Malawi is one of the poorest countries of the world. The state lacks the funds for the education of a large part of its citizens. Despite the existence of an established system of primary, secondary and university education, there are enormous deficits everywhere. Because of a deficient medical care system tropical diseases and widespread HIV infection result in high mortality rates, destroying family and social structures and leaving behind hundreds of orphaned children in the villages around Karonga. They receive very little care and hardly any food.

Improvement of the overall living conditions in Karonga and its surroundings through education and practical training of women and adolescents as well as child care. Beside the manual skills, the participants are taught elementary bookkeeping in order for them to more easily find employment or start their own business after completion of their education and training.

The educational centre was created and developed in 2002 by nurse Esther Bürki as part of the Lusubilo Community Based Orphan Care Project, which provides a number of nourishment and care centres for orphans. In February 2006 Esther Bürki transformed the centre into an organisation that was independent of the bigger nourishment and rehabilitation centre and put its management into local hands.

Classes were focused on four key subjects: housekeeping, sewing, soap making and crafts. In addition there were classes in health education with discussions about AIDS and other diseases, infant and child care as well as hygiene. As of 2004 the centre promoted the transfer of knowledge to surrounding villages and organised yearly courses for about 100 participants in order to encourage and enable them to teach and spread what they had learnt in 30 rural communities.

The equal education fund (EEF) is convinced of the success of the project in Karonga. The orphans completed a vocational education allowing them to manage their lives in the future. Many a medical case was solved with small contributions and the schooling and emergency help for young mothers achieved a lot for the weakest members of society in a direct and unbureaucratic way. Last but not least was the success by graduates of the centre to pass on their knowledge and skills to the local villages.

In 2006 the EEF board decided to hand over the responsibility for the project to the partner organisation Smiling Kids Malawi, which was founded in Switzerland. Thus the future financing and coordination of the project were ensured. We would like to express our gratitude to our donors who trusted and supported the EEF in those three years.