After the 2010 world cup in South Africa I took a long overdue holiday
to my hometown in Blantyre, Malawi. Everything is so surreal I left the
place as a 13 year old in 1993 with my parents to reside in South
Africa. Decided to visit a few remaining childhood friends whom some are
married with children, others young professionals and others have
migrated to South Africa and the UK studying and persuading careers. The
youth of Malawi paints a picture of doom and gloom in their narratives.
The youth have lost hope. They have no place to contribute to the
development of Malawi. The Kwacha (Malawian currency) has plunged down
to K30 to the Rand. Prices for basic food have are sky high. Living is
hard in Malawi and all fingers point to the late Bingu WA Mutharika for
his failed economic ideologies of Malawi. The narrative of Bingu WA
Mutharika is different depends on who you ask. This is the man who had
good economic policies on paper but failed to implement them. A young
Africa with old problems. On my last week of visit before I heard back
to South Africa I honored a call by my mother to visit her old friend to
check on wellbeing. I arrived at the biggest hospital in Malawi the
Queen Elizabeth hospital in Blantyre where I was actually born to meet
Mrs. Kaoza. She works in a special ward where she administers ARV to
children. She is telling me stories of young children as young as 12 who
are orphans and bread winners who are working odd jobs to support their
siblings as young as 4. Girls as young as 13 are resulting in
prostitution to support their families. With the increase of multiple
partners with married men, HIV and AIDS is rife in Malawi claiming life
of parents leaving children vulnerable.
Upon learning I work in the media Mrs. Kaoza advised I speak to a special boy from Kanjedza, an orphan who is looking after his siblings.
I met Francis Mkhoma a strong willed God fearing young man who started to relate his story of how he became an orphan at age 12 and became a breadwinner to his 3 siblings. His responsibilities including putting them through school, food, clothing and shelter. I was moved by his humbleness through the hardships he encounters on daily basics. Not easy to relate to his challenges as at his age I was more worried about being the next soccer star while playing in the dusty streets of Kanjedza. In spite of his challenges Francis remains positive and hopeful about life and he is committed to being the leader inspiring his siblings. His motto in life is that one should rather channel energies into positive thoughts than worry about issues of the world.
I called my friend Mike Kambalame a filmmaker in Malawi to get me gear as we have a story to tell the world.
Next day I travelled with Francis to Zomba secondary school to visit his two siblings who are in boarding school. They relate to Francis as a father figure of their hardships at schools including being chased away for school fees arrears. Francis promises he will make a plan and come through for them. This is a young man with no money but hope.
We head out back to Blantyre to see the last born who is still in primary school. He appeals to Francis for a brand new pair of shoes and school uniform. The young boy is on ARV and he often takes his medication without food. Francis breaks down, as he has nothing to offer to his young brother but hope of a better future.
My last day in Malawi before I leave for Johannesburg I met up Francis and helped him with a few Kwachas. With the high inflation rate in Malawi I am aware that the money will probably last him a week and he is back to square one. I promise him that I will stay in touch and help wherever I can.
Late 2010 we start postproduction work on the film with my editor Nyikiwe from Mirror Effect media and we complete by early 2011. SABC 2 and Aljazeera license the film and schedule for broadcast in 2012. Aljazeera invites the film to participate at the prestigious Aljazeera documentary film festival in DOHA in 2012.
I travelled to New York in April of 2012 to showcase the film to overwhelming responses of people willing to help Francis and his siblings. We start receiving food parcels and clothing to donate to Francis to help his family.
Upon my return to Malawi in December 2012 to share the news I meet the selfless Francis who insists that we help other child headed family members in Malawi whom are in worse situations than him. I am moved by his selfless altitude to life and always putting other people first and we decide to form an NGO called The Grown Too Quick Foundation with the aim of uplifting the lives of other child headed family members in Malawi.
We team up with other like-minded young Malawians to help the plight of child headed family members in Malawi. In 2013 The Grown too Quick Foundation gave bursaries to 10 child headed school children at the beginning of their academic year.
People will help other people to build better communities. It is not the government that will help people to build better communities. Being part of the Grown TOO quick Foundation gives me hope that with the little bit we have we can make a difference to peoples lives and gives them hope for a better future of Malawi.
Upon learning I work in the media Mrs. Kaoza advised I speak to a special boy from Kanjedza, an orphan who is looking after his siblings.
I met Francis Mkhoma a strong willed God fearing young man who started to relate his story of how he became an orphan at age 12 and became a breadwinner to his 3 siblings. His responsibilities including putting them through school, food, clothing and shelter. I was moved by his humbleness through the hardships he encounters on daily basics. Not easy to relate to his challenges as at his age I was more worried about being the next soccer star while playing in the dusty streets of Kanjedza. In spite of his challenges Francis remains positive and hopeful about life and he is committed to being the leader inspiring his siblings. His motto in life is that one should rather channel energies into positive thoughts than worry about issues of the world.
I called my friend Mike Kambalame a filmmaker in Malawi to get me gear as we have a story to tell the world.
Next day I travelled with Francis to Zomba secondary school to visit his two siblings who are in boarding school. They relate to Francis as a father figure of their hardships at schools including being chased away for school fees arrears. Francis promises he will make a plan and come through for them. This is a young man with no money but hope.
We head out back to Blantyre to see the last born who is still in primary school. He appeals to Francis for a brand new pair of shoes and school uniform. The young boy is on ARV and he often takes his medication without food. Francis breaks down, as he has nothing to offer to his young brother but hope of a better future.
My last day in Malawi before I leave for Johannesburg I met up Francis and helped him with a few Kwachas. With the high inflation rate in Malawi I am aware that the money will probably last him a week and he is back to square one. I promise him that I will stay in touch and help wherever I can.
Late 2010 we start postproduction work on the film with my editor Nyikiwe from Mirror Effect media and we complete by early 2011. SABC 2 and Aljazeera license the film and schedule for broadcast in 2012. Aljazeera invites the film to participate at the prestigious Aljazeera documentary film festival in DOHA in 2012.
I travelled to New York in April of 2012 to showcase the film to overwhelming responses of people willing to help Francis and his siblings. We start receiving food parcels and clothing to donate to Francis to help his family.
Upon my return to Malawi in December 2012 to share the news I meet the selfless Francis who insists that we help other child headed family members in Malawi whom are in worse situations than him. I am moved by his selfless altitude to life and always putting other people first and we decide to form an NGO called The Grown Too Quick Foundation with the aim of uplifting the lives of other child headed family members in Malawi.
We team up with other like-minded young Malawians to help the plight of child headed family members in Malawi. In 2013 The Grown too Quick Foundation gave bursaries to 10 child headed school children at the beginning of their academic year.
People will help other people to build better communities. It is not the government that will help people to build better communities. Being part of the Grown TOO quick Foundation gives me hope that with the little bit we have we can make a difference to peoples lives and gives them hope for a better future of Malawi.
WATCH THE DOCUMENTARY HERE.
Author: Guest Blogger & Filmmaker Kalumbu Kapisa
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