MALAWI: improving living conditions at the Dzaleka refugee camp
COMMUNITY
Dzaleka
BUDGET
CHF 107'139.--
PLANNING & IMPLEMENTATION TIMESCALE
01.08.2023 - 31.07.2026
BENEFICIAIRIES
2'332
Project Status
10%
Malawi: Dzaleka, a rapidly growing but underfunded camp
The Dzaleka camp: a refuge in evolution
Malawi, often referred to as the « Warm Heart of Africa », is landlocked in sub-Saharan Africa, sharing borders with Tanzania to the north-east, Mozambique to the east, south and west, and Zambia to the north-west.
Dzaleka, set up in 1994 thanks to an initiative by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), serves as a refuge for a growing population of almost 53,000 refugees. This figure significantly exceeds the initial capacity of 12,000 people. Formerly used as a political prison, the Dzaleka centre held around 6,000 people before being transformed into a refugee camp.
Current regulations in Malawi governing the mobility and employment of refugees have severely restricted their freedom outside the camp, forcing them to depend entirely on food aid and other forms of assistance, as well as external support, to ensure their survival.
Our contribution to the Dzaleka community through YOCODESOP
Our close collaboration with YOCODESOP, a refugee association based in the camp, is proving to be a far-reaching partnership. YOCODESOP volunteers focus their efforts on supporting children and women in the camp.
There are several aspects to our work. Firstly, we are working in nine schools to improve access to sanitary facilities and, in some cases, to reduce waiting times for access to water. At the same time, active awareness campaigns are being run among students. The main objective is to solve the problem of soap shortages in the camp by producing affordable soap, which also generates income.
Our soap factory as a catalyst for skills and dignity
In addition, our soap factory provides free soap to nine schools, while offering ongoing training to young women throughout the project. Our aim is to develop the skills of these women, numerous in the camp, and living in extremely precarious conditions. In addition, a partnership with the Welthungerhilfe organisation has been established to enhance the skills of YOCODESOP members through specific training courses. This committed partnership aims to create a lasting impact by improving the daily lives of the refugees in Dzaleka and helping them to become self-sufficient.
PRESENTATION
Local initiative to improve the water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) situation in schools at the Dzaleka camp, Malawi.
Planned activity
- Equip 9 schools with hand-washing facilities.
- Promote hand-washing among children and teachers.
- Set up mini-water distribution networks and latrines in 9 schools in Dzaleka.
- Build a soap factory to generate resources to maintain the WASH infrastructure.
- Strengthen the skills and financial independence of widows and young mothers.
Stakeholders
- Youth Congress for Development and Social economic Progress (YOCODESOP)
- Welthungerhilfe (WHH)
- Jesuit Refugees Service (JRS)
- Canton of Basel
- Interaction
OBJECTIVES TO BE REACHED
- Support the development of sustainable access to drinking water infrastructure for schools and healthcare establishments.
- Improve sustainable access to adequate sanitation services for schools and healthcare establishments.
- Strengthen the conditions for sustainable access to water, sanitation and hygiene in 9 schools in Dzaleka.
Our association is proud to be the holders of the quality mark, ZEWO, a recognition which guarantees that your donations are used appropriately and with due diligence, in line with our commitment to our beneficiaries.
Your donations are tax deductable in Switzerland and elsewhere, in line with the current laws of your country of residence. One more reason to support our cause.
Donors resident in France can also make a donation via the Fondation de France.
Zewo Certification
