Empowering the GranCommunity…

Building a community in Blantyre, malawi

The GranCommunity was established in 2017, and began by focusing on the acute needs of a large community in Blantyre, Malawi, which had been badly devastated by a flood. A footbridge connecting this community with the Blantyre Girls School had been washed out. The original goal was to rebuild a functioning bridge, however, the people and the needs of this community became much more obvious to us as the large group of grandmothers (“grannies” is an honorific) expressed a vital need for help in their care of the large number of AIDS orphans and support of the 1,000+ students at the Blantyre Girls School. After months of discussions with the Blantyre stakeholders and consulting with The Philanthropy Initiative in Boston, the construction of a grannies’ centre was felt to be the most effective way to facilitate their involvement in mentoring, teaching, giving care, and achieving skills translatable to sale of artisanal products.

We initiated the construction of what is now the location for the successful multi-disciplinary projects and activities to energize the community's attempts to deal with the ravages of poverty, AIDS, Covid-19 and limited educational resources of Blantyre. The community chose the name Chem’balira Hall; it means “The mother who nurtures.” The building is now almost complete, and houses the grannies, girls, and many others, allowing communal activities to enhance the lives of Blantyre.

We are continuing the development of Chem’balira Hall and encouraging the growth of community involvement and programming. Through donations and volunteer opportunities, we will be able to continue on this mission by finishing specific construction needs, purchasing items such as tables and chairs for the Hall, and funding cultural, educational and crafts programs.

To learn more about how GranCommunity came to life, click here.

OUR WORK IN BLANTYRE

Chem’Balira Hall Construction

We’ve built a centre for the grannies and community members to gather. The hall is used for formal programs for the grannies, as well as an after-school homework space for youth. It also serves as a community gathering space for cultural and educational events.

We have finished the exterior construction of the Hall, and have some interior work to complete, along with installing a kitchen, washrooms, and security systems.

Community Outreach

Along with current programming (computer skills, cooking, sewing, etc.) and community use, Chem’balira Hall serves as a space for the grannies to meet and discuss important current issues, and what the community needs are.

They organize and participate in a number of programs throughout the year to help serve their community, including a guest speaker series, a Christmas project, and a COVID-19 relief project, to name a few.

WAYS TO BECOME INVOLVED

Become an individual donor

As a 501c3 non-profit, individual donors are what keeps us running. Because of your contributions, we have made an immeasurable impact on the Blantyre community so far, but there’s still work to be done. To learn more on how your donations will be used, click below.

Corporate & community sponsors

We are actively looking to partner with organizations worldwide that share our values. We work to empower the Grannies of Blantyre so that they can better impact their communities; if empowering women and the elderly community is important to your organization, we’d love to be in touch.

voluntourism & in kind donations

As our projects are always ongoing, we welcome those interested in volunteering with open arms. With many hands-on opportunities to become involved in our organization from Blantyre or right from your home, we’re interested in hearing from you!