CDH Investment Bank, in partnership with Mary’s Meals, has invested a K13.8 million school kitchen and feeding block in Mbinda, Blantyre. In addition, the bank has also sponsored K3.1million towards the schools feeding program that is managed by Mary’s Meals.

The kitchen was officially launched on Tuesday 13th June 2023 in a ribbon cutting ceremony held at Mbinda Junior Primary School in Blantyre. The event was graced by various stakeholders such as the Principal Education Officer, Zelita Zamula, Ministry of Education who was Guest of Honor at the event, Village Headman Mbinda, representatives and staff from Mary’s Meals Malawi, CDH Investment Bank, the school committee, teachers and students from the school and community members from the surrounding areas.  

Speaking at the event, CDH Investment Bank’s Chief Human Capital Development Officer, Mrs Ivy Kwatiwani shared that CDH Investment Bank is proud to contribute to the school kitchen and feeding program, which will increase access to education for young learners. “Our relationship with Mary’s Meals helped us appreciate the work the project is doing in managing the largest school feeding program in Malawi and we decided to support the development of the kitchen in an area of need, to create value for the area and help young learners have access to improved nutrition that will help them as they learn and grow.” 

“The bank is excited to be part of this cause as it believes helping young learners will have a positive impact on the destiny of our country and help keep children in school” she said. CDH Investment Bank is committed to creating value by improving access to education through the feeding program.

Speaking at the ceremony, the Guest of Honor, Zelita Zamula, thanked Marys Meals and CDH Investment Bank for the timely school kitchen. “After inspecting the old kitchen, which was small and had poor ventilation and no storage, we appreciate the new development that will help the young learners to focus on their education and grow. The key to development is through education” she said. She further noted that the school has many needs such as new school block and teachers houses and called for other partners to help develop the area. 

Chief Mbinda thanked CDH Investment Bank and Mary’s Meals for the gesture and expressed joy on having the school kitchen constructed that will develop the community. Speaking on behalf of the community, the Group, Mrs Mpagadza thanked Mary’s Meals and CDH Investment Bank for the structure that will respond to the infrastructure challenges the school had and will go a long way in encouraging school attendance in the area.

Mary’s Meals Head of Human Resources Mr Henry Mbenjere thanked CDH Investment Bank for its commitment to partnerships and supporting the projects feeding program with the largest donation in 2022. She applauded the investment that will assist access to education in the region and assist Mary’s Meals as it discharges its mission. The community were pleased with the investment that will help many children and support community development.

CDH Investment Bank opened for business on April 2, 2012 following the successful conversion from Continental Discount House Limited, which had operated in the financial sector for 14 years since August 1998. The bank celebrated its tenth year anniversary providing banking services in 2022 and is committed to providing banking innovations that help businesses, individuals and communities to grow. 

External source: https://news.mijmw.com/cdh-investment-bank-opens-k16-9m-school-kitchen-in-collaboration-with-marys-meals/

https://www.nyasatimes.com/cdhib-hands-over-marys-meals-school-kitchen-constructed-for-mbinda-primary-at-k13-8m/