve not only as training centers but also generate income for the center. MCV also runs a thriving farm with fruit trees, gardens, and three highly productive fishponds.

Dorothy Byrne Science and Computer Center
Construction for a new hightchool began in 2004. Private funding soon ran low. In 2005 Solace partnererd in with MCV 2005 to complete the existing school and build a new science and computer center.

Solace/Byrne Foundation completed (in 2006) an expansion to the existing classrooms to include a chemistry, biology, physics and computer lab along with providing sanitation facilities, desks and chairs, lab equipment.

Classes at the Byrne Science and Computer Center began in May, 2006. The computer lab contains 12 working statings with plans for another 12.

MCV and Malawi Cottage Industry
One of MCV’s most successful programs is its vocational training center. The campus encompasses facilities, staff, equipment, and storage to accommodate a sizable export business.

Solace is working with MCV to tap the online international market; Solace is helping to provide computers, as well as training in basic business practices and using the Internet as a marketing tool.

Briquette Fuel Production – Malawi hardwood forests are in rapid decline due to over-harvesting for firewood and export. Solace has started a program to recycle slash foliage cleared for farming. Briquettes made from the foliage are used to fire MCVs ovens, and there is hope the project will grow large enough to sell excess briquettes to the community.

Tailoring – MCV has 16 sewing machines for 3 teachers and 18 students. Using African-made Chitenge cloth, the group produces clothing (dresses and skirts) and linens (duvet covers, pillow covers, and place mats.)