The First Phoenix Chisomo Fundraising Event!
Thank you to everyone who came to support The Chisomo Idea and our growing movement! It was a great success with lots of food, music, family, and friends. We hope that you were inspired by the videos and words from our founders Noel and Melissa Musicha. Our movement has grown over the past few years and we have witnessed amazing acts of volunteerism and charity which we greatly appreciate! Here are some of the pictures from our party…
FRIPPLE EFFECT: Thanks For Your Support
We would like to take this opportunity to thank different people that helped propel our movement through organizing and performing at Fripple Effect. It is people like you that keep us going. Trevor Davis, Andrew Schlegel, Junior Crew and many other performers…you guys did an amazing job. Thank you, thank you, thank you…
Many thanks also to the Flood High School students for making the show happen. Paul Gillcrist you showed tremendous leadership from planning to execution.
Many thanks to Ralph Rubio [of Rubios Restaurants] for providing the food at the pre-Fripple Effect fundraiser. You helped us so much. The event could not have happened without you.
Many thanks to Flood Youth staff. You guys are all ROCK STARS.
On behalf of Malawian kids and youth whose lives will continue to be impacted by aftermath of the event and on our own behalf…THANK YOU AND MAY GOD BLESS YOU.
The Chisomo Idea Team
BTW: For pictures go to FACEBOOK: The Chisomo Idea
New CHISOMO Custom Branded Glasses [$10 only]
What if you could dress nice while making a difference half way around the globe? Would you do it? Well, here is your opportunity. Pick up our cool glasses and help us make an impact in Malawi. Email info@chisomoidea.com. You can also use the glasses as a gift to a friend or family member as a way to get them connected to our movement.
TO PURCHASE A PAIR CLICK ON THIS LINK: http://chisomoidea.com/merchandise/
Thank you for your support.
The Chisomo Idea Team
Give Hope to Their Dreams
For the last few months we have been planning, and creating strategy on how we can go after our ultimate goal within THEATER OF DREAMS, pulling off an academy. Our goal is to raise $100,000 towards the project through individuals, churches, and corporations. We will dedicate the month of May to pray for that venture so we want you to get ready. Here is what you can do in the meantime:
1. Donate to our ongoing programs
2. Create and run benefit events for the cause
3. Invite your friends to do the same.
We love you and we are always inspired by you.
Noel Musicha
The Chisomo Idea
Fripple Effect Hosts: THE FLOOD YOUTH GROUP
Here is the group that helped host FRIPPLE EFFECT, a benefit show for The Chisomo Idea.
To check out the youth group, go to FACEBOOK: FLOOD YOUTH and http://www.diveintoflood.com/high_school Thanks all.
Theater of Dreams Kids ROCK the WORLD CUP TROPHY Tour in Malawi
It is true that when we fulfill one of our dreams, we begin to believe that more are possible. I got to this thought because I was wondering what it meant for our Theater of Dreams kids to be part of the World Cup Trophy tour to Malawi and to be at the same function as our president.
I know that when I was their age, I would have given anything to be part of such an occasion.
…To our team [Chisomo Idea] even more important than the occasion itself is the courage of one of our friends, Mzithembi Mbekeani. Thembi had never met the Theater of Dreams kids before this occasion but she believed that they are worth this life-time opportunity. She believed that in the midst of all the discouragement that these kids go through, in the midst of all their pain, one day of such fine memories could mean the world.
People like Thembi are the reason we have the courage to dream at all. They capture the essence of our movement–the young and young at heart who will do anything to use their time, talent, resources and influence to make a difference in the lives of the marginalized.
Once again, remember, it is not about how much you have, but what you do with what you have…
Noel
For The Chisomo Idea Team
Report on Young Women’s Seminar
Our second annual Young Women’s Seminar was held on the 17th of October 2009 at the ABC Chapel in Malawi, Africa.
Overall, the conference could be considered a great success! I would like to break it down for you guys to give you a clear picture of everything.
Pre Conference stages- Planning and logistics
As you might have known, there were five of us working to put things together, namely Catherine Mloza Banda, Shonduri Manda, Keneoe Ngulube, Alinafe Kwilimbe and Wanangwa Gondwe. Catherine graduated from Bunda College in September this year. Keneoe is a graduate of ABC while the rest are still studying at ABC.
The objective of the conference was to encourage the young ladies to emerge as people of influence within their communities. After some brainstorming, we saw that one of the greatest weaknesses of the young women in our generation was the inability to see themselves as givers but as recipients. Most young women, whether Christian or not, are tied down by inferiority, fashion, low self esteem, self inflicted mistakes and cultural perceptions that in the end keep them from being what God intended them to be. We therefore wanted to tackle issues that affect us as young women and eventually keep us from being leaders, or at least role models.
Out of this, we derived our theme: ‘ON YOUR MARKS, GET SET, GO!!!’, an imagery of how one can eventually be the person you were created to be. We have attached a booklet of the lecture notes we used so you can catch a glimpse of how we did our sessions and everything.
We planned to invite 70 people of which more than 50 were communicated.
Our budget was pegged at MK 14 000. As you know, money is never enough. We had to do some re allocations. Eventually, everything was covered and we left no outstanding balance.
During the Conference
The conference was a success. The theme and sessions turned out to be relevant to the listeners. The main problem however, was time. We arranged everything on time and by 13:30, which was the starting time, we were ready to get things going. Unfortunately, the first participant came around 14:10. The next came in around 14:20. We had to wait to somewhere around 14:45 to start and at that time, we had about 25 participants seated. We therefore had to cut our sessions short because we only had about 2 hours left.
We photocopied the notes we were using so everyone could take a copy back home.
Post Conference
One girl actually came out and asked to talk with some of us in the team about her life. We took that as an achievement on our side. We still however have to do some follow ups in the near future once we et organized. We also will have to see if we can strategize on holding another seminar since it seemed the young women liked it.
Overall, I could say we had fun and we’ve learned a lot even as the taskforce.
Regards,
Catherine
No Guts, No Glory
I rallied the girls. A friend-of-a-friend was launching his project somewhere in Area Three, should be good maybe interesting. First disappointment – no booze. Secondly, it was full of young, enthusiastic, teetotallers – us alcoholic grannies didn’t know anyone. Thirdly, since when was spirituality a requirement for humanitarian interest?
We stood around, read a leaflet ten times. We dutifully listened to the intro, we dutifully watched the video.
In Malawi everyone is terribly miserable (lots of sad-eyes shots), there’s wars and bombs, fires and riot police, oh no that’s actually in the rest of Africa . Back to Malawi … there’s only huts, poor poor people, seems they just sit around and look glum. But don’t worry its all good… apparently there’s some kids in a village who we play football with, lots of football, lots of running (slow mo shots). There’s also some feeding going on (kids smiling), walking around villages, chats with women. Join us, lets make a change together (text on the screen), or something similar.
We’re giving each other side-ways glances, the video has made us into smug bitches… who do they think we are? We don’t buy this shit, we know better. Maybe this kind of thing goes down well in America – pulls a few heart-strings, but we see through it. We want objectives and action points. We want to know where they get their funding, how they spend it. Hey christians, the devil is in the details! Ahhh well don’t knock them too hard, they’re doing a million times more than we are, yes that’s right cos we’re doing absolutely nothing. Ok that’s uncomfortable; don’t want to think about that. But anyway at least we came, and we saw, now where can we make our donation? Let’s get out of here; nearest pub ‘Mabuya’.
That’s when it gets REALLY uncomfortable…. they don’t want our money!!! What? What do you mean they don’t want money? It’s a project right, an orphan project or something. They need money to run, I’ve got a spare K500 note, I want to help poor kids. They don’t want my money?! Gimme a basket goddamnit. If they’re not fundraising, what the hell was this about. Now the smug bitches are pissed off, confused, was this a complete waste of time? We were the first to leave. By way of apology, I got the first round.
Like most new organisations in Malawi , the Chisomo Idea (http://www.chisomoidea.com) has areas that it can work on, strengthen and improve. What sets it apart from other would-be-do-gooders is that it’s a ‘movement’. This means that leader Noel doesn’t want your spare change, he wants your soul!! Ha-ha. No seriously, they’re looking for investments of the personal kind. Manpower, football skills, prayers, inspirational speaking… er actually they’re not really sure what they want from you… but they’ll be happy to use anything on offer to help their work in various villages. I’ve never come across a bunch of people so open and flexible, inclusive, so receptive to new ideas. Actions speak louder than any words, or strategies or annual reports.
I love Noel’s concept cos I get it. Just a little bit of personal investment leads to more interest, commitment, ongoing involvement, maybe even passion. No guts; no glory. No sweat; no sweet. As my life changes, so do the villagers’. This is in line with the ubuntu approach to true community (I am because we are), it ticks Gandhi’s box (be the change you seek), it’s consistent with humanitarian concern (love your neighbour as yourself), but it also emphasises the importance of the right motive (the lord looks at the heart). With the ultimate resource – people who actually care, I think the rest will fall into place, including funding.
There’s a catch. The road to hell is paved with good intentions. Involvement is a tough requirement, many fall by the wayside. Like me; months after expressing my willingness to help (few days after the launch, had a nice chat with Noel, we discussed some options), all I’ve done is answer a few phone calls from the group. I think I was supposed to attend a meeting, maybe watch some kids play football, but ahem I’m a professional – sorry not available in working hours, weekends are also hectic etcetera etcetera. Is the Chisomo Idea more than just a nice idea? I imagined amazing possibilities, but I didn’t get stuck in and make them happen. Not so smug now bitch.
So far, I haven’t made the grade to join this movement of people hell-bent on loving their neighbours, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t…. check out what they do in the villages, see if you care enough to watch some football, hang out with the guys, find out what else is possible. I know that by ensuring personal commitment, the Chisomo Idea will achieve great things.
Acacia
The article was written by the author indicated above [Acacia]
From Pretense to Pain
One of the world’s biggest tragedies today is the art of POVERTY PIMPING. This may not be a term that most of us are familiar with, but it is an act most of us have participated in- in one way or another. Poverty pimping is the use of the stories of the poor to grow our own capital, financial or otherwise. The tragedy in this is that the line between pimping and helping is so thin that it is hard to pick the two apart.
…Unfortunately poverty sells so even corporations and companies in the quest to hit their triple bottom lines have join in what merely used to be helping the poor. Don’t get me wrong, there are some great benefits to this, but there are certainly things we must also worry about…
Part our dream within The Chisomo Idea, is to create a safe enough environment where such things can be talked about. We hope to create space that allows people to wrestle with what it means to “suffer with those who suffer.”
Our hope is that our dialogue can help move us from building our own Kingdom to truly feel for our brothers and sisters that need us to live our most heroic lives. We hope we can raise their concerns from mere “issues” to “pains” and effectively feel with them. We hope to not only marvel in the glory of talking about poverty but also deeply feel its consequences.
…to move from pretense to pain.
Speak to you soon,
Noel
Using Recycled Trophies To Make A Difference
One of the things I used to love as a young boy was a chance to play in a soccer tournament. I remember the British Council had a U-14 tournament that my team won a few times. I did not just like the tournament because we won it often but because tournaments provided an opportunity for us to hang out with people from different townships and sometimes districts.
This is why The Chisomo Idea THEATER OF DREAMS tournaments are so important to me. We may not always afford to do them well, but we still like doing them for the kids.
If you notice in pictures, you will see that we had some recycled trophies as prizes at our last tournament. We can use real/new trophies but since at the moment we cannot afford them, we will use what we can…
Thank you Luse and Thom for making this happen for our little brothers.
Noel
