ELA Malawi - BLOG

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2/1/2019

Dear friends of ELA, please follow our blogs under www.drustvoela.org/blog
Upper link will lead you to our Slovenian page of ELA org. as we have mainly Slovenian followers that blog/page is regularly updated with stories and photos. It is a bit hectic to update both pages as internet connection in Malawi is still very slow. Thank you for understanding.
For anything you can contact us via elamalawi@gmail.com or via jana.dular@gmail.com

THANK YOU! ELA's team

Jana's book THE WARM HEART OF AFRICA in 27 countries, spread the message so it will reach the whole world

6/28/2016

Dear beloved souls from all over the world,
do you want to read a warm, positive story about Africa? One that is so different than the ones you may have heard on the evening news?

It is a truly inspiring story of my life ( Jana Dular) and how I as a 22 year old girl left my career as a lawyer and spent the last seven years building schools, assisting orphans and children with special needs in Uganda, Tanzania and Malawi.
People say I am a living proof to the world that even a single good hearted person can make a difference.

The book 'Jana Dular - The warm heart of Africa'

is already available on 76 online shops in more than 29 countries.

Check 44 pages here:
http://media.wix.com/ugd/ae6b0d_a96e6c94949e406f8a78fc40131ead67.pdf

Order it here: http://www.guardianspublications.eu/#!blank/aryqk

Best deal: http://www.bookdepository.com/Jana-Dular-Jana…/9789619348550

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT! BLESSINGS from Jana and 850 Malawian angels

Blessings are showering upon ELA - Minister of Sport Mrs. Obama visited ELA

4/22/2016

Mwatandala uli/how are you all dear supporters and friends of ELA’s team, kids and youth?
With the enthusiasm and smiling hearts we are announcing more joyful news.

Two days after the visit of the Malawian Presidential Advisor Mr. Mavuto Bamusi, ELA was honored by a visit of Mrs. Grace Obama, minister of Sport. She heard about us through media (2 TV channels, radios and newspaper articles) when we did a cleaning campaign of Mzuzu city, when ELA did a caravan with positive impact where our youth showcased their talents. Of course the breaking news from two days ago reached her too – a visit of Mr. Mavuto Bamusi, who honored us and visited ELA’s projects in Mazembe village/Nkhata Bay and ones in Mzuzu town.

Mr. Bamusi expressed (in his speech on TV MBC and Times TV, radios and newspapers) that ELA should be an example to all other humanitarian organisations both in Malawi and Africa at large, as with so little resources, without sponsors we have achieved amazing things and assisted more than 1000 beneficiaries on the ground (not on paper, but in reality). Mr. Bamusi also said that the Malawian government will take all NGO’S under the microscope and closed all who in reality don't do anything but only run projects on the paper and abuse donors support.
So you see, Malawi is threaded with positive news about ELA and its positive impact.

Yesterday, Minister Obama visited ELA’s youth who impressed her with their talents, pure and honest hearts, their attitude, positivity and number of ELA’s members (we are more than 350 In Mzuzu!) Let me stress that Malawi has only 14 ministers and to have the honor to be visited by one is a big thing. The Minister arrived with a security guard, driver and personal assistant from the capital city of Lilongwe and we were truly touched.
In her speech, she praised our talents, told our youth about the importance of commitment to school, finding positive solutions to the lack of finances for studying ( one solution is to join to ELA and by promoting their talents financing their studies), dedication to prayer, setting goals for life and following them no matter the hardships. Honorable Obama has promised to ELA’s football team new sport equipment, jerseys, balls and immediately gave right to use the best football field in Mzuzu. Moreover, she promised few other big matters on which we will report when they are actualized.
Thank YOU Minister Obama for giving our youth a chance and showing that positive and hard-working attitude bring results faster than common negative demonstrations of other youth groups in Malawi. ELA chose the other brigther path!

Children were also greatly blessed, because all the 800 children who attend primary school Mazembe (plus ELA’s pupils) from surrounding four villages, received wonderful school supplies (notebooks, pens, pencils, erasers, and pencil sharpeners) by STAR Translation service (of Slovenia) with Mrs. Elena Doren as Director. There was joy, big applause, laughter and gratitude in the eyes and hearts of children when they received gifts. Thank you very much for your help! Parents now have no worries of how to provide school supplies for their children for the last semester.

Jana, ELA’s team and a hundreds of ELA’s angels

Malawian Presidental advisor visited ELA's projects and was impressed

4/20/2016

Yesterday, 19th April, we will never forget. Why? ELA organisation was honored in a most special way.
We received a visit from a top official, Mr. Mavuto Bamusi, presidential advisor to Malawian President Mr. Mutharika.
About 1 month ago ELA’s team (Directors Jana and Mzondi, Mike Mkwala and Bogdan Kladnik) had a meeting in Lilongwe with presidential advisor. We presented ELA’s projects, explained our deepest devotion towards our 250 children in Mazembe village and more than 500 members in our 2 youth clubs. We shared clips of divine talent performances of our devoted youth, explained great achievements of our children with special needs and other learners and showed photographs. Bogdan added information about our upcoming book the Jana Dular: Warm heart of Africa and a new book, we will start creating with ELA’s Mzuzu youth in July 2016.

So yesterday we received Mr. Mavuto Bamusi, firstly at ELA’s village – Mazembe, where our children impressed him with great English skills and singing. Then ELA’s community committee shared their views upon how ELA is involved in the village development. Pastor Chirwa added his praises and chief Mphoza expressed needs of the village towards faster development.
Of course Jana,ELA's executive Director added few points and then gave a platform to Mr. Bamusi. In his speech, he made us all cheer with excitement of promised governmental support to ELA’s projects and community of Mazembe. He made us - ELA’s team humbled by his divine praises for job well done towards children, youth and women in Mazembe village.

He was truly impressed how we have no sponsor support (except small donations Jana gathers in Slovenia when she goes there to lecture in Primary and Secondary schools once a year) and how big, important and life-changing ELA’s projects are. After closing prayer we showed him ELA’s centre, introduced him to ELA’s teachers and to our beloved cook Maggie who cooks for our Angels lunch every day.
Then ELA's Directors explained everyday work with 50 children with special needs and 200 children on afternoon activities. Later on we were interviewed by national TV station-MBC (Malawian broadcast Corporation) and by newspaper Times. Around 100 villagers that gathered for ELA’s function were evidently joyful, excited and impressed by our good-hearted visitor.

We left the village and drove 110km to Mzuzu town, where we visited ELA’s youth club who honored our visitor with impressive performances. They sang ELA’s official songs which they recorded in studios, presented their poems, danced traditional dances, modern breakdances. ELA’s Taekwondo team impressed our esteem visitor with their well polished fighting, acrobatic and gymnastic skills. ELA’s drama team made him laugh and cheer with excitement and joy was evident on his face. At the end our beloved youth listened to speech of Mr. Bamusi, who made them to jump, scream and cry with excitement of promised support to ELA’s youth and promised partnership between ELA and Malawian Government.
ELA is ready! ELA is worthy of support, because since 2011 up to date we have assisted more than 1000 beneficiaries in Malawi through right ways; offering education, offering courses of financial literacy, supported talents, sent students back to school, assisted children in provision of every day well balanced meals and school equipment. Now we are ready to spread our programs all across Malawi and help children and youth towards better future through creating it at the ground, with our hands, hearts and talents.

With excitement of the goodness that is coming, we are sending each and everyone of you, who is reading these words, our love and greetings from our Warm hearts.

Jana, ELA's team plus hundred of children's and youth's hearts

ELA'S YOUTH CARAVAN WITH POSITIVE IMPACT

4/11/2016

On 1st April 2016 ELA's youth organized ELA's Caravan. Its purpose was to show the whole Mzuzu town how ELA has been trying to uplift Mzuzu youth.

They were showcasing their talents (they sang ELA's official songs they recorded in studios, danced traditional and modern dances, presented acrobatic moves, Taekwondo team performed).
They were also spreading messages that YOUTH is the SOLUTION and NOT THE PROBLEM. That Politicians/business people/organisations/religious leaders should not abuse youth in order to achieve their agendas.

Although many youth can not afford school fees that does not mean, they have nothing to do. Each of them has amazing talent.We teach them how to positively and productively actualize them and be responsible citizens who do not involve themselves in illicit behavior (drinking, taking drugs, womanizing, immoral sexual behaviors).

On the day of the ELA's Caravan ELA's youth presented the petition in which they described problems they are faced with, spoke of solutions to them, talked about their desired and what government can do for them in order for their lives to improve.

Follow the link below to watch the video of what ELA's youth team said to the authorities in order to change their perspective and find the ways forward for brighter future of them all:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRUJ1gTAMdg (click)

Jana's book THE WARM HEART OF AFRICA and other blessed news from ELA's kids and youths

3/27/2016

Mwatandala uli/How are you dear worldwide souls?

At the beginning let us wish you a blessed, loving, heartfelt and happy Easter holidays.
We hope you enjoyed it in the plenitude and in knowing how beautiful it is to spend time with Loved Ones and how to be grateful for all you are blessed with. I am being reminded of that each day by my African children. Because every day I look at how happy and thankful they are for smallest things that surround them I am reminded of all the blessings that I am given too. This month was very special because for 3-weeks ELA’s kids and youths were blessed to host one of the world's best photographers, Mr. Bogdan Kladnik, the author of 60 fantastic books of photography.They were given to Presidents around the world, to the Popes and other VIP of the world.
When Bogdan heard of my projects in Malawi he told me I should write a book about my African adventures, my life and the projects that I have been running since 2008.
I started writing the stories and promised to come to Malawi to capture the beauty of nature, people, ELA’S angels and to film ELA’s youths and their amazing talents.

I wrote a book called THE WARM HEART OF AFRICA. Bogdan helped me with everything else like opening the way to the world of online book retailers, composed the imagery of the book, captured beautiful pictures.
With most joyful and honored heart I can say that book is already available worldwide (in the USA, EU, Asia / Japan, China, India, Australia and New Zealand, through Amazon and other online stores). You can order it as a preorder as it is coming out in mid-June 2016.

The Warm Heart of Africa is coming out under Guardians of the Universe publications with its so called BOOKS WITH CAUSE. They are six books, which sales (20% of the book cost) will support humanitarian projects for the protection of nature, water and help on the way to a better education for children, youth worldwide.

More details of the books: www.bookswithcause.com

In the book, The Warm Heart of Africa I am presenting positive stories of Africa. Such, of which the media has yet not reported. I describe the power of Africans positive spirit, the joy that they feel over every day and the natural beauty of Africa. I describe all the projects that I have conducted in Uganda and Tanzania in 2008/2009, my life and work in Malawi from 2011 to the present day. I also write about my personal life, thoughts that have been rumbling through my mind while being taught tough lessons, how I dealt with challenges and victories that I have been blessed with and ultimately I write about the pure Love that found me.

The book will be equipped with 90 phenomenal photographs Bogdan Kladnik, poetry of Guthema Roba (Ethiopian poet) and my humble words. Surely after reading enthusiastic stories you will find yourself feeling the strength and determination, so you too will follow your boldest dreams as I did myself.

The Warm Heart of Africa
File Size:	1382 kb
File Type:	pdf

You can order the Book Here (Cheapest option) or on any Amazon
http://www.bookdepository.com/Jan-Dular-Jan-Dular/9789619348550?ref=grid-view

Below are three slideshows presenting March days in ELA ,our blessed work of our 50 children with special needs , filming music videos with ELA's kids and youths and capturing beauties of Malawi that we experienced with Bogdan.

Words to Bogdan: A BIGEST THANK YOU from my heart , from hearts of 250 ELA's angels and 500 hearts of ELA's youths . They all feel like ELA has finally got a FATHER :).
Thank you for everything. We cannot wait for you to come back.
Jana, ELA's Angels, Youths and ELA's team

All the photos were taken by Mr. Bogdan Kladnik.

February activities of ELA's youth club in Mzuzu and ELA's children in Mazmebe village

2/25/2016

On 5th February ELA Youth club members participated in Planting tree campaign, as Malawi is facing with climate changes, also due to deforestation. For the past decade Malawian climate has drastically changed, dry seasons are longer, rains are shorter, temperatures are rising... Therefore ELA youth club was participating in campaign as a representative of all youth organisations in the Northern Malawi.

Our Executive Director had her Birthday so ELA Mzuzu Youth club did a whole show in her honor. They sang, danced, did acrobatics, comedy clips and they also composed original song for Yana Dular (director) with a title: Enjoy Your Day Yana Dular :)
You can listen to it on ELA' FB page; click here: Enjoy Your Day Yana Dular

ELA is richer for the new journalism team, which has started to produce ELA's magazine, where our youths will be writing stories about their life, challenges and solutions towards finishing education and becoming role-model citizens.
Mike Mkwala (MBC reporter) is leading the ELA's editorial team of writers.

Enjoy photos from ELA's educational centre in Mazembe village, where we daily from 10am-1pm teach 50 children with special needs (+feeding them) and about 200 pupils who participate at ELA's afternoon activities each afternoon (they are taught mathematics, English, reading, writing, they do sport and arts activities).

Thank YOU to all who have been assisting us, so we can help children and youths of Malawi towards better education and brighter future.

ELA's youth club in Mzuzu is powerfully breaking the news

1/31/2016

Mwatandala uli (how are you) dear beautiful people?

As you know ELA org. been focusing and assisting 3 marginalized groups: children, youths and women. These are programs we have been running since 2013 up to date:

EVERYDAY EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM FOR 50 CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS (+FEEDING) in Mazembe village
EVERYDAY GENERAL WORKSHOPS FOR 200 PRIMARY SCHOOL CHILDREN (Mathematics, English, reading, writing, art, sport workshops) in Mazembe village
ELA YOUTH CLUB FOR 140 YOUTHS in Mzuzu town and in Mazembe village (Drama/theater club, singing, dancing group, football &volleyball team, sponsoring students with school fees)
WOMEN ELA'S CLUB FOR 50 WOMEN (financial literacy course and assistance with establishing small scale businesses)
ELA SKILLS ENTERTAINMENT (Car sports entertainment and acrobatic entertainment)

*All ELA's programs are free of charge for all participants.

Problems of Malawian youths are that few successfully finish primary school and have financial abilities to sign into good secondary school as quality ones are really expensive this why they remain home and start with their illicit behavior. They start drinking, taking drugs, smoking illegal drugs and practicing dangerous sexual behavior which leads to teenage pregnancies and HIV/AIDS spread. They are in desperate need of changing their behavior, finding ways of further education, in need spiritual guidance and safe choices for better future. We have been observing immense issues of youths in rural and urban areas because of excess of time, no option of further schooling due to lack of financial abilities to pay for their school fees. In January 2015 we established ELA Youth club in Mazembe village. We established theatre/drama group through which youths showcased issues as dangers of HIV/AIDS spreading, importance of gender equality, importance of finishing education and important messages. We established singing, dancing groups, showcased poetry readings, comedians and started with football and netball club. Through few performances in nearby secondary schools and villages we gathered support (plus ELA org added funds) and 7 most needy scholars (youths having issues with substance abuse and prostitution) were sponsored and sent back to continue their schooling in secondary school. We also organised youths and visited elders who were in need of assistance and mended their homes, washed their clothes and did other house chores as well in order to instill in youths importance of helping less fortunate in ways that do not require money and bring satisfaction and behavior change in the youths.

In December 2015 we opened second ELA Youth club in town Mzuzu (Northern Malawi). We noticed immense need for it too, as issues of youths have been similar to ones from the village and they desperately needed safe, honest organisation to help them towards behaviour changes, showcase of their talents (drama groups, singers, dancers, comedians, poets, acrobats) through different performances.
On 23rd January 2016 we also cleaned town Mzuzu with our 140 youths and ran awareness campaign for clean city and importance of it to prevent diseases outbreaks. Show was showcased thereafter which was really successful as more than 300 people gathered to witness our youths performances.

On 29th January we had THAO volunteers (Towirane HIV/AIDS org) lecturing to our youths about dangers of HIV and AIDS. Before the lecture our youths impressed them with drama/theater performances on this topic, sang songs of it, read their poetry, dance and truly showed their professionalism.

Blogs of ELA's activities

1/28/2014

Follow ELA's stories under link below..
They are originally written in Slovenian language, so please use Google translate, so you can enjoy them in your language and get experience of how life is in the Warm heart of Africa. Google translate; www.translate.google.com if you don't read stories at least look at precious pictures of our Malawian angels :)

www.drustvoela.org/blog