Fundraising Effort for Malawi Reaches Target

Fundraising Effort for Malawi Reaches Target

Media Release
3 July 2014

Netball Mainland and Mwai Kumwenda are delighted to announce fundraising efforts to send donated goods all the way from Christchurch to Malawi via Mozambique has been successful raising enough money to send the entire container unit.

EasiYo Tactix shooter Kumwenda, who comes from a small village in Malawi, was overwhelmed with donated goods to take home with her to Africa following the close of the 2014 ANZ Championship last month. The goods included bikes, toys, netball uniforms, clothes, balls, school desks, baby gear and other assorted goodies.

Netball Mainland CEO Brigit Hearn says the generosity of people has been heart-warming for everyone involved.

“We are beyond delighted to know that the goods will actually make it to Malawi and we know Mwai will be so excited when she hears the news.” Hearn said.

“Everyone has been so generous and we want to thank Mainfreight and the New Zealand public for digging deep and making a difference, thank you all.”

Mainfreight came to the rescue and generously assisted with transport of a 20 cubic metre container of goods and also covered costs for the shipment from New Zealand to Mozambique port, although leaving a significant shortfall for the goods to reach their final destination of Malawi.

Mainfreight staff and families donated $1000 towards the cost and with other reductions from shipping lines, the shortfall was targeted in a fundraising effort which reached the netball community and the nation following extensive television coverage.

The container carrying the donated items left Lyttelton almost two weeks ago and is due to arrive in Mozambique at the beginning of August.

Mwai Kumwenda is currently in the United Kingdom with the Malawi Queens netball team as they acclimatise and prepare for the Commonwealth Games this month and will distribute the goods when she returns home from Glasgow later next month.

The fundraising account is now closed and any money raised over and above what was needed will be sent to Mwai for netball related activities in her Malawi village and local orphanage, with a new outdoor netball court on the wish-list.

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