Story and photo by Philip Ireson
Ten years ago, when I was Chaplain at Doncaster prison, I met an asylum seeker from Malawi. He was the first asylum seeker I had ever met and after he was sent back to Malawi we kept in touch.
In 2010 I visited Jumbo Kalua on his farm and was introduced to two amazing young Christian Malawians – Yohane and Kennedy – volunteering in a very run down juvenile prison in Lilongwe.
I agreed to support them financially and have done just that over the past six years.
Last month I returned to Malawi to deliver £1500 collected by St. Peters and Christ Church. The Malawian government has cut back on food for prisoners, so we bought a lorry load of maize and flour as well as medical items. The rest of the money will mend their sewing machines and provide gas for the kitchen.
The prison has grown from 80 to 245 teenagers yet the atmosphere has improved. Some are studying for higher level exams. We hope to set up a charity to support Kachere prison, its staff, inmates and educators.