The  Grace orphan and disabled children support group was founded by Ernest Pondeponde. Ernest is a Malawian living in Zomba. He founded the support group after witnessing the common problem of unsupported disabled children and orphans. After completing a survey around the Thundi School area on the outskirts of Zomba to find out more about the causes of deaths and poverty in the area Ernest used his own money to begin a weekly meeting for local children. The first meeting took place in October 2004 with six children.

The group now has three full time staff on a modest salaries, two voluntary staff members and well over 150 disabled and severely disadvantaged children. The Grace Care and Support Group relies on donations from individuals, schools and church groups.

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The group currently meet twice a week after school hours. Children are provided with something to eat and drink and participate in lessons. The educational aims of the group are as follows:

• To encourage children to go to school

• To understand more about equality and that we all have similarities and differences

• To love one another and share

• Respect parents and elderly people

• To understand the causes of HIV / AIDS and other contagious diseases

• To understand that there are alternatives to taking early marriage as a solution to problems

• To realize potential and assist other children

• To realize special skills such as sports, arts, farming and business as income generating activities

• To be an active participant in the development of the local area and in the country as a whole

• To understand the importance of cleanliness and good hygiene

Grace is a faith based organisation and there is a strong Christian message at the heart of everything we do.

Grace Orphan Care and Vulnerable Children Support Group aims to uphold the dignity and worth of every child by empowering them spiritually, financially, materially, physically, emotionally and academically.

Activities currently include Sports, learning English, Mathematics, Health Education, Chichewa, Social Studies and Bible Studies.

Steering Committee