the proclamation of the gospel for the salvation of mankind; the shelter, nurture and spiritual fellowship of the of the children of God; the promotion of divine worship; the preservation of the truth; the promotion of social righteousness and well-being of mankind. Different departments and institutions have been set with specific mandates to pursue programmes to achieve the objectives in order to fulfil the mission of the Synod.

Chigodi Women Centre

Since its establishment in 1968, the centre has trained many christian women in practical skills like tailoring, knitting, agriculture, running small businesses and bible knowledge. The centre has strong links with all the presbyteries os the Synod, the women's guild and female elders.

Surrounded by beautiful gardens, the centre is situated at only 10 minuted drive from Blantyre city on the main road to Zomba. It is a great location for a day visit. You are welcome to come and visit us.

Since 2008, the centre runs two 6 months courses per year, conferences and seminars. It currently plans to run some week-end courses/ day courses.

The first of the 6 months courses runs from January to June, the second runs from July to December. The course outline is as follows:

1. Agriculture: the centre maintains its own small vegetable garden on which students can learn some of the practical agriculture skills
2. Bible Knowledge - taught by Rev Kay Day
3. Business Management
4. Community Development
5. English
6. Food and Nutrition
7. Health and Sanitation
8. Housing and Home Management
9. Leadership
10. Tailoring and Designing: they have few sewing machines and knitting
11. Textiles and Clothing

The course trains women in practical skills of sewing, knitting, crocheting, cooking/baking developing Bible study guide and many more.

The fees are MK 55,000 (including boarding at the centre but food is not included) or MK45,000 (without boarding). The fees cover tuition, practical materials.

Teaching Staff The centre has five teaching staff for the subjects of agriculture, business and tailoring skills. Rev Kay Day (from Canada) is teaching bible knowledge.

Buildings/ Grounds The grounds are beautiful, with terraced gardens, trees and a vegetable patch where students also practice their agriculture skills. It is far enough from the main road and it is quiet and relaxing.

The centre has two dorms (three bunk beds) with shared outside toilets/ shower/ laundry facilities. A new accommodation block is under construction but funds are needed to finish the building. The new block will sleep 12 (2 persons in each room) and will have en-suite toilets/bathrooms. The assistant minister of Chigodi Centre also lives on the grounds.

Challenges and Opportunities There is a great need for starting new projects that can help the centre generate more income that can be used to finish the new accommodation block and upgrade its facilities. Finishing the new block will boost revenue because it has en-suite facilities that many people prefer. The centre hosts many organisations that book the centre for their events. However most prefer accommodation that is en-suite and therefore will not stay over night at the centre.

1. Buildings: - finish the new accommodation block
2. Projects: - new projects to generate more income to be able to finish and upgrade their buildings
3. Volunteers: tailoring, knitting, etc skills; building / carpentry skills; administrative skills to help in the office and to initiate new projects.

Left picture: The main conference hall; Rev. Chilapula the Synod's Moderator; Rev. C. Jailosi, the Assistant Minister of Chigodi Church; Mrs. E Majamanda, the Training Director of the centre (from left to right)
Right picture: A recent seminar for Minister's wives that took place in June 2011 held in the main hall.

Left picture: The main conference hall - close-up;
Right picture: Rev. C. Jailosi, the Assistant Minister of Chigodi Church; Mrs. E Majamanda, the Training Director of the centre
Below: Some images of the grounds and of the accommodion on the site. The last picture shows the unfinished accommodation block whose completion would add a lot of needed revenue for the centre.