Malawi Pilot Project
Expanding ASAP to Malawi

Malawi has a population of thirteen million people, sixty-five percent of whom live below the national poverty line. Fourteen percent are infected with HIV and the life expectancy at birth is only thirty-eight years (World Bank). In order to address these alarming needs with community-directed development, ASAP's staff is pleased to announce that they will be expanding operations into southern Malawi.

The social problems in this area of the world are as diverse as they are plentiful. For this reason, ASAP will implement the multi-pronged CHILD plan, which stands for community holistic intervention for local development. This plan encompasses agricultural training, educational support, microfinance clubs, and health education.

The CHILD plan is aptly named, as truly sustainable development invests in children, the future of Malawi. Thus, one of the cornerstones of the project will be working to improve education for Malawi's students. In the photo to the left, Executive Director Elizabeth Bara meets with Malawi's Minister of Labour and Social Development the Honoroable Minister Anna Andrew Manathanga Kachikho, who has invited ASAP to work within the school system. Next month, Jeannette Batista will travel to Malawi to conduct a needs assesment and project justification report. Keep watching the ASAP website for updates on the development of this project.

This expansion is a critical step for ASAP as an organization. ASAP would like to sincerely thank each of its donors for the foundation they have provided and ask for their continued support during this exciting time of growth.