PROJECT HISTORY
The Likulezi Project is an independent grassroots HIV/AIDS and Community Development Project situated in the south east of Malawi, Central Africa. Malawi is one of the poorest countries in Africa. Added to this is the devastation caused by the HIV/ AIDS epidemic which further undermines an already fragile economy.
The Project originally formed in the local mission hospital in 1990, evolving from a group of village volunteers who through AIDS education tried to raise awareness of the problem of HIV infection. By 1993 the group had moved from the hospital out into the community and had developed into several groups. Thus “The Likulezi Project” was born, named after the Likulezi river which runs close to the Project Centre.
The Project now consists of 14 community groups divided into 5 zones (community based organisations-CBO`s) comprising 300 local unpaid volunteers. They involve themselves in AIDS education (through drama, music, dance and puppetry), home based care and the support of orphans, as well as community development, e.g. a water and sanitation program, literacy program, leadership training, capacity building, permaculture and business.
These 5 CBO's, though independent entities, are supported and monitored by the project support team which consists of 13 people, a project co-ordinator, 2 assistant co-ordinators, liaison officer, accounts clerk, assistant accounts clerk, homecare co-ordinator, orphan support co-ordinator, librarian/community development co-ordinator and 4 zone officers. All of these people rose up through the ranks of the Project as volunteers themselves. The Advisor of the project, Gemma Brugha RN (an Irish national), assists annually with on-site evaluations and carries out fundraising in Ireland under the name Africa Aware (registered charity no. 12838).
The Project originally formed in the local mission hospital in 1990, evolving from a group of village volunteers who through AIDS education tried to raise awareness of the problem of HIV infection. By 1993 the group had moved from the hospital out into the community and had developed into several groups. Thus “The Likulezi Project” was born, named after the Likulezi river which runs close to the Project Centre.
The Project now consists of 14 community groups divided into 5 zones (community based organisations-CBO`s) comprising 300 local unpaid volunteers. They involve themselves in AIDS education (through drama, music, dance and puppetry), home based care and the support of orphans, as well as community development, e.g. a water and sanitation program, literacy program, leadership training, capacity building, permaculture and business.
These 5 CBO's, though independent entities, are supported and monitored by the project support team which consists of 13 people, a project co-ordinator, 2 assistant co-ordinators, liaison officer, accounts clerk, assistant accounts clerk, homecare co-ordinator, orphan support co-ordinator, librarian/community development co-ordinator and 4 zone officers. All of these people rose up through the ranks of the Project as volunteers themselves. The Advisor of the project, Gemma Brugha RN (an Irish national), assists annually with on-site evaluations and carries out fundraising in Ireland under the name Africa Aware (registered charity no. 12838).
