Malawi is amongst the poorest nations in the world. We meet people trying to survive on a daily basis everywhere; whether it’s the lady selling woven mats, or the guys in Zomba transporting firewood off the plateau. As beautiful as the country is, life here is tough.
Unfortunately it is often the children who suffer the most.
Tipezananso is a project created and funded by Gerrit von Engelen. It is a kindergarten and playground set in the small fishing village of Chembe, where toddlers and children can safely play on slides and swings, challenge each other in stimulating and informative games such as memory, bao and “Mensch Ärgere Dich Nicht” or learn through playing with building blocks. Stimulations that are often impossible to experience for a child growing up here.
Gerrit started the project because he had observed that the 
children in Chembe had no alternative to watching the adult movies full of war, murder and violence. These adult movies are shown in local movie houses, with no regard to preventing children from entering and watching as well.
Gerrit solved this problem by introducing a children’s movie night, with a different Disney movie being shown on a big screen under a baobab tree every Saturday night (an amazing setting). And so he managed to remove the children from the adult movie houses.
Over the next few years, he then proceeded to establish the kindergarten and the playground. The manager, Lingson, is proud of what has been achieved. Children now spend their days learning new skills and playing fun and educational games under the watchful guidance of Lingson, Mathilda, Stanley and Boyson. The basic skills learned are also beneficial to the community directly. For example the children learn not to litter, something that is
sometimes taken for granted in African culture. Plastic is often just thrown into the streets. And
Visiting the playground is wonderful. You join all the children playing games and having fun. But you probably won’t be able to beat them at a game of memory or bao. Amazing experiences are the movie nights, which now screen children’s movies on Tuesdays and Saturdays. You’ll experience anything from two to three hundred children applauding and cheering Rafiki’s arrival in the Lion king or Simba’s victory over Scar. Totally amazing!
Tipezananso is funded by the proceeds of Gerrit’s wine sales in the Dutch city of Eindhoven. He equipped both the kindergarten and the playground, and also supports the community with various projects. He has an annual “Drink for Africa” collection, which highlights Tipezananso and the work being done here to his client base.
Further details (in dutch) can be found on Gerrit’s website www.tipezananso.nl , or you can contact him directly via e-mail on gerritvanengelen@gmail.com.
Gerrit, Lingson and his team have built a very special place, something that is not often found in Africa! Congratulations and we wish you all the best for your future!
