The origin of the Makoko Foundation
In 2013 the founder of the Makoko Foundation (Marije Langstraat) left for Malawi to work as ecological specialist on a climate adaptation project in the District of Nsanje, South Malawi. Here she lived for a bit more then a year, living and working with the local communities. During a field trip with Doctors without Borders she met George. A young priest working in Mulirai. A small village 15 km south of the village Marije lived. They talked about a organization George was secretary of, run by local churches and supported by volunteers from the village and surroundings. George told Marije about an orphanage their organisation (Hope for the Community) was running and got destroyed by a storm and financial problems. They wanted to rebuild the orphanage and looking for resources to realize the rebuilding of the orphanage.
Weeks later Marije got lost in Blantyre, a city 200 km north of Nsanje and Mulirai and a man helped her out of trouble and showed her the way. That man turned out to be the father of George and the head of the board of the organization 'Hope for the Community'. They started talking again about the trouble in the area and at that moment Marije decided to help the 'Hope for the Community' to realize their dream of an orphanage and education for the orphans and half orphans in the area.
It all begin with the making of a 5 year plan and financial plan for the orphanage. Marije helped the 'Hope for the Community' the write these plans, so they could apply for donations and financial support. While working on these plans Marije asked friends and family for donations to start the construction of the orphanage. Within a few months enough money was collected to start building the first dormitory and the rebuilding of the orphanage started.
While working in Nsanje, Marije often got confronted with the position of girls and women in the area. Talking with the local people, NGO's and Malawian organization she realized that everything starts with access to education and information. Not only on school level for children, but also about environment, agriculture, sanitation, hygiene etc. The idea of broadening the Makoko Foundation from building an orphanage to supporting local projects for girls and women in South-East Africa was born.
Weeks later Marije got lost in Blantyre, a city 200 km north of Nsanje and Mulirai and a man helped her out of trouble and showed her the way. That man turned out to be the father of George and the head of the board of the organization 'Hope for the Community'. They started talking again about the trouble in the area and at that moment Marije decided to help the 'Hope for the Community' to realize their dream of an orphanage and education for the orphans and half orphans in the area.
It all begin with the making of a 5 year plan and financial plan for the orphanage. Marije helped the 'Hope for the Community' the write these plans, so they could apply for donations and financial support. While working on these plans Marije asked friends and family for donations to start the construction of the orphanage. Within a few months enough money was collected to start building the first dormitory and the rebuilding of the orphanage started.
While working in Nsanje, Marije often got confronted with the position of girls and women in the area. Talking with the local people, NGO's and Malawian organization she realized that everything starts with access to education and information. Not only on school level for children, but also about environment, agriculture, sanitation, hygiene etc. The idea of broadening the Makoko Foundation from building an orphanage to supporting local projects for girls and women in South-East Africa was born.
