Queens cheer Nsanje flood victims

Malawi Queens were on Thursday at Bangula Admarc Camp in Nsanje where they cheered flood victims, especially children, through their role as ambassadors of the United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef).

Queens, who signed a one-year diplomatic contract with Unicef in September 2014, were involved in a netball match with Bangula Primary School pupils, feeding under-five children at the camp and participating in an HIV/Aids awareness campaign.

According to Unicef partnerships officer Zulaikha Sesay, they organised the trip to help children victimised by the recent floods get healed from trauma.

It did not take long for Nation on Sunday to notice the initiative’s impact. After a match which involved mixed teams of Queens players and Bangula Primary School pupils, hundreds of children mobbed the Queens players and coach Mary Waya to have their uniforms, notebooks and school bags autographed.

“Sport is important as a psychosocial therapy. It helps to relieve traumatised souls,” said Sesay.

Saidati Mhango, a 16-year-old Standard Five pupil who escaped to the camp after floods washed way her home last Sunday night, said it was a wonderful experience to rub shoulders with Queens players.

Queens captain Caroline Mtukule-Ngwira said they are happy that their visit has made an impact on the lives of the youth. She appealed to well-wishers to help the camp with more relief items such as food, kitchenware and clothes.

“I was shocked to note that some under-five children are eating porridge that has no sugar in it and they are eating using their fingers. These people need more material help,” said Mtukule-Ngwira.

During the visit, Queens players Mtukule-Ngwira, Sindi Simtowe, Takondwa Lwazi, Jane Chimaliro, Martha Dambo, Joana Kachilika, Cecilia Mtukule and Grace Chazungulira, were accompanied by Waya, Netball Association of Malawi (NAM) president Rosy Chinunda and treasurer Abigail Sharif.