Salima, Malawi is an area of extreme poverty and an area that has keenly felt the effects of the AIDS epidemic in Africa - hundreds of children in Salima alone have lost one or both of their parents, and find themselves orphaned and in desperate conditions at a very young age.

It's to these children that the Neighbour Mission Salima (NM Salima) orphan care program ministers by placing them with caregiver families (their relatives or close family friends). Through three centres, NM Salima serves 415 children who are now living with guardians and meeting at a centre five times each week (Monday - Friday). On these days they receive a nutritious meal and an introduction to biblical truth. In spite of the fact that many families living in Salima are Muslim (including many of the families being served by NM Sailma) they do not resist the teaching of the Gospel.

( L-R: Nanguluwe (7), Miriam (8), Amina (5), Awema and Ibrahim (2) )
One of the families in the program. Awema is the mother; her husband has passed away. She provides for her children by cultivating a small garden, however, it is prone to washing away because her plot is so close to the beach. Awema is Muslim.

( L - R: Luckia (17), Njengwe holding Patuma (2), Binali (7), Mwayi (5) and Black (8) )
Njengwe is a grandmother to these five children. They are all siblings and have lived here since February 2011 when their second parent passed away. Njengwe's 24 year old, disabled daughter (Njimire) also lives at home. They have three goats which helps them to provide for themselves. They are Muslim.

A guardian at the Lizulu Orphan Care Centre (also in Malawi) serving some "relish" (a sauce containing vegetables and/or occasionally meat) with rice, a meal that is also typically received at NM Salima. At NM Salima, guardians of the children in the program would also prepare the food and organize its distribution among the children. 

Children of the Salima community.

More children, eager to be caught on film!

Typical dwelling places of families in the NM Salima Program.

Inside a home; a bedroom and storage room might be found on the right or left of this hallway.

Maxwell (Administrator at NM Salima) and Gricelia (Social Worker at NM Salima) receiving soup mix from Ina Pennings - destined to become "relish" for the children's meals! Last August, Word & Deed brought this soup mix, generously provided by the Ontario Christian Gleaners, to be used at NM Salima as well as at other orphan care centres in Malawi.

Bernie Pennings (W&D Project Director) and Maxwell speaking outside of one of the orphan care centres.

The office of Neighbour Mission Salima.