Loyce Mauka
Loyce Mauka is not a woman that can boast of stepping into the corridors of a college or ever driving a car. But the 28-year-old is giving hope to many children around Cape Maclear in Mangochi. She is also helping to feed the elderly. She shares her story with PAIDA MPASO.
Who is Loyce Mauka?
I am from Cape Maclear in Mangochi and that is where I did my education up to Form Four. After completing my secondary school education I started working as a waitress and that is what I have been doing up to now, especially during weekends. I spend most of my time at the centre, though.
Do you have an immediate family?
I have two children. I am married and I love my husband. He is my pillar and my fortress. He has supported me and he continues to. There are times he goes out to borrow money just so the children at the centre can eat. What more can I ask?
How did you and your husband meet?
My husband and I met while in secondary school. While in Form Four I fell pregnant. After the baby was born I went back to school and we got married some months later. When the baby was growing that’s when we discovered that there was no place nearby for our little girl to get nursery education.
What do your parents do?
My parents were doing all kinds of business. They never did one thing. My parents are the ones who encouraged me to continue with my dreams.
How many children are there in your family?
We are seven children and I am the fifth born. Most of my siblings are now married and operating different types of businesses.
Tell me about Tadala Support Group.
Tadala Support group is an early childhood centre situated at the heart of Cape Maclear, about 20 km from the cape. It is my initiative. After seeing the plight of the children in my community, and after having a child who failed to attend nursery school because there were none around, I decided to come up with this school. The aim of the school was basically to help the children with early childhood development, something which is usually taken lightly by most parents in the villages.
When did you start operating the centre?
We started the organisation in a church in 2009. Since we lacked funds, we thought a church would do. And so we would rent the church and pay K2 000 per month. The money was generated from the jewelry enterprise my husband and I run. We started with 20 children. We only moved to our own building in 2012. It has been four years now and we have five teachers looking after about 300 children. With time, we started helping old women as well through our elderly centre. My husband and I also run an art centre.
Tell me more about this art school?
When I was in Standard Six, I met a certain white man who taught me how to make jewelry and turn ordinary paper into appealing things like cards.
