 |
First Presbyterian Church
of Manasquan
Supports Malawian
University Student
|
The University of Livingstonia is located in Malawi, Africa, established in August 2003 and is the first Christian University in Malawi; started by faith only, as there was no budget. The goal of the Synod of Livingstonia, under the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian (CCAP) was to provide higher education based solidly on Christian values. During the 2007 first graduation ceremony, the registrar of the University was quoted saying, “Education and health is part of evangelism. Jesus helped people in many ways. One cannot listen to the word of God when he/she is sick and cannot understand the word of God when he/she is illiterate.”
This Spring, the Mission Commission decided that rather than send donations to the general support of the University our church would support a financially needy student in order for him/her to complete their University degree. We contacted the University and received the letter below from a current student, Mrs. Gladys Mbizi.
To the Churches of Olympia Presbytery from
Gladys T. Mbizi
12 December, 2007
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
I hereby write to apply for scholarship. I am a lady, aged 33, and married with four children and three dependents. I am a student at the University of Livingstonia to pursue a degree in education. As of now, I am in year two.
As a student, I experience a lot of challenges as regards to payment of fees due to the following reasons, beyond my control. To begin with, I am an orphan. I lost both parents in the year 2003. Two of us are remaining in our family, I and my brother. I am the only lady in our family. I am a teacher at Zolozolo Community Day Secondary School in Mzuzu.
I receive MK11,800 ($84) as my salary per month. I started teaching in May, 2000, as a temporary teacher, and I qualified in the year 2005. From the salary I get I am deducted MK7,800 ($56) in payment of a loan which I got from the bank to pay school fees at the university. The remaining MK4,000 ($28) covers for food, bills and stationary for school. With the little salary I do struggle to top up the amount of fees required at school, as well as pay fees for my dependents. In addition to this, I still have a fees balance of MK76,000 ($543) for this first semester of my second year, and I know for sure that fees for second semester will also be a problem again.
Thirdly, my husband is not working and because of this I have a big responsibility of looking after the children, which gives me pressure. Sometimes I become terribly stressed and this tends to affect my academic life.
Lastly, my brother who tried to pay my fees for first year has stopped because he is also paying fees for the three children of my elder brother who passed away in 2005.
This being the case, I am desperate to continue with my education in order to upgrade myself and obtain a paper of higher level. It’s really a challenge to improve my living standards and also be able to help the ones who will also have the same problem as mine.
With these few reasons, I am looking forward to your response. As God says, “Blessed is the hand that gives.” May the Almighty Lord bless you abundantly.
Yours faithfully,Gladys T. Mbizi
It was unanimously decided to financially support Mrs. Mbizi in order for her to complete her Bachelor of Education degree. The commission will periodically keep the congregation updated via Good News and FPCOM website.
