[cmsmasters_row data_width=”boxed” data_padding_left=”3″ data_padding_right=”3″ data_top_style=”default” data_bot_style=”default” data_color=”default” data_bg_position=”top center” data_bg_repeat=”no-repeat” data_bg_attachment=”scroll” data_bg_size=”cover” data_bg_parallax_ratio=”0.5″ data_padding_top=”0″ data_padding_bottom=”50″ data_padding_top_laptop=”0″ data_padding_bottom_laptop=”0″ data_padding_top_tablet=”0″ data_padding_bottom_tablet=”0″ data_padding_top_mobile_h=”0″ data_padding_bottom_mobile_h=”0″ data_padding_top_mobile_v=”0″ data_padding_bottom_mobile_v=”0″ data_shortcode_id=”rcmhst5ups”][cmsmasters_column data_width=”1/3″ data_bg_position=”top center” data_bg_repeat=”no-repeat” data_bg_attachment=”scroll” data_bg_size=”cover” data_border_style=”default” data_animation_delay=”0″ data_shortcode_id=”u81glieao”][cmsmasters_button shortcode_id=”jnd5rrf3s5″ button_type=”regular” button_link=”/mission-statement/” button_target=”self” button_text_align=”center” button_style=”cmsmasters_but_icon_slide_left” button_font_size=”20″ button_font_weight=”default” button_font_style=”default” button_text_transform=”default” button_icon=”cmsmasters-icon-custom-web” button_border_style=”default” animation_delay=”0″]Mission Statement[/cmsmasters_button][/cmsmasters_column][cmsmasters_column data_width=”1/3″ data_shortcode_id=”e3vejkrf7g”][cmsmasters_button shortcode_id=”6s6cvrqsn” button_type=”regular” button_link=”/board/” button_target=”self” button_text_align=”center” button_style=”cmsmasters_but_icon_slide_left” button_font_size=”20″ button_font_weight=”default” button_font_style=”default” button_text_transform=”default” button_icon=”cmsmasters-icon-custom-user-group” button_border_style=”default” animation_delay=”0″]Board of Directors[/cmsmasters_button][/cmsmasters_column][cmsmasters_column data_width=”1/3″ data_shortcode_id=”ukk2ibgfyf”][cmsmasters_button shortcode_id=”iq20idtla” button_type=”regular” button_link=”/founders-note/” button_target=”self” button_text_align=”center” button_style=”cmsmasters_but_icon_slide_left” button_font_size=”20″ button_font_weight=”default” button_font_style=”default” button_text_transform=”default” button_icon=”cmsmasters-icon-custom-document-edit” button_border_style=”default” animation_delay=”0″]Founder’s Note[/cmsmasters_button][/cmsmasters_column][/cmsmasters_row][cmsmasters_row data_shortcode_id=”qpx6knmzid” data_padding_bottom_mobile_v=”0″ data_padding_top_mobile_v=”0″ data_padding_bottom_mobile_h=”0″ data_padding_top_mobile_h=”0″ data_padding_bottom_tablet=”0″ data_padding_top_tablet=”0″ data_padding_bottom_laptop=”0″ data_padding_top_laptop=”0″ data_padding_bottom=”50″ data_padding_top=”0″ data_bg_parallax_ratio=”0.5″ data_bg_size=”cover” data_bg_attachment=”scroll” data_bg_repeat=”no-repeat” data_bg_position=”top center” data_color=”default” data_bot_style=”default” data_top_style=”default” data_padding_right=”3″ data_padding_left=”3″ data_width=”boxed”][cmsmasters_column data_width=”1/1″ data_shortcode_id=”1o2ap1h5z5″ data_animation_delay=”0″ data_border_style=”default” data_bg_size=”cover” data_bg_attachment=”scroll” data_bg_repeat=”no-repeat” data_bg_position=”top center”][cmsmasters_text shortcode_id=”bai1bjeoba” animation_delay=”0″]

OUR STORY

On several occasions beginning in 2010, Eunice Chamgomo, the Executive Director of Muula Community Initiatives (MCI), a non-profit organization that came into existence in response to increased cases of Gender Based Violence(GBV) in Malawi, asked for support to run its projects. She spoke with the zeal of a preacher on a sermon and continues today, believing that better education is the best development lever that the world can offer for every child. Eunice is a global citizen, an advocate for girls and the poor and an educator currently lecturing at Share World University campuses in Malawi and Chipata, Zambia. Among many other projects that she successfully accomplished with MCI, are a program funded by Save Africa’s Children of the United States of America, where she also worked with Global Aids Interfaith Alliance (GAIA) and Child Research and Documentation Center (CRIDOC).

Eunice affirmed that there is evidence such as unplanned pregnancy, HIV/AIDS infection, and heavy workloads confirming that girls are the major victims of GBV cases which also have drastic effects on school performance and dropout rates. Gender Based Violence has forced girls into early marriages, child trafficking, child labor and HIV-AIDS infection. Every year 16% of all births in Sub-Saharan Africa are those of adolescent girls aged between 15 and 19. Young women who were married by age 18 in the age range of 20-24 were 50%, 42% and 18% in Malawi, Zambia and Burundi respectively (Adolescent and Young People Status Report in Sub-Saharan Africa – UNFPA 2012). The harm is that the immature mother is at stake of experiencing complications or death due to pregnancy and child bearing. Gender Based Violence is not the only iron clad roadblock to better education as can be noted in Sub-Saharan Africa 2013 Education for All Report conducted by UNESCO “Among many complex problems standing in the way to quality education are: lack of learning resources, quality of teaching.” Presently, some classrooms are overcrowded because of shortage of teachers, with teacher to pupil ratio of 1:70 and in some worse scenarios 1:90 (United Nations University – Revitalizing Higher Education in Sub-Saharan Africa). Some schools lack chairs and desks thereby compelling students to sit on the floor. In worst scenarios, lower grade pupils conduct lessons under trees when the weather permits, otherwise classes are cancelled when it rains.

It is because of these problems that people like Eunice, and many other caring citizens, do not give up but continue to ask for help. “Couldn’t we have done anything?” We were moved with these stories and supporting data, and finally became willing to act on compassion and resolved to make a difference where help is most needed. For this reason, Warm-Hearted Connections Inc was registered as a non-profit organization to help advance the standards of education in Sub Saharan Africa. WHC will work with informed passionate individuals, non-profit organizations and government departments to uplift the standards of education, thereby empowering and motivating students to become agents of change in their communities and the nation as a whole. In the process, we will strive to rigorously examine case studies from best performing schools in and outside Africa to learn with keen interest what steps could be adopted to develop poor schools in Sub-Saharan Africa and eventually beyond.

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