Charity born in a tree

In January 2015, Malawi and Mozambique received floods, partially related to Cyclone Bansi and Tropical Storm Chedza which killed at least 176 in Malawi and 86 in Mozambique within a week and also left hundreds more missing.

One affected village in the Southern Region was Osiyana in Nsanje district after Ruo River changed its course and washed away villages in the district.

The incident, which happened at night left nothing in the villages. Many of those who survived climbed trees where they spent nights waiting to be rescued.

Among those who climbed trees was a pregnant mother, who later had labour and delivered a baby boy while perched in the tree. She named her son Joshua.

In 2017, the amazing story about Joshua’s birth was narrated to a medical doctor from the Republic of Canada Imran Khan who was visiting the country on a mission to provide clean water to people.

Touched with the story, Khan thought of starting a charity to support people in need of medical care. The charity was also to supply villages such as Osiyana with clean water. Just like that, a charity organisation was born and Khan named it after Joshua, it is called Joshua’s Tree.

From Joshua’s birthplace, the tree, efforts to provide people with health support and clean water have spread to all regions of the country. Joshua’s Tree is drilling boreholes and conducting clinics to people in the remote areas.

For now, the organisation is conducting free clinics in camps where they are keeping people who are affected with Cyclone Freddy.

Khan said his mission is to alleviate the struggle for clean water and healthcare in the remote communities of Malawi.

“One in three people in Malawi do not have access to clean water, and most in remote communities have never seen a doctor.

“Apart from that, I want to make sure that no one should die from drinking dirty water and lack of medical care. We will keep going until we see our goal of greater access to healthcare and clean drinking water in remote communities in Malawi,” he said.

Khan said he is working with a team of part-time volunteers who are Malawians and are committed to helping others.

“We take our convictions and turn them into action. We run clinics for people who have never seen a doctor in their lives.

“I want this organisation to grow beyond Malawi. Malawi does not get enough assistance when you look at problems they are facing; the country is forgotten. The Cyclone Freddy we faced; few countries are aware of it even where I am coming from. I am financing the project 99 percent with few making donations. I use money I realise in Canada,” he said.

Khan said he is still helping Joshua to make sure that he realises his dreams.

Group Village Malemia of Traditional Authority Tengani in Nsanje is happy with the organisation.

“This is our organisation, I am happy that it is named after our son who was born during floods. Whenever they are in this area, I welcome them and I am always available because their ideas are to develop our area,” he said.

Malemia said his area has two evacuation camps created after Cyclone Freddy which are keeping around 300 people but have no access to health care and clean water.

“We walk about eight kilometres to find a health centre, and whenever we go to the health centre, we are told that they do not have drugs. The situation is bad. It is then this organisation that is helping us with health care services,” he said.

The organisation’s director Marumbo Nkhoma said last month they conducted mobile clinics in Nsanje where they helped about 3 000 people.

“Apart from that, we have installed wells, ensured people’s sustainability and empowered the local community to take ownership of the wells.

“Going forward, we strive to run a campaign every quarter and as we grow. We intend to run missions all the time,” he said.

So far, the organisation has conducted clinics in Mangochi, Mzuzu, Machinga, Nsanje, Mozambique border and Karonga.n