
FCL 92 arrives in Ekwendeni

(The Raven Trust) Supporting the development of eye care
We recently received this letter from Kistone Mhango – Director of the Primary Health Care Department of Ekwendeni Hospital:-
CHURCH OF CENTRAL AFRICA, PRESBYTERIAN
SYNOD OF LIVINGSTONIA
EKWENDENI HOSPITAL
Greetings from Ekwendeni Primary Health Care Department. On behalf of the department, I am writing this letter to express our sincere thanks for the gifts that came to PHC Department through the recent container. We received the clothes for the children and knitted cloths for adults. We distributed these clothes during one of our static clinics and the recipients were very happy to get them as per the photos above. Besides that, we received the curtains and utensils. We have put the curtains in the windows of the PHC Block. Please extend our heart- felt appreciation to individuals, groups and congregations and of course to the Raven Trust team for organizing and put these items together for us. May God bless you abundantly.
During his visit to Malawi, John visited the Livingstonia Beekeepers Cooperative – the end result of a project Begun by the Raven Trust 10 years ago when John was asked to send hives from the UK so that poor widows and families could generate a little income. Instead John taught locals to make their own hives and organised the training of Hudson Chisambo who, in turn, trained others in beekeeping and production of honey with the help of a colourful little book “Bees in Central Africa” which was written by Paul Latham and translated into the local language. In 2006 the “Honey House” was built to provide a clean space to produce, bottle and label the honey ready for sale. The cooperative now has 54 members who, between them, produces 7 tons of honey last year and Hudson has become a “trainers of trainers” in demand all over Malawi and beyond.
On his way home last week, John stopped off in Kenya at the request of a charity working there, to visit a community who would like to do the same as the Livingstonia group and advise them. He explained how they could progress with simple tools and equipment. Paul Latham’s book has already been printed in Swahili – the local language – and, it is hoped, that Hudson might also be able to visit to train and advise.