Returnees get a chance to rebuild back home

Malawians who have returned from South Africa are set for further assistance as efforts shift from bringing them home to helping them rebuild their lives.

Gift of the Givers Foundation will provide the support in eight districts where it already implements projects, focusing on helping returnees settle in their communities, support their families and rebuild their livelihoods.

Speaking during the official decommissioning of the Joyce Chitsulo Reception Centre in Mwanza, Gift of the Givers Foundation Senior Programmes Officer Hawa Chindamba said the organisation wanted to equip returnees with resources to support their families and take part in development activities in their communities.

“We want to ensure that the returnees have been equipped with resources to support their families and participate in developmental activities in their areas,” she said.

Chindamba said the intervention would also help prevent returnees from going back to South Africa.

Statistics show that Mangochi has recorded the highest number of returnees, followed by Machinga.

So far, 62,880 Malawians have been repatriated from South Africa on 917 buses since the government-led exercise started in June.

Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA) Deputy Director Nellie Liwemba commended Gift of the Givers for supporting the repatriation exercise.

Liwemba: DoDMA will keep working with NGOs to support returnees

Liwemba said DoDMA would continue working with the organisation in strategic planning for the reintegration of returnees.

Gift of the Givers Foundation has so far spent K220 million providing humanitarian assistance and essential supplies to Malawians returning from South Africa.

The organisation’s continued support will now focus on helping returnees settle in their communities and access resources that can support their families and livelihoods.