A Mulanje-based Organisation, Othakarhaka-Passing On The Kindness (OTK) has become a beacon of hope for the homeless in Traditional Authority Nkanda in Mulanje by building 14 houses for vulnerable families, many of whom were affected by Tropical Cyclone Freddy.
The organisation’s Director Ida Puliwa Mwango said these homes are in partnership with the US-based International Development Institute (IDI).
The initiative, supported by volunteers with beneficiaries contributing labour, will continue in 2025 with two houses constructed each month.
One beneficiary, 20-year-old Beatrice William of Mangombo Village, leads a six-member child-headed household.
Life turned bleak for Beatrice when her mother, their sole remaining parent, tragically died in 2016 after a tree fell on her in Mulanje Mountain Forest.
For years, they struggled without stable shelter. Today, their new home represents a lifeline and a fresh start.
“This is about restoring dignity,” said Mwango, noting that each house costs K3.5 million.
For families such as Beatrice’s, the effort symbolises more than bricks and mortar. It is a chance to rebuild shattered lives.
