DIRECT AID INC.                Newsletter No 31     MAY 2009    
20 Kenilworth Street, Sherwood 4075     3379 2605     directaid@optusnet.com.au    www.directaidinc.org            .
Dear Sponsors and friends
The following is a document I received from the Gonawambo Committee:
The food items purchased from Direct Aid grant were supplied to the needy as follows.  150 kg maize was distributed to 22 Grandparents who take care of the orphans in the catchment area. The remaining 50 kg of maize, 225 kg rice and 50kg of beans plus 60kg ground nuts have been saved to feed 800 orphans who are based at Gonawambo. The food served is porridge, nsima and cooked rice with beans.
The Committee expects to be self reliant in food production from the art of growing maize and vegetables. The maize and vegetables provide food nutrients that promote proper growth and development of our orphans. This will improve their ability at school. The Committee also expects orphans to acquire basic farming skills for growing small scale crops such as vegetables and they can apply the knowledge in their respective homes as an enterprise skill. The degree of poverty will be lowered little by little and as a result orphans will develop into responsible citizens of Malawi. 
The Committee also has plans of practicing cattle farming in future if funds are available. This proposal will assist the Committee to raise funds from sales of milk. In addition the Committee will collect farmyard manure and apply the manure to maize and vegetable fields thereby reducing costs of fertilizers. The cow Direct Aid purchased is pregnant!
 We would like to express thanks to Direct Aid and supporters for their donations which play and important role in assisting the committee to achieve daily services for orphans in terms of food items and farming activities. May the Almighty God abundantly bless and guide you all the time.
Signed  Molly Magombo Secretary,  Richard Sinjainui Chairperson, B G Mkango Committee Member  Chintcha Village Head.
THE GOATS HAVE ARRIVED.   Direct Aid sent funds to purchase 15 pairs of goats.   The goats are causing much excitement for the families.  They are very popular as they provide meat, milk and manure for the vegetable gardens. The goat readily adapts itself to grazing and therefore adapts to the climate. Goats are an insurance against crop failure. Mixed farming is an important survival strategy for the poor farming families.
 Goats are of a small size making them affordable  and a high source of high quality protein. Children benefit from the better nutrition that goat milk and meat provide. They are small enough so that the carcass is consumed within a short time thereby reducing the risk of meal spoilage. Give a family goats then you are giving them a strategy of survival and a future of their children. Each goat costs $60.
 

Thank you for the great support for the
Orphans of Malawi.