A child who spent years crawling to school through mud and scorching heat can now move with dignity after receiving a wheelchair during the launch of Alinafe Global Outreach (AGO) in Kasungu District.
Pemphero Joshua, a child living with a physical disability, received the wheelchair at Mdoni Trading Centre in Traditional Authority Mdunga, where the newly established non-profit organisation marked its debut with a Christmas outreach aimed at supporting the district’s most vulnerable people.
Pemphero’s mother said her son had long struggled to attend school due to severe mobility challenges, especially during the rainy season. She explained that he moved from place to place using his arms, a situation that became even more difficult during wet and extremely hot weather. She said the wheelchair will now make it easier for him to attend classes and move with dignity.
Pemphero’s headteacher, Mr Daniel Kabundule, also commended the gesture, describing the learner as intelligent and hardworking. He added that Pemphero finished the recently ended term in second position in his class.
Beyond the wheelchair donation, the outreach also benefited more members of the community. Over 120 elderly people each received 25 kilogrammes of maize, while more than 150 orphans were provided with school supplies, including exercise books and pens. The beneficiaries later shared a Christmas meal, turning the event into a moment of celebration and unity.
Speaking at the event, Traditional Authority Mdunga welcomed the initiative and urged other leaders to support it, describing Alinafe Global Outreach as “our own baby.” The traditional leader also encouraged individuals and organisations with the capacity to assist vulnerable people to do so.
According to Janet Nkhalama, the Country Programmes Coordinator, the initiative is inspired by the late Mr Rex Tipoti Mbewe, a pastor remembered for supporting elderly people with foodstuffs and celebrating festive seasons with them. He carried out the charitable work with the support of his son, Emmanuel Mwandama, who is currently based in the United States.
Building on his father’s legacy, Mwandama has founded Alinafe Global Outreach to spread the love of Jesus by bringing hope and working towards ending poverty. The organisation will operate three programmes focusing on the elderly and people with disabilities, women and girls, and orphans.
