6pm Dinner - Claire Markey - Open Arms Children's Hospice

The speaker at the latest meeting of the Penrith Rotary Club was 36 year old Penrith woman Clare Markey who talked about the Open Arms children’s charity in Malawi. She explained that the inspiration of a school trip to Malawi had resulted in her ongoing commitment to the charity. She has since organised a range of fund raising activities that have has now raised £15000. With the confidence of knowing the charity director, a former school teacher, Clare knows that every penny goes directly to support the children.

Open Arms works with orphans in giving them the chance to grow up within a loving family environment and the security of a home.  Child mortality is a big problem in Malawi with malaria resulting in 40% of deaths below the age of two.   The combination of HIV,AIDS and pneumonia together with cholera, typhoid, malaria and malnutrition explains the huge number of more than 1million orphans in the country.

As part of their outreach programme the charity aims to return a two year old to his or her home community healthy, strong and immunised. When a child returns home they will be looked after by their extended family, usually an aunt or grandmother. There are situations where a grandmother might be looking after eight of her orphaned grandchildren already.  Other programmes look after children until they leave school.

Following questions from the audience Clare was both surprised and delighted to receive a cheque from the club for £400.  She explained that small amounts of money go a long way in Malawi and gave examples of what the donation would buy; it would pay half a year’s salary to a  “mother”, or provide 800 instant malaria test kits, alternatively it could be used to deliver one year’s nursery education for 33 village children.