"My ambition is to contribute positively
as much as possible to the welfare of
the less privileged communities."

He completed his secondary education at St. Patrick’s minor Seminary (a Catholic Seminary) and went on to University of Malawi in 1998, graduating with a BSC in Environmental Health (Public Health). After graduation, he held a temporary teacher position with a privately owned secondary school in Northern Malawi before joining MMM on June 9^th, 2003. He is the Field Officer in Chitipa, Northern Malawi.

Statement of Faith:

“I am a Catholic baptized and confirmed. While in the minor seminary, I had a strong passion for the Catholic Priesthood, but it did not materialize. All of us in our family are Catholic except my father who is a Presbyterian. Though I am Catholic, I am an open person to members of other Religions.”

• MMM services are pro-poor.
• MMM has served, and continues to serve in places considered unreachable by most organizations.
• MMM’s approach is to support the village people to the point where they can maintain the wells without outside assistance in order to achieve long-term sustainability.

Since 2003 I have seen:

• The establishment of more Zones Management Teams (the village community-based organizations responsible for maintaining the wells) - from 4 to 8. Thus there has been an increase in the number of wells installed per year.”
• A huge success in terms of zone management, they are able to operate more effectively. A case in point is Kapenda Zone which has been able to purchase a push bicycle for maintenance with maintenance fees collected from wells.”
• He has facilitated the installation of over 400 wells.

Mr. Kumwenda has helped to motivate a large number of zone members to be committed and cooperative and he has improved understanding between zone members, local leaders as well as the community at large.

• Provided thousands of protected shallow wells giving clean and safe drinking water thereby reducing water borne disease to thousands of rural people.
• Reduced distances to protected water points making access to spare parts much easier through the establishment of spare parts distributions across the program’s coverage area.
• Pioneered the maintenance fee payment approach by well users.

• Donated funds are used to save the intended beneficiaries.
• More people are saved from less funds.
• Dedicated field staff and dedicated and supportive MMM volunteers from the US.
• Involves local communities from the beginning.
• Has exciting, wornderful and hardworking ZMT members.
• Improves the understanding of the program between ZMT members and local communities.
• The program is flexible, hence hope to inovations.
• Maintenance system is practical.

“The future of MMM program is bright, but more room for expansion could be provided if there is opportunity to diversify program activities. The focus should not only be on shallow wells with mark IV pump but also on gravity fed piped water schemes, boreholes, and other health related programs.”

• Support a Field Officer: $12,000/year (this includes salary, fuel, food & lodging while working in the rural areas)
• Pray for the Field Officers and the Shallow Well Program.
• Tell others about MMM and its programs.

Send any donations for support and/or correspondence to Mr. Kumwenda to:

Marion Medical Mission
1412 Shawnee Drive
Marion, IL 62959
618-997-5365
Tom@marionmedical.org
http://marionmedical.org