As the Bank seeks to meet the needs of the economically marginalized of Malawi, it has committed itself to the holistic change or "Transformation" of its clients. This includes providing the clients with basic information to HIV/AIDS, Financial, spiritual, Gender and social education either on its own or through strategic partners.
Through transformation programs the Bank is able to support active poor clients to gain and improve their living standards thereby restoring their Dignity, Authority, Security, Adequate provision, purpose, hope & Meaning, freedom & Appropriate boundaries, Authentic relationships & Love which gives the clients to experience the self reliance and belief.
While the youth believes that everything to do with the banks is for adults, Violet Chingapa thinks differently. Violet Chingapa who is 29 years old owns a Kasupe account with Opportunity Bank Malawi for her savings. MS Chingapa hails from Kang’oma Trading centre TA Tsabango in Lilongwe district. She is a 5th born daughter of a retired teacher.
Like any other youth Violet thought it was not possible for her to open an account as she had no necessary documents such as a passport, a driving license and others which most of the banks require to open an account. Never the less her wishes to open an account came true when she opened her Kasupe account at one of Opportunity Bank Malawi Kiosk in A/23.
Violet runs a small tailoring business right at the veranda of her mother’s house. She ventured into this business soon she finished a tailoring course at one of the tertiary institutions in Malawi. Her aim was to support herself and her family as she saw that her father was struggling to look after the family in his retirement. She sews mostly women attire and school uniform of the school which is within her locality. She makes more money with the sewing of the Malawian tradition wears for women. With the profits from her business Violet manages to buy some of the basic needs for the family.
The shy looking young lady, starts her day by doing her daily morning household chores, and then later she sits on the veranda with her machine to sew some of the materials she has. If it’s time to sew school uniforms she goes to Lilongwe market to purchase the material for the uniforms.
Violet counts her success that a month does not elapse without saving money not less than MK5000. These are the profits she realises after sewing different materials for different individuals.
Ms Chingapa finished her secondary education and did formal training at one of the mission schools. Her career as a tailor come out of hopeless situations because she did not want to become a tailor but somebody in big offices nevertheless she now she is happy to with her career. It is her wish to further do studies in designing till she holds a degree of her field.
The origins of Violet and parents is Ntcheu district but they settled at this place in the early 80s. They have been staying in Kang’oma since Violet was born. The family lives in three bed roomed house thatched with iron sheets. They access water from the community borehole which is 200m away from her house.
The nearest health centre for the people of Kang’oma is Kang’oma health centre. This is a government owned clinic where all services are accessed freely. However though there are no costs attached to these medical facilities, the clinic often runs out of drug .This brings inconvenience to many people that when one calls to the hospital gets frustrated when he/she is told that there is no medicine. Large population of Kang’oma residents cannot manage to pay for the medical services because of their poverty status. The family of Violet sometimes go private hospitals in the town of Lilongwe.
Being one of the youth Violet participates in many activities from the church such as teaching at ‘Sunday school’ kids thus teaching the children word of God. . She also joins other youth in doing charity work to the poor people of her community. Furthermore Violet participates in developmental activities.
Violet has also taken herself to task to tell other youth about Opportunity Bank Malawi and Agness Mkudzula aged 24 who stays in Kang’oma is one of her friends who opened an account after she got the news from Violet.
Violet salutes Opportunity Bank Malawi to have promoted her saving culture. “Opportunity Bank Malawi has helped me to mobilise funds for my future tailoring shop I would like to build. I believe that one needs not wait till he/she has millions of Kwacha in order to make a deposit; the little you save gets accumulated.
Violet Chingapa on the veranda of her mother’s house sewing a national wear.
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