By Francisco Mwanza
MZUZU-(MaraviPost)-Upendo Children Village managing Director Florence Mkisi said on Friday in Mzuzu that unavailability of water and electricity is making them find it tough to raise 57 orphans accommodated in their village.
Mkisi said although they applied for electricity five years ago but up know ESCOM hasn’t come to get them connected and for water, they just decided to be using water drawn from the bore hole since there concerns with the Northern Region Water Board about the unexpected monthly water bill of MK700,000 which came out hasn’t been addressed yet.
“We are using unsafe water and unreliable electricity,we have been forced to be getting water from the borehole and using solar electricity which is not safe for the good care of our children.We ask ESCOM and the Northern Region Water Board to act swiftly to our concerns so that we take good care of the children,” said Mkisi
Adding that Upendo management planted a maize mill way back in 2015 to help them generate funds for the orphanage but it hasn’t started operating due to unavailability of electricity.
On this day Foundation for Children Rights organisation (FCR) donated some various items to Upendo Children Village which included soap, beans, sugar, flour, soya pieces,masks among others amounting close to MK250,000.
Executive Director CRF,Jenifer Mkandawire hailed Upendo for the good job they are doing citing that its not easy to raise such huge number of children with challenges faced at the village, more especially in this time of Covid-19 pandemic.
She however edged more support and also asked well-wishers to help Upendo Children Village to effect good care of the children being kept at the facility.
“We realise that the facility lacks portable water and electricity,and that it needs to be well fenced as to ensure safety of the children, our organisation therefore pledge for more support and promise to convince well-wishers to help develop the facility”said Mkandawire.
FCR received its donation from an Australian based organisation comprising of Africans in diaspora, AfriAusiLEAC Inc,PAADN & and VAOMAF.