INTRODUCTION
Chigodi Women’s Centre is the only training institution for the CCAP Blantyre Synod for women and girls. It was established in 1968 in order to respond to the training needs of both women and girls in the church. The institution aims at establishing strong links with the entire women’s guild, Christian women, female elders and all other women leaders of the synod as entity to the larger communities. It also aims at strengthening people’s understanding of their role and the role of the church in people-centred development as part of its empowerment process. This leads to the empowerment of both women and girls to give them a chance to take up their proper roles and responsibilities in the church and society through full participation of women and girls in issues pertaining to their social, political and religious outlook within the church and the wider community through the training of trainers’ workshops. In attempt to alleviate poverty and reduce incidences of focus in the past two years and the year to come still include HIV/AIDS behavioural change programmes.

In the past three years, a number of programmes /activities in the centre has grown from merely structured programmes to even theme based in order to widely respond to the wide issues facing women and girls in the country.

THE VISION OF THE CENTRE

To see a church and Society where women are not suppressed and are fully equipped for the work of the Mission, able to exercise the abundant gifts from God, caring, loving and to bring to the knowledge of God and His Son Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. This will be achieved by assisting them to explore their roles, realising their potential and what they can achieve in church and society, and improve their own livelihoods as well as enabling them to respond to various needs of the vulnerable in their communities/localities.

CENTRE’S VALUES

The Institution stands for the following Values: Love, Unity, Honesty, Excellency and Relevance, Transparency, Accountability, Dependability and Impartiality.

CENTRE’S GOALS

To improve and enhance the spiritual and living standards of women and girls To reduce the impact of HIV/AIDS To promote Malawian Legal Rights and safeguard their well being in the Church and Society To equip women and girls with relevant skills towards empowerment.

CONDUCTED PROGRAMME /ACTIVITIES FOR 2005

The Centre continued to render its various activities to different target groups during the year 2005. The Training activities included refresher courses and planning sessions for both the Presbytery Women’s Coordinators (PWCs) as well as Ministers’ Wives Association (MWA), Gender and HIV/AIDS material development workshops that targeted the youth leaders, ministers as well as PWCs, MWA and Women’s Desk. The Peer Education was in three categories:

• Peer Education Manual Translation: This was done by the Presbytery Women Coordinators and two ministers’ Wives. Originally, the manual was in English and now is in the vernacular language (Chichewa) for easy use.
• Peer Education basic training: The peer education programme was established in 2004 with the aim of filling the knowledge gap in life skills, which are not adequately taught in schools. The programme targets school leavers and single mothers, training them as peer educators through a two week intensive residential course at the centre. The educators are given employment whilst their communication and leadership skills are strengthened. The women disperse their knowledge of life skills through teaching their peers in their presbyteries, and thereby enhancing the capacity of communities to respond to the HIV/AIDS epidemic.  

Almost all are short courses running from 2 days – 2 weeks except the Congregational Women & Leadership Development course, which runs for a month. This is a special course for those women who would like to become leaders at congregation level. During their training, the centre raises awareness and helps them develop and enhance their leadership skills which enables them to take up leadership positions in the church and society and carry out these roles more effectively with confidence. 

The Effective Planning for Women Leaders Just like 2004, the women were exposed to simple planning tools that are vital for their work. This included the problem tree for problem solving, identification of solutions to problems, designing programmes/activities from the solutions; Action plans as well as simple monitoring and evaluation tools. This course runs for one week. In 2006 this will include costing and budgeting the activities as well as simple proposal writing.

All the refresher courses were conducted to meet special needs as identified concerning different target group. But issues of HIV/AIDS, planning, self-development and spiritual development remained as cutting across.

Introduction to HIV/AIDS Training Module Development with Biblical Reflection This was for one week as participants were introduced to techniques on how to develop biblically reflected HIV/AIDS materials to be a resource for both clergy and laity in the Synod. The booklet will include some critical issues in the Christian Response to HIV/AIDS, units such as human sexuality, HIV/AIDS and the Bible, theology in HIV/AIDS contexts, Counselling, Treatment, HIV/AIDS and the Bible, also Programme development & HIV/AIDS among many more.

 

The Paper Recycling Project still remained the only way of sustaining the centre’s HIV/AIDS training programme. This team went through the first refresher course for improving the quality and brand of the finished products according to the comments from our valid customers all over the world. The products are sold both within and outside Malawi through volunteers and visitors that come to Chigodi. The main aim of this project remains unchanged i.e. training women and girls in HIV/AIDS reduction education, gender awareness including issues of Gender Based Violence, building self-esteem as well as small business management skills. Also assist the group in generating a small income to improve their livelihood to a certain level. This year, the project managed to bring in some income that assisted the centre in running one or two programmes among girls.

SOME ACHIEVEMENTS FOR 2004 - 2006

• 350 new Congregational women leaders trained in various approaches and skills (refer course content)
• 180 assorted women leaders in the church, 98 Ministers Wives including retired and widows, 19 Presbytery Women Coordinators, 58 girls and single mothers have been trained in delivering different outputs pertaining their lives for improvement of their livelihoods
• Production of three training resource manuals: “Understanding Gender, Building self-esteem and HIV/AIDS” as well as “Life Skills for Peer Educators” which is both in English and Chichewa languages and in the last one is Bible Study series.
• Production of CCAP Blantyre Synod Strategic Plan Draft for Women Empowerment
• Introduction of the environmental Project
• Paper Recycling project
• Construction of New Hostel which is now at plaster level
• Maintenance of old buildings including the Director’s House, the Canada and the Volunteer House
• Establishment of “Friends of Chigodi – Malawi Vs. Friends of Chigodi – Scotland” This is an initiative originated from Rev. Evelyn Hope from Scotland. Its main aims are offering support, sharing interest in and encouraging the Director, staff and users of the Centre. Secondly, offering financial support and donations for supplying/purchasing/furnishing/equipment.
• Fencing the entire centre waiting finalisation i.e. 1 km fence
• Sourcing 17 new sewing machines of which seven were given to the first class of minister’s widows who graduated from a “tailoring & designing course”
• Implementation of the “Child Support project in the 19 villages. Formation and training of 6 community based Aids Care Committees. The project is expecting to benefit the following:   

 

• Directly 100 guardians of orphans, 40 orphan youths, 60 committee members, 190 local leaders, 100 terminally ill and 40 orphan-headed households and 35 malnourished children and 30 disabled people.

CHIGODI WOMEN TRAINING CENTRE  ACTIVITY PROGRAM JAN – DEC. 2007

MONTH	ACTIVITY	NUMBER OF PRESBYTERY	TARGET GROUP
Jan 12	Staff meeting		Chigodi Staff
Jan	PWCs + MWA refresher course, planning meeting, M& E Design	All Presbyteries	PWCs + MWA
Jan	Train in health, nutrition, home management/care, care of children, child protection, abuse	Zomba	Child support project, PWC and ministers’ wives
Feb	Board meeting	Executive members	All Board Members
Feb	Peer Education	Zomba	Child support project
Feb	Refresher & Planning meeting   Livestock management training	All Presbyteries   4 presbyteries	Presbytery Women’s Work Committee (chairpersons + Secretaries + Treasurers) Project committee members
March	Income Generating Activities training	Zomba	Child Support project
March	Refresher course for Secretaries + Typists	4 Presbyteries + Synod Office	Secretaries + Typists
May - October	Tailoring & Designing skills Course	All Presbyteries	Ministers’ widows, Girls drop outs & needy women
May	Board Meeting	All Members	All Board members
June	Instructors’ Training	8 Presbyteries	24 Instructors (men & women)
July	Girls’ School Drop outs Retreats	5 Presbyteries	Zomba proper, Chingale, Mangochi, Livilidzi, Chiradzulu
July	Girls School leavers’ retreat	Synod mission secondary schools	Neno, Domasi, HHI, Sec. Schs.
September	Board Meeting	All members	All Board Members
September	New congregational women leaders training	All presbyteries	Oyendera Atsopano
October	Ministers + Wives Retreat	All Presbyteries	Clerks & Spouses
October	Ministers + Wives Retreat	Synod Officials	Ministers & Spouses
October	Ministers & wives Retreat	All Presbyteries	Moderators & Spouses
October – November	Monitoring & Evaluation	All Presbyteries	Oyendera, PWCs, MWA, Bungwe la Ntchito za Amai
Nov	Impact Evaluation of Chigodi activities	All Presbyteries	Chigodi  & CADECO
December	Programme planning/Budgeting for 2006	Chigodi	Senior staff
December	Annual Report compilation & dispatching	Chigodi	Grace

NOTE:

1. Gender Based Violence issues, Spiritual Development and HIV/AIDS prevention measures will be discussed throughout the year.  

 

2. Construction and Maintenance

The Centre is intending to work on some of its major projects for 2005/7 i.e. Borehole construction, completion of new hostel, construction of a multipurpose building to solve problems of accommodation, offices and conference hall. This will be upon positive response from sponsors requested.

 

SUSTAINABLE PROJECT (S)
The centre will continue with its paper-recycling project. Despite this, there are plans to resume the livestock-raising project e.g. raring of chicken (for consumption and sale) and pig farming for sale as part of sustainability of programs. If funds permit, the centre will also embark on bakery project i.e. making scones and bread for consumption during workshops as well as for sale at times when there are no workshops. The centre has proved to be convenient for offering skills to the surrounding communities such as computer training and tailoring. All these would bring income to the centre for its administrative activities. Most of these sustainable activities have no funding and relies on proposals.

OUR TRAINING APPROACH
Chigodi Women’s Training Centre acts as a trainer of trainers. The centre is designed to assist underprivileged people of Malawi (especially women and girls) deal with problems of leadership, underdevelopment, poverty and disease among many more.

PROGRAM BENEFICIARIES
The following groups are some of the beneficiaries of the programs at the centre:

• school girls’ drop outs
• women’s guild
• ministers’ wives
• presbytery Women Coordinators
• congregation women leaders
• single parents
• guardians of orphans
• newly married couples
• alangizi (counsellors) among others
• widows

SERVICES

(a)           CATERING SERVICES
The centre is residential as a result it offers a number of services including catering and accommodation to mostly the residential workshops but sometimes in order to sustain its activities and maintain the premises, the facilities are being rented out to others that need to use them on a small fee. It has a full kitchen with a cook and his assistant.

(b)           ACCOMMODATION SERVICES
As of now, the centre depends on the two accommodation blocks of 8 rooms in total accommodating up to 40 participants with laundry and toilet facilities away from the hostels. It also has two guest houses which accommodates 6 participants. The hostels have bank-beds while the guest houses have ¾ beds.

CENTRE INFRASTRUCTURE
The infrastructure at the centre needs to be improved. The two hostels have always proved to be in adequate. The need for training is getting wider and wider as such  the centre may take at least a maximum of 70 per period. Up to date, the centre has only one housing accommodation for the Director, two police houses for our security and the rest members of staff commute from outside.

STAFFING
At present the centre has the following staff members and their duties:

• The Director (Ms. Grace Kulupando, 42 years old) – responsible for both Programmes and the Centre management. Holder of MBA (Masters in Business Administration) Degree from Glasgow Caledonian University (2003). She has served from January 2004 to date. She also has a vast experience in project planning and management, monitoring & evaluation of activities and integrated rural development.
• Assistant Matron – responsible for Housekeeping issues and Catering. Holder of Certificate in Women Programmes from Chilema Lay Training centre in Malawi (2004). Has served from August 2005 – date.
• The Administrative Accountant – responsible for all accounts work including producing timely accounts statements for our valued audience and Human Resource and Administration issues. He started serving the centre from August 2006.
• Secretary
• Office Assistant
• Cook
• Cleaner
• Three grounds men
• Three night watchmen

MANAGEMENT BOARD
The centre has its direction from its management board appointed by the General Secretary of the Synod. The board composes of people with a variety of disciplines and this assists the way forward of the centre.

AREAS OF CONCERN/CHALLENGES
For the centre to operate fully, some work has to be done regarding areas of infrastructure (both buildings and the road from the junction) and programs/activities in terms of proper funding.

• Buildings

The old hostels need serious maintenance including bedding in order to attract users and bring in some income in order to contribute towards its sustainability. Apart from that, there is need to complete the new hostel this year. This is a well furnished twenty (20) room hostel with toilets and bathrooms in side and another wing containing a few self contain rooms for facilitator.

Finally, there is need to start constructing the multipurpose building which will include 18 self contained rooms, offices for staff, staff room, kitchen, restaurant, open court yard, mini hall of maximum number of 200,  four (4) class /workshop rooms, reception area and store rooms. 
 
The Road
This is a …. km road from the M1 road to the centre. This time it is in a very bad shape and needs to be replaced. 

• Programmes

As indicated in the document, the programs/activities this year shall include skills training. The centre therefore has attached a 2007 proposed budget for each activity.

• Staffing/Technical support

 

The centre lacks technical support especially in the areas of designing and implementing programs including monitoring and evaluation. Therefore would like to request technical support to assist or work alongside with the Director. She/they can be in form of long/short term volunteer (s).

FUNDING
The centre relies mostly on contributions from partner churches for its funding and most of the times this is not enough. Secondly, we get funds through individuals as well as proposals to different funding agents depending on the needs. The fact that not all proposals are answered quickly, it affects the programs.

CONCLUSION
Finally, Chigodi is very thankful to all our partners as well as individuals and strongly believe that it is high time we all get involved in the issues affecting the underprivileged like women and girls in this part of the world. The issues of HIV/AIDS need to be thought of seriously by the church and community. The Centre therefore will continue taking up leading role in fighting against disease, poverty and hunger through training programmes in order to empower more women for positive action. We believe in knowledge being power. Your support therefore will be highly appreciated. God bless you. Thank you.

SOME OF THE CHIGODI WOMEN’S CENTRE PROGRAMS IN PICTURES

Tailoring and Designing course

 

Year 2000 Graduates

 

Chigodi paper recycling project (CPRP)

CPRP

CPRP

Chigodi Accounts office

 

This 13 years old vehicle, the only one for the centre, is one of the challenges