Bridges to Malawi is an organization with several missions.
Learn about Our Most Urgent Needs
1. Improve the provision of medical care to the people of Malawi, one of the poorest countries in the world
This is done by recruiting American healthcare providers with various abilities/specialties to travel to Malawi and work closely with members of the over-worked and under-resourced Malawian healthcare system, by providing as much material support as possible via acquisition of desperately needed medical supplies and medications, and by promoting cross-cultural healthcare educational opportunities in which providers can exchange knowledge and skills, thus enhancing the clinical capabilities of the members of each group.
2. Recruit a select few American high school juniors/seniors, by means of an annual scholarship competition, to travel with one of the medical teams going to Malawi
This provides an experience-of-a-lifetime for the student, who is thus immersed in the cultures of modern medicine and of Malawi at the same time. This extraordinary high school opportunity promotes a greater understanding in America of the desperate needs of the people of Malawi while fostering a lifelong desire in the student to help provide medical care to the least fortunate and most medically under-served people of the world.
3. Provide, in a holistic fashion, as many sustainable development opportunities as possible to the poor farmers of the Kasungu East District
This includes, but is not limited to, establishment and maintenance of a microcredit bank, goat, cow, and chicken pass-on project (similar to that of the Heifer Project), irrigation projects, direct famine relief (when needed), seed/implement provision, temporary direct farm support payments (to help farmers stay on the land and survive drought induced famine while encouraging changes in crop choice to improve nutrition), provision of cows and ploughs to help promote better nutrition and economic well being by turning 1 crop years into 2-3 crop years, solar powering schools and donating laptops filled with educational software, and encouraging adoption of ancient/new ways to preserve excess food (solar drying of fruits and vegetables; pickling vegetables/fruits; salting meats/fish;cheese making; for example).
4. Help prevent further malaria deaths
Especially in young children and pregnant women. Growing Artemisia annua and using mosquito nets impregnated with insect repellent are the latest methods of prevention.
5. Help expand educational opportunities for students in Malawi
Donated laptops are capable of containing a wealth of information that Malawian students would not otherwise have access to. They provide an opportunity to learn computer skills that are valuable for work in the city, while also providing knowledge on how to farm more effectively for those who wish to stay.
6. Provide new economic opportunities
Whether it be by providing the educational resources to open new job possibilities, or by offering micro loans to give Malawians a chance to start their own business.
7. Promote conservation agriculture and combat climate change
This is done by encouraging methods of farming with minimal to no tilling. Along with planting trees to reduce wind damage, the quality of the soil is preserved.
Bridges to Malawi
Our Mission Statement