Orphan Care and Social Rehabilitation was established as a Mission inspired by the message from the Lord through

James 1:27 –
“External religious worship that is pure and unblemished in the sight of God the Father is this: to visit and help and care for the orphans and widows in their affliction and need, and to keep oneself unspotted and uncontaminated from the world.”
(Amplified Bible)

God calls people towards their mission in various ways; there is no uniformity. God speaks through dreams to some, and others hear God’s voice speaking to them, while to others through visions.

The Call to Support Orphaned and Disadvantaged Children

We, responded to a God’s call to support orphaned and disadvantaged children in the community. We, Crosby and Jenny Mphande, witnessed the silent but obvious suffering and welfare of orphaned children. We meditated on circumstances and the gaping support vacuum left behind, after the death of the children’s parents. Our call to support orphans was certain.

A personal tragedy in the family where three brothers and a sister died within a period of two years, left desperate children without any tangible support. The responsibility to support these children was enormous. Our vision was born.

The question on our mind was “how are other families coping with such responsibilities especially those with meagre or virtually no means of caring for such orphans?”

In 1995 HIV and AIDS was ravaging among the communities in Malawi, with no cure in sight. The number of orphaned children was on the rise as HIV/AIDS claimed the parents. In search of a response to our question, we decided to visit one of the badly affected communities. Through the help and involvement of the local leaders, we found very pathetic situations. Children-led households by young surviving children and or elderly grandparents most with limited resources and living in poverty. These sad findings encouraged us to take part in some good practice orphan care programs and Orphan Care and Social Rehabilitation (OCSR) Malawi was born.

What began as personal responsibility to support the orphaned children in our family, became a broader vision to reach orphans and disadvantaged children in Area 25 community in Lilongwe, Malawi.

The Mission of OCSR Malawi

As members of the body of Christ, we were moved to extend orphan support activities to orphans in Area 25. We established a community-based orphan care ministry using our family income. Our family has maintained this support since. We invested our own resources to establish an orphan care centre. At the time of inception, no outside support could be solicited because the proprietors were new and did not have any track record. We took visits to the few known orphan support groups in the City of Lilongwe in order to find out how they carried out their activities including fund raising.
While Government was encouraging communities to provide care and support services in the form of home-based care, community-based care, and residential orphanage care, OCSR opted to provide services through community-based care and support.

First Steps

Thus, on 28th August 1995 OCSR was registered and became a fully paid up member with the Council for Non-Governmental Organisations of Malawi (CONGOMA).

Two months after its registration, in october 1995, OCSR established the first orphan care and support centre named “Chikondi and Mphatso Orphan Care Centre” in the outer perimeters of Lilongwe City.

Chikondi means ‘love’, Mphatso means ‘gift’. The centre was a gift to the orphans through which they would experience the love of God through the patrons and other support volunteers.

Orphans were identified through consultations with the local community leaders who were able to distinguish between orphans and children abandoned by their fathers.

The target age for support was from year 2 to year 6 a period which is critical to the growth and development of children which immensely affects their performance in adulthood.

Initially, 30 such children were identified and enrolled for care. Nutritional, health and educational support was offered during weekdays only, in rented premises. Their physical condition was pathetic. The Centre had support from a missionary medical doctor, who examined the children and provided necessary health support. Through a free feeding programme, as well as early childhood education (kindergarten) services, the welfare of the disadvantaged children improved greatly. In 1995, following the Christmas period, the centre closed for Christmas holidays. At the opening of schools in January 1996, the condition of the children had deteriorated due to poor nutrition during the holidays. OCSR therefore resolved that care and support shall be provided to the children during weekdays throughout the year, even during school holidays.

Through the Years

Over the years OCSR has seen great accomplishments providing critical services to orphans and disadvantaged children from

• Feeding programs,
• Health support,
• Early childhood education
• Educational support from primary through secondary to tertiary education.
• Skills training for care providers

Vision and Hope

• OCSR hoped to see a community that exudes spiritual values and character in their daily living, devoted to serving the Lord in truth and in spirit, and thus having the blessings and love of God that provides all their needs in this life and the next.
• OCSR hoped to see the youth that were able to provide for themselves and others, and leading responsible lives that reflect commitment to God’s values.
• OCSR hoped to see children that realised and believed that God is their ultimate provider of all their needs, so long as they surrender to His will.

Watch this space for OCSR’s growth and accomplishments through the last 30 years. The first batch of children enrolled at Chikondi and Mphatso Orphancare centre are now over 30 years of age. Were the vision of OCSR achieved?

Crosby & Jenny

The proprietors in 2009