Centenary Bank Donates K5 Million for Tiwale Limodzi Foundation Hunger Relief Efforts
Tiwale Limodzi Foundation, the social arm of the Catholic Archdiocese of Lilongwe, has today distributed food relief assistance (maize) to 70 hunger-affected households in areas surrounding Christ the King Nambuma Parish in Dowa district.This initiative follows a five million Kwacha (K5,000,000) donation by Centenary Bank of Malawi. In the area, about 4,149 people are severely impacted by food shortages due to drought and other poor weather conditions experienced during the last farming season.
Tiwale Limodzi Foundation pose with Centenary Bank staff
Speaking at the distribution ceremony, Chief Executive Officer of Tiwale Limodzi Foundation, Brian Odhiambo, mentioned that the donation is part of the foundation’s response to the President’s declaration of a national hunger disaster and a fulfillment of the foundation’s goal to reach those in need.
“We look for long-lasting solutions. The problem bringing us here is a result of climate change. Climate change causes poor harvests, and this leads to hunger,” Odhiambo said.
Odiambo interacting with some of the beneficiaries
“Therefore, as part of our objectives, we carry out climate-resilient programs like afforestation, ecological cooking methods, and we also look into training and providing inputs to families so that they are empowered and can rely on themselves.” Odhiambo expressed appreciation to Centenary Bank for their partnership and appealed for further support from the corporate world. “We are very happy that Centenary Bank stepped in to support us with the additional funding, which we have used to distribute the food relief (maize) today.”
Centenary Bank Marketing and Customer Experience Manager, Linda Simwaka Nkosi, explained that the bank decided to donate to Tiwale Limodzi Foundation because they believe in transforming lives and making a societal impact in the areas where they operate.
“We are not just here to operate as a bank; at the end of the day, we also want to make an impact. So, whenever there are issues that people are facing out there, we reach out and touch lives because that’s one of the key areas that we, as a bank, strategically focus on,” Nkosi explained.
Simwaka Nkosi, we believe in transforming lives
Simwaka Nkosi pledged that the bank will continue working hand-in-hand with Tiwale Limodzi Foundation to reach out to those in need whenever possible.
Fr. Mangwere, Centenary Bank chaplain helps lift a bag of one of the beneficiaries
Nambuma Parish Priest, Father Maxwell Kubalasa, hailed Centenary Bank for the support, noting that it will significantly impact the families in dire need of food assistance.
“I’m equally happy to see Centenary Bank here helping at least 70 households. We won’t have enough for everybody, but at least we are having a little help from different groups to assist people. So we are grateful for whatever we can get from well-wishers,” Father Kubalasa commented.
Koleta Foster from Kabweramchombo village, a Christian from the Saint Anna Small Christian Community under Christ the King Parish, thanked Tiwale Limodzi Foundation and Centenary Bank for the support, saying the maize received today will go a long way in alleviating the hunger situation at her home.
By Lester Mhone